'Study for an Apricot tree' by Martin Poppelwell, a NZ artist based in the Hawkes Bay.
Oil on canvas.
This image immediately evokes a reaction of lighthearted emotion before I even notice that it is a tree. I enjoy that it is abstracted into squares of all sorts of greens and the wonderful red ladder allows you to make up your own story  of its subject. 
It is a definite favourite  because of the intensity of colour and directness of  image.

An installation art work by NZ artist Anna Stichbury,  called Gilded Butterflies.
This work caught my eye in the window of Ora Gallery in Wellington.
The work attracted my attention firstly because of the circle shape it is presented in and secondly the  wonderful shades of gold it is painted in. 
I like it as an image because of the repeated pattern , rhythm and colour it offers. 
I love that it is about butterflies and that each butterfly is a  different design. It reminds me of nature and prompts me to think about New Zealand conservation.
I feel it is a very satisfying piece of work manifested in 200 pieces that are  hand painted  on 650 gsm cotton card.

 I still enjoy this image that I was commissioned to create.  Showing the loveliness of  the Tasman and Marlborough area of New Zealand.
It is  a collage and painting set within the interesting map shape of the top of the South Island.
There is alot of detail to keep your eye interested , hopefully it encourages the viewer to reflect on the elements that the Tasman  and Marlborough district means to us , how much variety and real well being can be gained from our  whenua.   Maybe this image allows one to feel something and smile as well as enjoying the colours and patterns of the composition.           That to me ,would define a successful image.

I just love this little boat made from tin that sits on my wall. It reminds  the way a container ship sits on the sea horizon before coming into port. The design is expressed in such a simple and naive way , a bit tipped up so you can see the deck, the funnels are different shapes as a child might draw. It never fails to make me smile.   I think it succeeds because of  the original and delightful way it is presented. I have a few of Barry's ships sitting beside each other on the wall.  A little bit of the ocean in my living room.
 Barry was born in Surrey England and has lived in New Zealand since 1992, he had a career in the British merchant navy developing a love of shipping and the sea. His ships are all different shapes and colours portraying real ships that he has worked on and /or loves.
RED art gallery in Nelson stocks his work.

There are objects and pieces of art that can be so beautiful to live with each day.
This is a piece of New Zealand cast glass, I purchased from Nelson years ago and it sits in its own spot to catch the light and sun.
In this blog I will share my thoughts and observations on how an art object or image has a certain POP and 'must have'  quality.
  I love the repeated circle  pattern in this cast glass that are in the design rather than the colour, all the circles and bubbles catch the light in a different way. Very cute and loved every day.

I've been experimenting with larger paintings lately.

I'm calling them scrolls, as they are long, narrow paintings on canvas, with eyelets on each corner for hanging.
​Here's the latest scroll, which I've called Tohu Pou.

It features Wellington city houses, the sea and local birds and wildlife - many of them endangered.

This work measures 21cm x 66 cm and is supplied with eyelets, ready for hanging.