seascape

Yes, I’m finally painting again…

Acrylic painting of a pier and its reflection in the waves, painted in a semi-abstract style with lots of texture.
| Anna Cull
‘Chasing Reflections’ acrylic on canvas, 305 x 305 mm, 2023. Available.

…and it feels really good. I’ve just finished this little painting of New Brighton Pier, I have another small painting I’m hoping to complete this week, and I’ve started a series of three landscapes inspired by Port Chalmers that are progressing nicely. My renewed enthusiasm definitely has a little something to do with a solo exhibition I’m having in August. By happy coincidence (I did not plan it), the pier just happens to be around the corner from the gallery : ) The photograph of ‘Chasing Reflections’ is not the best and it’s too late to take a better one now that I’ve started varnishing it (see photo below), so it’s a good thing that it will be in the exhibition because it looks so much better in person.

I first painted New Brighton Pier in 2014 and I wanted to revisit it and concentrate on the reflections. The painting underneath gives it an interesting texture (yes, I painted over an older work but don’t worry ~ it was nothing important) and the varnish makes the shadows deeper.

‘Chasing Reflections’ texture detail with added shine

So if you’re in Christchurch in August, please call in and have a look. There will be more than a dozen paintings ~ big and small ~ in the exhibition and all will be available to purchase. It will run from 5th-27th August at The Gallery, The Bridge Hub, 51 Bridge Street, South New Brighton, Christchurch (NZ).

Akaroa 2.0

| Anna Cull
‘Bird’s-eye View’ — acrylic on canvas, 150 x 150mm, 2020. SOLD

Here is another reworking of an old painting. You can compare it with the original below…

‘Bird’s-eye View’ old and new versions for comparison ~ seen here alongside ‘On the Harbour’

There were elements I liked in the original version but, two years on, that background now looked like an embarrassing mess to me. So I painted over it with green, gold, purple and turquoise, redefining the hill shapes and tree lines. The seagull and little boats were also tweaked a little to put them more ‘in’ the painting. I had planned to leave the water untouched (I really liked the original water) but having changed everything else, it needed to be warmer and simpler to work with the other elements. Overall, I think it’s an improvement, and even if you disagree… it’s too late now!

Fortunately the new version still looks good alongside the other little Akaroa study. Both paintings* (sold separately) are currently available on Trade Me (NZ) as I continue with the Big Spring Clean of 2020.

*Please note that both paintings have now sold.

New Brighton Pier

| Anna Cull

New Brighton Pier, Christchurch — acrylic on canvas, 230 x 305 mm, 2014
New Brighton Pier, Christchurch — acrylic on canvas, 230 x 305 mm, 2014. SOLD

Finished, freshly varnished and now for sale sold. Click here if you missed the original post about this painting.

I’ve listed a couple of other paintings ― two I’m rather fond of that I painted last year. Both are available via Etsy or directly from me.

‘Runner’ and ‘Peace and Love’ 2013
‘Runner’ and ‘Peace and Love’ 2013. SOLD