PAUA COLLECTION
This collection of artworks is based on the Paua Shell from New Zealand. Having family connections with New Zealand I was given a polished Paua Shell as a child and was fascinated by the myriad of colours in its surface.The Paua Shell is similar to the Abalone in shape but has far more intense colours in a more greenish-blue palette. I tried to recreate the iridescent ‘mother of pearl’ feel and the swirling intertwining patterns by using metallic threads and beads arranged painstakingly into shapes and swirls.
Paua Shell No.1
Paua Shell No.1 (Detail)
Paua Shell No.2
Paua Shell No.3
Paua Shell No.4
Paua Shell No.1
mixed media on canvassize 60 x 60 x 2cm
Price £695
In painting No’s 1 and 2, I looked at the shell as a whole but arranged the composition so that the shell filled the frame, allowing a little ambiguity as to the subject matter and removing the need for a distracting background.
No.1 is a painting with texture relief, threads and beads layered on top. They are carefully blended in density and in colour as if spray painting and fading from dark to light, colour to colour only with beads instead of paint. Thus, the top edge is heavily encrusted with intense colours and gradually fades towards the bottom of the piece, which is lightly covered with more delicate colours and pearlescent paints.
Paua Shell No.1 (DETAIL)
Enlargement of a section of the large painting ‘Paua Shell 1’size 60 x 60 x 2cm
Price £695
In painting No’s 1 and 2, I looked at the shell as a whole but arranged the composition so that the shell filled the frame, allowing a little ambiguity as to the subject matter and removing the need for a distracting background.
No.1 is a painting with texture relief, threads and beads layered on top. They are carefully blended in density and in colour as if spray painting and fading from dark to light, colour to colour only with beads instead of paint. Thus, the top edge is heavily encrusted with intense colours and gradually fades towards the bottom of the piece, which is lightly covered with more delicate colours and pearlescent paints.
Paua Shell No.2
acrylic on canvas (has no beads or thread)size 30 x 50 x 2cm
Price £149
No.2 is an observational painting using texture relief and acrylics, there are subtle layers of iridescent and pearlised paints which change according to the light; so in some light the painting appears to have a golden glow, or a bluish-purple hue, or a pale pearlescent sheen. There are no beads or thread used in this piece.
Paua Shell No.3
mixed media on canvassize 30 x 30 x 2cm
Price £125
In paintings No’s 3 and 4, I focused on a small section of the shell enlarging it into different scales and allowing more creative license to develop the work in a more abstract way. Both of these pieces are heavily encrusted with threads and beads.
Paua Shell No.4
mixed media on canvassize 20 x 20 x 4cm
Price £85
No.4 is painted on a deep edged 4cm thick canvas which allows the pattern to continue on the sides thus creating a different painting from different views in the room.