...well easel more accurately.

Here is the 2nd of the "Pick Me Series. Just completed this morning:

Pick Me - Lilac Hydrangea

Really satisfying working with this form and I love how my technique has developed over the 2 similar paintings in this series.

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As this piece developed it made me think of the program The Bachelor currently screening on TV. All these beauties fighting for the spotlight and waiting to be chosen in a somewhat  artificial and heavily directed way.  I also only used 2 different paints to create this work so  created depth movement and complexity from what is essentially a 2 dimensional offering...... Anyway, go Naz!  (I say Naz because she is the only name I know from the media headlines).

I do love Hydrangeas. They remind me of my childhood and both my grandparent's gardens. I now live in a property that has 5 stunning Hydrangea bushes growing happily.

oh and its for sale (just in time for mother's day!) email me if your interested.... lmcfetridge@xtra.co.nz

I had the lovely Virginia Winder pop round and interview me for a story in the local paper this week. Love it when you get on with someone instantly like you've been friends for years. Love the end result as well, thanks Virginia.....http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/nz-gardener/79189279/virginia-winder-linda-mcfetridge-finds-art-in-the-natural-world.

​Click on the photo below and it will take you to the article...

Also had it pointed out to me this month that I had a typo in my contact email for this site, I've corrected so email away!!

 Well its already Feb! What on earth happen to Jan this year? I have, needless to say, been incredibly busy, but still managed to get the odd swim in the surf and local river hole to cool off.

For the 1st time in my life I headed into the boxing day sales  in New Plymouth on a mission to equip myself with some serious art making tools. I returned home (by 9.30am, that's as much sale shopping as I could muster)  totally excited with a belt sander and scroll saw,  ready to set to work in my back yard hoping the neighbours won't mind the noise pollution over the holiday period. Safety 1st of course.

My leaf making was about to get a little less labour intensive and much more enjoyable, esp due to the fact I had a commission to do a leaf installation  in a gorgeous new house in the village. Very happy with it when it was completed and  I hope Craig and Melissa get as much joy out of them on the wall as I did making them ( photos below).

I now also have prints available of my Red Army, drop me an email if you'd like to purchase one lmcfetridge@xtra.co.nz.

This month I am part of the virtualtart exhibition "Get Real" check it out,  http://virtual.tart.co.nz/exhibit.htm there are some really interesting works from around the glob curated by the talented Dale Copeland.

Lots of ideas and plans flowing already for the year, hope to keep you posted. Mean while the leaves are falling.....

Flowing Pohutukawa 
Acrylic on canvas
760mm x 760mm

This is how I spent my Labour Day. Just a bit of a last push to get my piece finished for the opening exhibition this wednesday night. Juggling at it's best... my boys were so good at being self sufficient this past weekend.

Taking advantage of the gorgeous weather, my workbench while I work away like a mad thing getting my new works ready for the Oakura Arts Trail next week. Thank god for coffee a beautiful backyard sunshine and Spotify.

Come along to the opening if you're in town, you'll be the 1st to see my new work (and even better 1st to have the opportunity to buy it! )

Wed 28th Oct 6-8pm at the Korver Molloy Gallery, Tatairamaka. Flyer below for details. 

Well here it is, my 1st solo exhibition being hosted by the website Virtual Tart. Its quite something to see you work over the years display all together in on spot. 

Please take a look and let me know what you think.....

http://virtual.tart.co.nz/default.htm

I did forget to add in my series of summer fruits so might have to do a special little post for the here.

A painting that came out of the Arts Trail, although most of the painting happened in the 2 weeks prior to the weekend as part of my getting the studio ready for people to look at stuff. 

I had just over 70 people through each day during the Arts Trail, so it was a lot more gass bagging and very little painting over the weekend. What a buzz tho. I am still feeling totally exhausted but it was such a fabulous experience hearing what people had to say about my work and their perception of my paintings. It was a big reminder that we are all so unique, individual  and see the world through very very different eyes, and that's what makes it interesting.

As it happened few quite taken with this piece, so I thought I would add it to the website and see if it finds a home....

Pohutukawa Outlook
Acrylic on Canvas
960mm x 1680mm
for sale

I had every intention to regularly post over the last couple of weeks while getting organised for the Taranaki Arts Trail however there seemed to be much more organising and a lot less blogging than anticipated.  I am pleased to say tho what needed to be stretch has been stretched, that to be hung has been hung and the painting....well I do need to have something to do over the 2 days this weekend. 

The opening of the Arts trail Exhibition at the Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford on the 28th May was a great night. I ended up being photographed in front of my work "Blooming Pohutukawa" (still not sure about that name) and published in the Coastal news in the Arts section, World famous now! Looking at the work on display at the gallery that night, I was amazed at incredible and vibrant talent of artists we have here. Its a great feeling being a part of that community. I didn't get time to make a Toanga Iti for the exhibition but I did end up purchasing one, a rather unusual Matchbox sculpture which I had to have, especially being such a contrast to the artists usual style of work. No mantle piece is complete without a little golden glitter.

It has been a bit of work to get my studio organised this week esp as I have invited my friend to come and do an exhibition in our Container in Okato as well over the weekend, so I wanted to get word out there about her exhibition "Directions" while at the same time clearing a path for people to get into my studio and make sure I have some works on display for them to look at. A concrete car shed doesn't really scream Art studio without a little help. 

The Container isn't part of the Arts Trail because we didn't have it opened when registrations for A Place of Interest on the trail were due, but if you are out Okato way, do call in. The exhibition Directions by Andrea Bruce is so worth checking out not to mention the design works also on display by Roz design and Coastal Carver.

So  bring on the weekend!!! My studio is visitor friendly at last, even a seat for those that need a wee rest and chat. Do pop in and say hi if you are in Oakura, the more the merrier.

Hope to see you then x

#TaranakiArtsTrail #LindaMcFetridge #theContainer #Weekendinthenaki #percythomsongallery