My entry for the 'Have a Ball' event - SOLD

HAVE A BALL. 100 balls have been created into sculptures, garden art, mosaics, collage, glitter balls, fountains and many more imaginative pieces. 

This was my entry, and when I went to visit the event, I was thrilled to find out that it has been sold.

'Dotcentric'
painted with Decoart Patio Paint (for outdoors)

An interesting Arts Collective event coming soon

I am currently painting my old bowling ball to enter in this event - it will be really interesting to see what other people have done with them.

Come and check it out on Sunday 25 October, 11am to 5pm, at the Whangamata Bowling Club.

 

Photos from the Easter Art Trail

Here are some photos of my display at Location #3 - 306 Hetherington Road.

Easter Weekend - Whangamata Art Trail

Looking forward to this event, meeting all the visitors that come to our 'hub', and sharing some special offers (this weekend only) on original art and craft pieces. I will be at Location #3 on the Art Trail map. https://www.artscollective.co.nz/arts-trail.html

 

Easter Art Trail - my Artist Profile

This appeared in my Facebook feed today, promoted by the Arts Collective Whangamata.

 

This years Easter Art Trail - 4th & 5th April 2026

I am taking part in this event again, and will be at Location #3.

Leaflet with Locations

 

Front Page of the Whangamata & Waihi News

The Art in Motion event made it to the front page of the local paper, and my mosaic sphere was featured in the article on page 8.

Front page

Close-up

Page 8

19.10.2025 Art in Motion event

Here are the two pieces in the exhibition. I thought my idea to display 'Celebration' on a turntable (see video) was fitting for the 'Art in Motion' theme.

Aqua Swirl

Celebration

And a few general shots - some very interesting outfits!

 

Two entries for 'Art in Motion'

I have managed to complete another small piece, in time for this event, so I now have entries:

Celebration
polymer clay mosaic, 20cm diameter

Aqua Swirl
mixed media, 17cm diameter

The next Arts Collective event is 'Art in Motion' - Sunday 19 October 2025

I have just finished the piece I am going to exhibit at this event, and have sorted an 'arty outfit'. Looking forward to a 'fun' afternoon.

Whangamata Easter Arts Trail - 19 & 20 April 2025

Organised by the Arts Collective Whangamata

My stand at BADO 2025

I had a great weekend over the 25 & 26 January, meeting many people, demonstrating how I make my Swirl-StoNZ, and making sales.

The winner of the raffle (ticket #008) for the 'Whangamata Orb' was delighted. They said they never won raffles and later sent me a message to say it looked good on their bookcase.
 

Picture SOLD on the opening night

I was thrilled to sell my latest mosaic artwork on the opening night of the Harcourts Challenge Exhibition/Big Arts Day Out.

SOLD
"A wonderful day to remember"

My two entries for the Harcourts Challenge 2025

The theme of this years Challenge is 'The Senses'. There are 4 categories: Sight, Smell, Taste and Touch.

Entry 1- Category: Sight

" A wonderful day to remember"
polymer clay mosaic, 40 cm x 60 cm

A cruise ship stop at Mystery Island and my first experience of walking on coral sand, sitting under majestic palm trees, drinking from a fresh coconut. This was a wonderful day to remember on a special holiday, to celebrate my 50th birthday, cruising the Western Pacific Islands.

Entry 2 - Category: Smell

"Kakara" (fragrance bowl)
polymer clay mosaic, 12 cm diameter

Kakara is the Māori word for aromatic, fragrant, sweet-smelling. For the exhibition, I will place a Freesia & Jasmine reed scented diffuser in the bowl, to provide the actual scent that the floral images in the mosaic convey. 

Below is a photograph taken at the exhibition.

Harcourts Challenge & Big Arts Day Out 2025

I have two entries in the Harcourts Challenge and a stand at the Big Arts Day Out, where I will be demonstrating how I make my Swirl-StoNZ. Looking forward to these events over the Auckland Anniversary weekend, it will be a feast of creativity!

Harcourts Challenge 2025 - Entry 2 is progressing very slowly

This will be my main entry, under the category Sight. The mosaic picture, titled "A wonderful day to remember", is from a memory. It is progressing very, very slowly! I have only completed the bottom third of the picture, as I write this before Christmas, and all the palm tree leaves yet to come are daunting. There is only a month left until submission and am seriously worried that I may not get it finished in time. 

I think this is likely to be my last dot mosaic picture, due to the time-consuming nature of the medium, so I have to get it finished for this competition. As I have been spending all my time on this artwork, I have not managed to create any new work to sell on my stand at the Big Arts Day Out, so this entry needs to be impressive.

Harcourts Challenge 2025 - Entry 1 completed

I have completed my first entry for the 2025 Harcourts Challenge. The theme is 'The Senses' and there are four categories: Sight, Smell, Taste, Touch. My piece is "Kakara" and will be entered under the Smell category. I will post photographs once the competition has been judged on 24 January 2025.

'Touch of Spring' - 29 September 2024

Here are a few photos of the fabulous afternoon event arranged by the Whangamata Arts Collective.

Entry by ticket

General shots of the artwork on display

My three paintings:
Sailing at Sunset - And the waves keep rolling in - A Glimpse of Summer

Three new paintings completed

Here are my three entries for the Whangamata Arts Collective 'Touch of Spring' event at the end of this month. From left to right: 

• Sailing at Sunset, 50cm diameter
• A Glimpse of Summer, 20cm x 40cm
• "and the waves keep rolling in", 60cm x 60cm

They are all done with acrylic paint, coloured sand and fine glitter (unfortunately the glitter does not show in the photographs). There are larger individual photos under the 'GALLERY: PAINTING' tab. 

Touch of Spring - 29 September 2024

 

Really looking forward to this Whangamata Arts Collective event. I have already done two mixed media paintings, which I hope to exhibit, and I am currently starting on a third one (hopefully I will get it finished in time).