Studio work April/May 2025

29 April 2025

Trying a study of The Great Pikao Swamp panorama photo in a smaller size. There are 2 layers for each painting, but very unhappy with the sequence as a whole. It is very inconsistent (thanks to watercolour and me).

Plus, some paper stretched around a stretcher frame and wooden panels dipped in the river mud bath.

THE GREAT PIAKO SWAMP, NOW BEING RECLAIMED BY THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT [1908-10-22 Auckland Weekly News Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19081022-08-03]

THE GREAT PIAKO SWAMP, NOW BEING RECLAIMED BY THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT [1908-10-22 Auckland Weekly News Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19081022-08-03]

1st layer #1

1st layer #2

1st layer #3

2nd layer #1

2nd layer #2

2nd layer #3

Stretched, but not soaked.

Stretched, but not soaked.

Dipped in water & mud, but I was a pretty tough on it.

Dipped in water & mud, but I was a pretty tough on it.

Dipped in water & mud, but I was a pretty tough on it.

Dipped in water & mud, but I was a pretty tough on it.

And the dried version. Now to paint.

And the dried version. Now to paint.

The dry version.

The dry version.

Stretched around a wooden panel, dipped in river mud/water. Still wet.

Stretched around a wooden panel, dipped in river mud/water. Still wet.

And now dry.

Stretched around a wooden panel, dipped in river mud/water. Still wet.

Stretched around a wooden panel, dipped in river mud/water. Still wet.

And now dry.

An experiment with butter paper painting on wooden panel. If stretched over a frame, would those show fragility?

An experiment with butter paper painting on wooden panel. If stretched over a frame, would those show fragility?

Car is now packed, roll of paper, plastic, tubs, drop cloths, rope - ready for a dip in the Piako River..

So the result was mud everywhere... and hopefully a piece of paper I can paint on. It's drying now.

Piako River

Piako River

Piako River

Piako River

Roll of paper floating in the river, plenty of mud around.

Roll of paper floating in the river, plenty of mud around.

Me covered in mud. Looked much worse than the photo.

Me covered in mud. Looked much worse than the photo.

Kahikatea berries

Kahikatea berries

Kahikatea berries

Kahikatea berries

Looking down on the farmed Hauraki Plains from Makomako Marae

Looking down on the farmed Hauraki Plains from Makomako Marae

Paper drying in studio - paper very soft and easily disturbed. The other side iss covered in mud, but I could not safely flip it to dry.

Paper drying in studio - paper very soft and easily disturbed. The other side iss covered in mud, but I could not safely flip it to dry.

A torn piece showing the mud on reverse.

A torn piece showing the mud on reverse.

1200 x 900mm frame.

1200 x 900mm frame.

Dried, and stapled to framed stretcher at top.

Dried, and stapled to framed stretcher at top.

Cropped - if all sides were stapled. 1200 x 900mm

Cropped - if all sides were stapled. 1200 x 900mm

Part of the whole piece. Looks like vegetation, flax.

Part of the whole piece. Looks like vegetation, flax.

Part of the whole piece. Looks like trees.

Part of the whole piece. Looks like trees.

Part of the whole piece. Looks like the back of a woman in a bonnet.

Part of the whole piece. Looks like the back of a woman in a bonnet.

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