Spring Study

small acrylic painting study of pink blossoms, spring in New Zealand
a small acrylic painting study of pink blossoms, spring in New Zealand, by Anna Cull
Spring Study, acrylic on paper, 2022
  • a photo of a flowering plum tree in spring, New Zealand
  • a photo of a flowering plum tree in spring, New Zealand
  • a photo of a DIY cardboard viewfinder being used to crop a photo of spring blossoms
  • a photo of spring blossoms, New Zealand
  • a small acrylic painting study of spring blossoms by Anna Cull Art, New Zealand

The reference for this quick little painting was a photo taken using American artist Sister Corita Kent’s ‘finder’ method of using a DIY viewfinder to see the world one small piece at a time. It’s a very simple and very effective way of simplifying a scene to discover compositions that might otherwise not be obvious. And yes, once again the view outside my window (late August this year) has provided me with inspiration. 🌸 🌸 🌸

If you would like to learn more about artist, educator and activist Sister Mary Corita, I recommend starting with a visit to the Corita Art Center.

The World Looks Different Today

acrylic painting of pink blossoms against a blue sky background (sold), by Anna Cull
‘The World Looks Different Today’ acrylic on canvas, 155 x 305 mm, 2021. SOLD

Hi. It has been a few months since I posted anything here and I wanted to assure you that my social media silence is nothing to be concerned about. I am still here… I have been busy writing songs. My intention was to work on music and take a short break from painting for a month or so and, in the blink on an eye, it is now September and the first day of spring!

Yesterday I finally picked up a paintbrush again and this is what happened…

The year that was (and my ninth Annaversary post)

a nine-grid square of Anna Cull's art from the last year

It is time once again for my annual retrospective. Here is a collection of nine favourite paintings from the last year ~ three birds, a port, a rainbow, a river, a few fuchsias, and lots of clouds and trees. Of course other things also happened. There were the colouring-in pages that I created at the start of the pandemic (when painting was the last thing I felt like doing but I had to do something). I also gave my blog and profile picture a bit of a makeover, created a Portfolio page, and made a new range of arty little fridge magnets. But, really, when it comes to art, if I’m not putting paint on canvas, I’m not happy. Six months went by e.v.e.r. s.o. s.l.o.w.l.y. and then ~ for no particular reason that I can recall ~ I started painting again. Putting together a collection for this anniversary post, it seems to me that I may have made up for the lost time : )

Royals

acrylic painting of a monarch butterfly on white Queen Anne's Lace flowers by Anna Cull
‘Royals’ acrylic on canvas, 200 x 200 mm, 2021. Available.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,
but in having new eyes.

Marcel Proust

My latest painting is a new, smaller version of a scene that I have painted once before. I find the image and the idea equally appealing ~ a monarch butterfly resting on Queen Anne’s Lace, as if by royal appointment.