landscape

Getting There By Being Here

the final version of the acrylic painting with the final colours: yellow and orange clouds against a mid blue sky, dark green trees in silhouette above mid green and yellow grass, and a grey and white road in the lower right corner
| Anna Cull
‘Getting There By Being Here’ acrylic on canvas, 405 x 510 mm, 2023. SOLD
  • Photo reference
  • WIP 1
  • WIP 2
  • Final

Many of my paintings start out as quickly snapped photographs taken through a car windscreen while driving somewhere (not while I’m driving ~ that would be silly ~ but when I’m a passenger, amusing myself on road trips). This one was taken somewhere between Amberley and Christchurch, late summer, 2021. It wasn’t the best photo I took of the amazing sky that followed us home that night but I liked the line of light through the trees on the horizon. The six little road markers very nearly didn’t make it into the painting ~ and now I can’t imagine it without them.

No haiku today. I think a sky on fire is poetry enough.

Beyond the Tree Line

final painting shown in the context of a line-drawn living room to give an idea of the size
| Anna Cull
‘Beyond the Tree Line’ acrylic on canvas, 250 x 510 mm, 2023. Private collection.

‘Beyond the Tree Line’ is one of two paintings I started in March 2021. Both paintings had such strong beginnings that I decided to put them to one side and concentrate on other things for a few weeks. The plan was to wait until I had a very clear sense of what to do with them (i.e. and to not be afraid of ruining them). Two and a half years later, I finally found the courage to tackle Tree Line. And I’m very glad I did. The first WIP (work in progress) photo below is from 2021. The other 2021 painting is still waiting patiently…

  • Photo reference
  • WIP 1
  • WIP 2
  • WIP 3
  • WIP 4
  • Final

This South Island landscape is one I first painted in 2017 with sheep. I decided to paint this one without.

Pegasus Bay Art Show 2023

six New Zealand landscape paintings of trees and houses by Anna Cull exhibited at Pegasus Bay Art Show 2023
| Anna Cull
landscape paintings by NZ artist Anna Cull
My panel at this year’s Pegasus Bay Art Show

It’s officially the first day of spring here in New Zealand and it’s raining art shows. Following on from a successful exhibition at The Bridge Hub in August, last night we set up for the Pegasus Bay Art Show.

My panel this year includes four brand new paintings. And by “brand new” I mean that I finished painting them over the weekend. When I signed up to take part, I only had two paintings that met the criteria (which included that artworks be less than three years old). Silly me, I thought that three months would be enough time to sort that out… but then I decided to exhibit at The Bridge and paint three new paintings for that show. Time was ticking. Ticking. Ticking.

It was the Pleasant Valley Sundays (the three square landscapes, bottom left) that almost broke me. But I made it. Just. I’ll write more about them and the new treescape painting (top left) and show you some WIPs in my next two posts.

The Pegasus Bay Art Show is open Saturday and Sunday with more than 70 artists taking part this year. And tonight is opening night. Exciting!

THE Smallest Painting

painted art brooch of snow on mountains, a New Zealand landscape painted on a very small canvas
| Anna Cull
Snowy mountain art brooch, approx. 2 x 2.5 inches, 2022.

This snowy New Zealand mountain scene was my last painting for 2022. It is also an art brooch and THE smallest painting I’ve ever tackled. I was commissioned to paint it last month as a Christmas present. The artist and the recipient are both very happy with the result.

Mini Moonscapes

a small painting of a full moon over an abstract city at night by Anna Cull
| Anna Cull

“Moonlight is the proof that there will always be light in darkness.” Debayan Ghosh

a small painting of a full moon over Christchurch City at night by Anna Cull
‘Blue’ city moonscape, 100 x 100 mm, 2022. Available.
a small painting of a full moon over Christchurch City at night by Anna Cull
a small painting of a full moon over Christchurch City at night by Anna Cull
‘Full’ city moonscape, 100 x 100 mm, 2022. Available.
a small painting of a full moon over Christchurch City at night by Anna Cull

I’m slowly getting back into painting again : ) These mini Christchurch City moonscapes look even better now they’re varnished.

My thanks to Beth / I didn’t have my glasses on…. for making me aware of Debayan Ghosh’s moonlight quote.