T
he high calibre of art
available to us on the Coromandel
always makes the selection of just one for the cover quite
difficult. For the Spring issue of
Coromandel Life
we searched
for months to find art that would represent the beautiful inland
area covered on our
Road Trip – Thames to Waikino
.
There seemed to be few painters tackling the drama and might
of the Karangahake Gorge, but then we ‘struck gold’ when we
found artist Jacquie Ellis. There were the paintings we longed to
see – of the Gorge, the rivers and the Owharoa Falls at Waikino
(see page 36), and we realised she actually lives in the Gorge. It
must have been fate – when I rang, Jacquie told me she had just
picked up and admired the current
Coromandel Life
magazine
and was stoked to be considered for the cover.
We would have been happy with several of Jacquie’s paintings
for the cover, and so now we had too much of a good thing.
Which image to choose? We selected the the placid river scene
with the shoreline trees just starting to bud – the perfect ‘Spring’
painting. “The place I painted this picture was down from the
River Road Lodge property – private land – ”, she explained,
“and unless you are a local or staying there, it is inaccessible.
“The water was actually very low, which is quite unusual for that
time of the year as often we have flooding down the river. Every
day I walk my lovely dog Carson there to watch the ducks. And
we often go trout fishing.”
6
COROMANDEL LIFE 2015 WINTER
“Springtime on the Ohinemuri”, our cover art, was painted in this
favourite spot of Jacquie’s near her home studio in Karangahake.
Dog Carson often keeps her company.
Cover Artist
Jacquie
Ellis
A
rtist Charlotte Giblin
joins our trek again
with charming acrylic paintings and
musings that have adorned all of our Road
Trips. This time Charlotte tackles sights
along the Hauraki Rail Trail, the
Tamati
river
cruise, a famous Paeroa landmark, and the
quaint railway station at Waikino near the Karangahake Gorge.
Charlotte has been doing large works recently, such as three
1950s retro murals for St. Andrews Shopping Village in Hamilton.
Much of her work is now commissions, with the most recent
favourite motif – the beloved family bach, beach tractor or boat.
Follow Charlotte on Facebook to keep abreast of her art classes
and artistic antics or visit
www.bouncingpig.co.nz.Buy prints,
cushions, and original works online or at Mosaic Gallery in
Whitianga and Beach Habitat in Hahei.
Coming soon is Charlottes’s new book of her Road Trip style
paintings and musings (with bonus images),
Wandering Under
Big Skies:
The Coromandel Peninsula through the Eyes of an
Artist.
Our Road Trip artist...
–
Tovi Daly
BREAD & BUTTER GALLERY
permanent artists
original works available year round
Bread &Butter Gallery
www.breadandbutter.co.nzand on
26 Albert St, Whitianga • P: 07 8664927
Fine Art Painting, Ceramic, Glass and Sculpture
selected from 60+ NZ artists
Check website for available works and exhibits
Michael D. Smither
Mieke Van Dam
Ginny Deavoll
Ingrid Boot
Aaron Scythe
Nick Fedaeff
Jacqueline Elley
Hoglund
Glass
Erin Simpson
Mike Cogswell
VISIT JACQUIE’S STUDIO/GALLERY
...nestled in the Karangahake Gorge
on River Road. Set by the tranquil
Ohinemuri River, her gallery is open
daily or by arrangement.
Meet Jacquie and enjoy her broad
range of original paintings – oil,
acrylic and spraypainted – plus fine
prints on canvas or paper, cards,
tiles and polished river stones.
Commissions of your favourite scene
or holiday spot are available.