why this, why now?

I've decided to try out a blog because I seem to have ideas and get ideas all the time, with no central and accessible way of documenting these ideas. It could be ideas for my own personal projects, ideas for teaching design, design inspiration, or a place to put up some of my own design/art/creative stuff.

So here we go, lets see how well it suits my intentions....

Sunday, December 30, 2012

overall painting progress


Two of the five areas have now had the next level of detail added.  

Friday, December 28, 2012

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mt Victoria at dusk again....



The latest painting of houses on Mt Victoria, mainly Elizabeth and Pirie Streets.  
Watch this space as it progresses.  
The intention is for it to have a similar feel to the following ones....
with lights on at dusk and the line up of elevations...




Thursday, May 10, 2012

Holland

The Keukenhof tulip gardens in The Netherlands that I visited with my Oma (grandmother) in May 2003.  Such a beautiful place, made more special by being able to share it with my inspirational Oma.  She has this painting which is acrylic on canvas and is small at just 230 x 300mm.  

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

details and close ups










... some examples of details of paintings that will be part of 


"Wellington and other places called home - an exhibition" 
http://www.thistlehall.org.nz/gallery.html  
April 9 - 15 2012, Thistle Hall, Cuba Street, Wellington
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellington-and-Other-Places-Called-Home-An-Exhibition/200625063369682

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Kumototo, Wellington Waterfront



Kumototo seasons series
Acrylic on canvas
3 x canvasses 600 x 200
Can be arranged to be either  stacked vertically at 600 x 600 or aligned horizontally at 1800 x 200
2008 - 2010 

Sunday, March 4, 2012

View of Spanish Arch and the Claddagh, Galway



My first painting of Galway, 2003.  Acrylic on Canvas.  
Sold to a local after hanging in Javas Cafe, along with 2 other paintings of mine of this iconic area of Galway i.e. the Claddagh, the River Corrib, the Spanish Arch and the Long Walk.  

'When Harry Met Sally' set design - Galway, Ireland, 2004



Images of the set design for 'When Harry Met Sally' at the Galway Town Hall 2004.  Directed by Lily Hill.  
I painted these old movie posters onto large pieces of fabric using just red, pink, black and white.  They were hung as if part of a cafe/bar to create the set for the whole play.  Depending on how the space was utilised and lit it could represent and airplane, bedroom, shop, gallery, etc.  


"Director Lily Hill, straight from the stages of New York City, has adapted the hugely successful movie of the same name and brought it to laugh-out-loud life for the stage.  Maiken Calkoen, fresh from the stages of New Zealand has created a fun and unique set that transforms the Studio into the hottest place to be for the evening." 
 - The Galway Independent, 28 January 2004.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

State House or Art Deco



its not all Mt Vic villas.....
paintings done as wedding presents for the owners/families
iconic architecture of the respective eras/styles

State House Lower Hutt: 2011 - oil on board - 600 x 300 
Art Deco Hawkes Bay: 2006 - acrylic on board - 600 x 200 

Paintings for kids




All three above were presents for new babies:
top:  5 Trees for Ngaio 2009 - acrylic on canvas - 400 x 200
middle:  5 Boats for Thomas 2009 - oil on canvas - 400 x 200
bottom:  Fish for Mariske - 2009 - acrylic on canvas - 920 x 610

paintings for kitchens




Stripes, pacifica styled flowers, food and text, are common here.  

top:  Cafe Kainui, 2005 (900 x 750) - for our flat in Hataitai on Kainui Road
centre:  Cafe Naenae 2007 (1015 x 505) - for the Martins of Naenae
bottom:  3 panel pacifica flowers 2007 (3 @ 450 x 150)- owned by the Braders in Boston.  

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

dreaming of travel

                       

 

I did these sketches while travelling through Andalucia in the South of Spain in 2004.  
Seville, Cordoba and Ronda with its amazing bridge.  



Sunday, January 8, 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

progress



This painting has progressed in the last few days and hopefully it will be finished very soon so that I can start the next one I have planned for the exhibition.