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Charlotte has completed a long held
dream: publishing her Coromandel
paintings in book form.
Having moved from the UK to NZ with partner
Pete in 2009, Charlotte used art to explore
her new country. “‘Big Skies’ is a series of
work that emerged when I moved to Mercury
Bay. I started documenting my adventures
as I wandered the local landscape, capturing
moments that had significance for me.”
When Charlotte told us she had been
recording her travels with both charming
paintings and journal entries, we realised
these would be perfect for a series
we had planned that would take our
readers on a tour of the peninsula. “Tovi
understood instantly what I was trying
to say with these whimsical illustrations
– and a new regular feature was born:
the Road Trip,” explains Charlotte. “This
creative collaboration continued over the
next few years as I travelled the peninsula,
documenting my experiences in paintings and
‘postcard musings’ to describe them. A lot of
the text within my book is taken directly from
these Road Tripfeatures.”
Each painting has a common element,
a ‘little Charlotte’, in her immediately
recognisable outfit: Orange top, blue shorts,
green cap, grey backpack and sneakers. “By
including myself in the picture I’m inviting
you to remember your own experiences in
these areas, and also to be part of my story,
watching me stride past or pause for thought
– imagining what the back story to each
painting might be.”
What a pleasure it has been for us to work
with Charlotte on the Road Tripand later in
the creation of her book. It is so much more
than an art book – it is a total experience!
Anyone who has lived on, visited or hoped
to visit the Coromandel will love this book,
revelling in every page. (Hint: Entice your family
and friends with this perfect gift!)
Charlo tte explains, “I
drew the cartoons of Tim
and the farmyard animals onto
watercolour paper, painted them, cut them out,
placed them on Wendy’s background art and then
moved them around to get perfect placement.”
The two contrasting styles compliment each other.
Once the farmyard elements were positioned
correctly, Charlotte photographed the collage.
She could then reposition some of the pieces for
another illustration, or use the background again.
Charlotte notes, “Combining our different
professional talents allowed this project to be a
true collaboration with a natural sharing of the
artwork, writing and editing processes.”
The 40-page book was published in March by
Mercury Bay’s Aries Publishing. “Lulu Moo”
is available online from both authors:
d Charlotte’s site
Also at Mosaic Gallery in
Whitianga, Hot Waves Cafe in Hot Water Beach,
Carson’s Books in Thames; and online from
$25 cost includes shipping.
FEBRUARY BOOK LAUNCH
This ambitious 93-page project includes 90
paintings. Most were originally painted on
watercolour paper, but a few are on marine
plywood. Some are still available for puchase.
Charlotte held an official book launch in late
February at Mosaic Gallery, where she also
sold many originals and prints. Another sales
opportunity came during the Mercury Bay Art
Escape studio tours. “I’m ‘over the moon’ with
the sales and feedback”, Charlotte tells us. We
might just have a Coromandel ‘best seller’ in
the works!
Lulu Moo... A Cute Cow-laboration
Local artist Charlotte Giblin has TWO book hits...
WANDERING UNDER BIG SKIES: The Coromandel Peninsula through the Eyes of an Artist
also LULU MOO and the Mystery of the Big Belly
Painting and Excerpt from page 38
Lonely Bay is a favourite spot for locals, and I see why so
many of them want to keep this gem hidden away... It’s
accessed by a small path which leads off to the left from
the peak of Shakespeare Cliff and it splits a couple of times
on the way down.
I was a little unsure of which fork to take, and as I umm-ed
and aah-ed I was reminded about our choices in life, the
paths we take and the destination that you just can’t see
yet round the next corner. Of course, some of the most
spectacular views “unfold” before you, and part of the
excitement is the process of getting there, the journey.
It feels important for me to stop and look at the scenery,
as if there’s a danger I’ll become immune to how beautiful
it all is. I definitely make a point of really trying to see all
these views, and being able to study them and paint them
helps me to understand how real this is.
It’s not from a film, it’s actually from stills taken during
my life!
Charlotte Giblin teamed up with fellow
Whitianga artist Wendy Walls – and these
two have more than a town in common. The
pair have collaborated on a children’s book
titled Lulu Moo and the Mystery of the Big
Belly.It is based on Wendy’s son Tim and
inspired by real life events on their NZ farm.
This fun story is about two friends: Tim and his
favourite cow, Lulu Moo.
“Tim is worried about Lulu Moo’s health”, shares
Charlotte, “and the story explores this theme of
caring and concern, while taking a light-hearted
and humourous look at issues surrounding
healthy eating, exercise and weight loss.”
Wendy’s art is more in the expressionistic
montage style, so after keeping an eye out
for a suitable illustrator, she discovered
multi-talented Charlotte who had a previous
incarnation in pottery, painting farm animals
onto her handthrown mugs and bowls. She
found Charlotte’s style was perfect. “After all
these years I finally found the right person to
help bring the book to life!”.
Author/artist
Wendy Walls and
art collaborator
Charlotte Giblin.
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–Tovi Daly & Carol Wright
The book can be purchased locally at Mosaic
Gallery, Beach Habitat and Tairua Info Centre or
online at where you can
click to view sample pages. $60, inc shipping.
Note: Coromandel Lifestill has another Road Trip
coming soon, and ironically it is the Whangamata
area, where Charlotte actually began her painting
series. We plan to combine all eight into a 120-page
peninsula-wide comprehensive Road
Trip magazine next year.