Something a bit different … this piece is a nod to the 17th century vanitas still-life ; a collection of objects that symbolise the fragility and temporary nature of life ( Skulls, candles , bubbles , wilting flowers etc ) . Instead I have painted a collection of extinct and endangered creatures, with an elephant ivory frame … a tiger claw necklace … sabre-tooth skull …  gold coral .  All beautiful and rare – we humans tend to desire things more the rarer they are ( bad news for the creatures )

Beauty, Rarity and Pangolin 2012

Cheetah in progress

Ive decided to do a series of handsome and endangered and/or extinct creatures.  The King Cheetah is very rare , the same species as the spotted cheetah , but lucky enough to have the right combination of recessive genes to develop the distinct pattern in his fur.  To this  i am adding a flock / Rabble of the extinct (since ’07) Madeiran Large White  butterfly.  Being white with black spots , i thought these creatures might complement each other well …  here’s a process picture of King receiving his spraycan spots, and a close-up of his thoughtful golden eye …..

King Cheetah & Madeiran close-up

Falling Through Time 2012

A new painting for 2012 … This one is ‘Falling Through Time’ .

I love to make a mess and let the watercolours flow right off the tilted paper. This one has an unexpected Art Nouveau flavour that i want to develop in the next work ….  Another thank you to Ms Nik Jarvie Waldrom for being a great reference model.

First Man In The World close-up

This one is i suppose a companion to Last Girl In The World , and the scene is Africa some 200,000 years ago , when ‘modern’ humans first slowly evolved into existence . ‘Modern’ meaning that by this time , their skeletons and brain size were the same as ours today ! The earth was unexplored and the ecosystems working harmoniously.

This piece was inspired and informed by a BBC Documentary series – Origins Of Us – with Dr Alice Roberts. She is Great. It is so fascinating.

First Man In The World 2012

Last Girl In The World 2011

Just finished this portrait  – starring the glorious Tara Heeran Harris-  as ‘ The Last Girl In The World ‘ roaming in a toxic snowy wasteland. Next up i might work on the First man in the world , some sort of roaming early homo sapien . Hmm .

This one is for the Corban Estate Gallery group show  ‘ I Made You a Mix Tape ‘ , which opens January 26th up in Auckland .

Mix Tape Exhbition Invite

I created a few illustrations for the November issue , entitled An Election Wishlist , using the theme of a genie lamp …

NZ Doctor Cover Art

NZ Doctor article illustrations

NZ Doctor article illustrations

Find out more about NZ Doctor at ….  http://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/

This strange and murky world was created as a commission for two lovely friends.

Ballerina Jellyfish 2011

And i was happy to be invited to illustrate one of the Rights , which was also used as the cover artwork. The finished product is lovely, and was unveiled yesterday at the Wellington Children’s Library , on the anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention On the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 – one of the most key events for children in history.  There are readings of the rights events nationwide this week   ….   more at http://www.unicef.org.nz/UNICEF-NZ-Writes-for-Childrens-Rights and the book can also be purchased.

All artwork is now copyright of Unicef New Zealand , here is a snap or two of my illustration work …

unicef For Each and Every Child

unicef For Each and Every Child

unicef For Each and Every Child

unicef For Each and Every Child

Nadine Isler Web Banner

Just a few examples of website illustration, that i worked on last year with Crescendo web design. ( http://crescendo.net.nz/ )

Nadine Isler ; the writer  http://www.nadineisler.co.nz/

And Unlimited Potential ; ICT professionals network  http://up.org.nz/home

UP web illustration

The Tuatara is not a lizard as such – it is the last survivor of a group of beasts whose golden age was with that of the dinosaurs , 200 Million years ago.  Which makes it very interesting to those who study evolution.    It is also quite handsome , here is one that i prepared earlier  ….. i have also found a new love for French Ultramarine blue and violet.

Violet Eyed Tuatara 2011