Choo-choo! The Weka Pass Railway is full steam ahead!

I designed this for a young boy in the Netherlands, whom I received as an Official (ie: random) recepient via Postcrossing. His parents work in the rail industry and thus he has a passion for trains and other large vehicles. Although his other preferences were beaches and animals and mountains, none of my cards seem to quite have the charm that a preschool (I presume) child would choose, so I decided, what the heck? I need more practice drawing vehicles anyway!

The Weka Pass Railway is a steam train operating for recreational purposes in northern Canterbury. It is run by volunteers and operates on the 1st and 3rd sunday of every month, taking people around 12.8 km of scenic landscape. This landscape includes unique limestone formations, like Frog Rock which I have illustrated here. If looms over the road too, and makes quite an impressive sight. You can probably guess how it got its name.

Anyway, look! I drew a train!

#2499 - Welcome to Moria

So where is Moria? Well, Middle Earth, obviously, but the location is in fact at the top of the West Coast of New Zealand, in the Kahurangi National Park.

Here is the photo that inspired this ATC and a selection of others. These were taken by my father on one of my parents holidays up to the West Coast. I have never been here, myself :(

Wanganui River

When I decided to draw a landscape to send to Mauritius, I got thinking - what don't they have in Mauritius? Mountains, I imagine, and probably nothing quite like the wild Wanganui river, either. I've not seen it myeslf - this was photoreferenced off a picture my father took when he and mum visited there in 2008. I joined them later in their jaunt, at Rotorua. I actually made the river look a little bluer than the reality.

All aboard the Sugar Train!

Inspired by our Honeymoon in Queensland.

Starry Night over an Aztec Temple

Because one never gets tired of plagerising Van Gogh!

This piece will go to Turkey.

Scenic land Downunder

I don't draw enough landscapes, it's true. That's because I'm pretty bad at them. And do you know how you get good at something?

You practise.

So, here's the results of my latest practise:


What you are seeing here are four specific landmarks located at various points around New Zealand.
We have:
Moeraki Boulders at sunset (just north of Dunedin, Otago)
Viaduct at Arthur's Pass (on the way to the West Coast)
The Lighthouse at Cape Reinga (Bay of Islands)
Volcanic Terraces at Rotorua

Three of the four pictures were referenced from my own photos, only the Moeraki boulders were not. I think it's time we went down south again!

Colourful Landscapes

It has been a quiet few days as the evenings have been too cold for art, and the days I've been at work. Today, however, was the first day of the weekend. However, as our international postal rates increase next tuesday, I'm in a bit of a rush to get as muich out as I can.

Now I don't draw a lot of landscapes - usually because my use of saturated colour tends to make them look artifical and fake.

However, this is for the "Colourful Landscapes" swap. I signed up for this because I need to practise landscapes and you seriously cannot get any more colourful than Hawaii.

These colours ARE NOT exaggerated (much). Some of you may recognise these places.

Kauai
Red Rocks at Waimea Canyon

Kalalau Valley

Hawaii (the island)
Devastation Trail (Volcanic stones)

Onomea Bay (east coast, near the Botanic Gardens)

Also today I worked on a new "favourite artist" piece. This time doing a parody/pastiche of Frida Kahlo's work.

I present to you: Lemur Kahlo

To work on ASAP:
May PAT (July 24th):
* Purple
* CATS
* Hot Air Balloons
* (hostess gift for Carol)

June PAT (August 18th):
* Hippoes
* Cute Male Gnomes
* Potted Plants
*(hostess gift for Tamrantula)