Several years ago I came across this 1945 Coca Cola Ad by Dean Cornwell in a little shop in Devonport, Auckland and had to have it. (Although, I ended up finding it much much cheaper at
paperboynews.com).
Besides having the American/New Zealand connection and the fact that it's a beautiful painting, I fell in love with the illustration because Coca Cola and Dean didn't do their research. Not only is the heading incorrect; it reads- Have a "Coke" = Kia Ora and below "kia ora", in brackets, it says "Good Luck". But, Kia Ora is a Maori greeting much like Aloha...just a "hello". The "Maori" in the illustration looks nothing like Maori, nor his dress nor his tattoos. His waka (canoe) looks nothing like a waka. The motifs on the "waka" are not Maori. The Meeting House is pretty spot on, though. And let's face it, the painting, as usual, is beautifully painted in the typical Dean Cornwell style.
Jim has finished his annual Buffalo Bill's Portrait. This time the player was Bruce Smith. We managed to send him off the day before our quick trip to Sydney and Singapore.
We are proud to offer free tickets (while supplies last) for Auckland's Biggest Week of Art Charity Exhibition and Sale.
Many of you have probably noticed over the past few weeks some renovations at our shop. We, especially Jim, have been inundated over the past year with requests for classes. SO, we are making space for a weekly drawing and painting workshop. Jim (and Nathan Ota) ran a life drawing and painting workshop at Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles and our workshop will be run much the same...interesting, costumed models holding 3 to 4 hour poses.
Jim's Snapper was made from 100% recycled material. This one was a prototype for a piece with a school of three that sold at Mairangi Bay's Recycled Art Exhibition this month. He's taking me out for a Snapper dinner with his earnings. He'll be eating a side salad and nibbling off my plate.
Thumbtack Press is offering this signed, limited edition print by Bob Dob as a fundraiser for 
Several years ago I came across this 1945 Coca Cola Ad by Dean Cornwell in a little shop in Devonport, Auckland and had to have it. (Although, I ended up finding it much much cheaper at paperboynews.com).
I'm drawing/painting a series, based on Theatrical Postcards. This is a drawing for my latest, the first being my Rat Woman. The quote at the bottom will hopefully be the frosting on the cake.
