Garden City Blocks I

final painting on canvas of Christchurch Hospital in the foreground, green trees, and the Arts Centre in the background, all bathed in the warm light of summer
| Anna Cull
final painting of Christchurch Hospital in the foreground, green trees and the Arts Centre in the background, presented in the context of a line-drawn living room to give an idea of the size

‘Garden City Blocks I’ acrylic on canvas, 510 x 510 mm, 2024
  • the photo reference used to create the painting, with Christchurch Hospital in the foreground, an abundance of green trees, and the Arts Centre in the background
    Photo reference
  • work in progress charcoal sketch on canvas
    WIP 1
  • work in progress tonal underpainting in greys, white and yellow ochre
    WIP 2
  • work in progress tonal underpainting, with more greys, whites and yellow ochre
    WIP 3
  • work in progress adding colour to the landscape
    WIP 4
  • final painting on canvas of Christchurch Hospital in the foreground, green trees, and the Arts Centre in the background, all bathed in the warm light of summer
    Final

This is the first of two local landscapes painted in a style similar to the Pleasant Valley Sundays. The reference photo was taken a little over ten years ago, high above Christchurch city, from the window of a DC-3. I zoooooomed in and found a view overlooking Christchurch Hospital with the Arts Centre in the background. So that you can appreciate exactly how much I had to zoom in to find my composition, I’ve posted the original unedited photograph below…

The section I painted is in the middle distance on the far left, near the wing.

The painting is, I think, now finished, and will be part of next month’s exhibition at Down by the Liffey Gallery in Lincoln.

The Real and The Surreal Exhibition
Wednesday 12th June — Sunday 7th July
Down by the Liffey Gallery, 1 James Street, Lincoln, Canterbury, NZ

The other artists exhibiting will be potter Della Goodinson and painter Georgette Thompson.

A Night to Remember

final painting of yellow, orange and purple clouds with the silhouette of three tall palm trees in the foreground
| Anna Cull
‘Yellow Orange Purple (A Night to Remember)’ acrylic on canvas, 610 x 510 mm, 2024

And what a night it was. As far as skies go, I think there is nothing yummier than clouds changing colour as the sun sets during a Canterbury nor’wester. I have painted this scene before (as ‘Red Sky at Night’ and also as ‘Warm Night, Southern Sky’) and I’m pretty sure I’ll be painting it again.

  • the photo reference that inspired the painting of yellow, orange and purple clouds with the silhouette of three tall palm trees in the foreground
    Photo reference
  • work in progress charcoal sketch on canvas
    WIP 1
  • work in progress tonal underpainting in black, grey, yellow ochre and white
    WIP 2
  • work in progress adding colour to the clouds and landscape
    WIP 3
  • final painting of yellow, orange and purple clouds with the silhouette of three tall palm trees in the foreground
    Final

With June’s exhibition fast approaching ~ as I knew it would ~ I wanted to include a few larger paintings (i.e. larger than the ones I usually paint). ‘Yellow Orange Purple (A Night to Remember)’ is the first of them ~ three more to go.

Exhibition details coming next month.

Trees

final painting of a row of trees with green grass in the foreground and soft blue mountains in the distance, presented in the context of a line-drawn living room to give an idea of the size
| Anna Cull
final painting of a row of trees with green grass in the foreground and soft blue mountains in the distance, presented in the context of a line-drawn living room to give an idea of the size
‘A Conversation with Trees’ acrylic on canvas, 305 x 610 mm, 2024

Sunlight gathers; leaves,
Deep in conversation, turn
Autumn evergreen.

  • the photo reference that inspired the painting: a typical New Zealand landscape of sheep, green grass and a line of trees
    Photo reference
  • work in progress tonal underpainting in grey, white and yellow ochre
    WIP 1
  • work in progress adding colour and details to the landscape
    WIP 2
  • work in progress adding more colour and details to the landscape
    WIP 3
  • final painting on canvas
    Final

This is a scene I’ve painted before ~ both with and without sheep. I love the shapes and the colours, and I love that it is so typically New Zealand. ‘A Conversation with Trees’ will also be part of my exhibition in June. Details coming next month.

Clouds

final painting of low clouds over bushy green hills, blue mountains in the distance and three power poles on the left in the foreground, presented in the context of a line-drawn living room to give an idea of the size
| Anna Cull
‘A Conversation with Clouds’ acrylic on canvas, 305 x 610 mm, 2024

Whispers of low cloud
Come and go with the sunrise:
A perfect morning.

  • Photo reference
  • WIP 1
  • WIP 2
  • WIP 3
  • Final
‘A Conversation with Clouds’ detail
‘A Conversation with Clouds’ detail

I am saving this one for June’s exhibition ~ it looks so much better in person than in the photos. I will post details of the exhibition a little closer to the time.

Out of Left Field

final semi-abstract painting of four eucalyptus trees, cropped in the foreground, with seven tiny sheep dots grazing in front of a pale turquoise wooden farmhouse on the distant left
| Anna Cull
‘Out of Left Field (Four Trees)’ acrylic on canvas, 405 x 305 mm, 2024
  • the photo reference that inspired the painting, a typical New Zealand farm landscape
    Photo reference
  • work in progress charcoal sketch on canvas
    WIP 1
  • work in progress tonal underpainting in greys, white and touches of yellow ochre
    WIP 2
  • work in progress adding colour to the landscape
    WIP 3
  • final painting of four eucalyptus trees, cropped in the foreground, a pale turquoise wooden farmhouse on the distant left and seven tiny sheep dots
    Final

Here is another South Island summer landscape and my first painting of 2024. It features four magnificent eucalyptus trees, a charming wooden farmhouse and seven teeny tiny sheep dots.

This painting is also destined for the exhibition in June. More info about that a little later.

Balancing Act

final painting of a power pylon in a summer landscape with small white clouds and pale purple mountains in the distance
| Anna Cull
‘Balancing Act (Little Fluffy Clouds)’ acrylic on canvas, 305 x 405 mm, 2023

When the world gets busy, sometimes something has to give. In my case, it has been keeping my blog updated. Sorry about that. I am in the middle of preparing for an exhibition in June and that means that I have been painting painting painting and not much else. As a result, I seem to have misplaced January.

  • Photo reference
  • WIP 1
  • WIP 2
  • WIP 3
  • final painting of a power pylon in a summer landscape with small white clouds and pale purple mountains in the distance
    Final

‘Balancing Act (Little Fluffy Clouds)’ was actually my last painting of 2023. It celebrates the Southern Alps in high summer with clouds replacing snow on the mountains, a power pylon and, yep, even more little fluffy clouds. It won’t be available to purchase until exhibition time but I’ll tell you more about that a little closer to the time : )