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 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.

The End Of An Era

The End Of An Era
40cm (16 inches) diameter

This piece was created with the last of my handmade round mosaic tiles, marking the end of my phase of dot mosaic art.

Two new pieces: Dream Lamp and Contemplation #2

Here are the latest two pieces I have been working on

Dream Lamp - shown in different lighting situations
15cm (6 inches) diameter

Contemplation #2
20cm (8 inches) diameter
extruded polymer

Dot Painting versus Dot Mosaic

A. Dot Painting

B. Dot Mosaic

I finally got the chance to show my two pictures, both of the same flower design, one done by painting the dots (A) and the other done with round mosaic tiles (B). I wanted to get public opinion as to which was preferred. There were enough people at the Art in the Park event to get a reasonable response. Of the 74 votes cast, the results were:

A. Dot Painting - 34%

B. Dot Mosaic    - 66%

I am happy with the result, as I did not enjoy doing the dot painting, which is a very different technique to the dot mosaics that I love creating. The result of two thirds in favour of the dot mosaic validates my decision to continue with mosaics.

Alphabet Orb - photos

Here is my recently completed piece, titled Alphabet Orb. I will try taking a video of it on my electric turntable, when it is quiet, and add that later.

Alphabet Orb - front and back shots
15cm (6 inches) diametre

'Inspiration' featured in the Whangamata News

Had quite a surprise when I looked at the 9 October 2020 edition of the Whangamata News. My mosaic sphere 'Inspiration' was featured in an article about the recent Spring Mingle, organised by the Whangamata Arts Collective. 

Midwinter Mingle - Sunday 16 August 2020

I joined the Arts Collective Whangamata last year and this will be the first event since the Covid-19 Lockdown. Really looking forward to getting back into the art/craft scene. Due to continuing house renovations, I have not yet had time to create anything new. So, the piece I have chosen to exhibit at this event is my double** award winning dot mosaic sculpture titled 'Inspiration'. It is a piece that I am really proud of and I think it shows my skill and ability well. I will be very sad to see it go, if it sells, as it is one of my favourite dot mosaic sculptures so far. I will just have to try and make time to create more, as the ideas are all waiting in my head.

*2018 International Polymer Clay Awards: Applicant Artists Members Choice for Non-Functional Sculpture and Hanging Art
*2019 Annual Members Merit Awards, Estuary Arts Centre (Orewa): 3d Category

What's on my mind - Whangamata

Here is my dot mosaic sculpture created for the Harcourts Arts Challenge 2020, which has the theme 'What's on my mind'. On display at The Big Arts Day Out Exhibition on 9, 10 & 11 January 2020 at the Memorial Hall, Whangamata, NZ.

Various views of 'What's on my mind - Whangamata'

Imprinted in the round mosaic tiles that make up the sculpture were the thoughts that went through my mind, as I came up with the design. You will find the following:

• Whangamata
• Protecting our slice of paradise
• For future generations
• Keeping the air clean
• The forests full of birds
• Protecting our wildlife
• Supporting local business
• Land free of litter
• Pollution free waterways
• Beaches clean
• Recreation in harmony with nature
• Fish stocks sustained
• A precious place to be conserved for all to enjoy

Entry finshed for the Harcourts Art Challenge 2020

This challenge has the theme ‘What’s on Your Mind’. I have just finished the 3D dot mosaic piece, which is called ‘What’s on my mind – Whangamata’. It will be on display at The Big Arts Day Out Exhibition in Whangamata on 9, 10 & 11 January 2020. I will post photos/video, once the judging has taken place on Friday 9 January.

Members Merit Awards published in August Newsletter

 

'Inspiration' wins a Merit Award

Thrilled to win a Merit Award for my dot mosaic sculpture, titled ‘Inspiration’. See the exhibition, which is on throughout August, at the Estuary Arts Centre, Orewa.

'Inspiration' - in daylight and in the dark

Receiving the award

On display with judge's comments

Exhibition details

Auckland - City of Sails (commission)

Although I am taking a 'creative break' this year, I have managed to finish this piece, which was a commission.

Sphere of Happiness

This is my latest dot mosaic sculpture titled 'Sphere of Happiness'.

I was wanting to include words in this next sphere sculpture, which was inspired by a recent customer who requested yellow Swirl-StoNZ because, in colour therapy, yellow is for 'Happiness'. I have chosen to use shades of yellow and orange for the tiles and have included words associated with 'Happiness' by stamping individual letters on some of the circular tiles. You will find the following words spiraling around the sphere: Happy, Joy, Smile, Content, Love, Blessed, Delight, Laugh, Elation, Bliss, Hug, Fortunate, Radiant, Satisfaction, Pleasure, Well-being, Euphoric, Cheer, Enjoyment.

Sphere of Happiness

This piece is one of my entries in the 'Cut in Colour' Mosaic Exhibition, which will run from 2-27 May 2018 at the Estuary Art Centre, Orewa.

2017 Polymer Clay Awards

PHOTO TO BE POSTED LATER

I have just finished my latest polymer dot mosaic artwork, which will be my main entry for the 2017 International Polymer Clay Awards competition. Unfortunately I cannot show a photo of it yet, as I believe one of the rules of the competition is that it must not have been exhibited or shown (which includes online) anywhere before. As soon as the competition has been judged, I will post a photo and a description of why I believe it fits the theme of the competition, which is "To Boldly Go".

Submission accepted for the Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards 2016

I was thrilled to receive the news that my latest dot mosaic artwork, submitted for the Hibiscus and Bays Art Awards, has been selected for the exhibition.