A Page from my Journal

A Page from my Journal

Waewae-kaka

This is a page from my journal made while I work on The Book of Flowers.  A common fern

waewae-kaka or tangle fern can often be seen beneath your feet as you walk through the bush. 

The orange berries of the native New Zealand iris mikoikoi are on the left, the silhouette of a native moth and the pale fern looper at the bottom and fallen pohutukawa leaves from

Raumati Beach lie in between.

By the tangle fern is the silhouette of a heitiki - an ancestor figure and the goddess of childbirth.

 

 

 

 

Frances Jill Studd website

Midnight Collective

 

all photographs copyright to Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

The Bumble Bee

 

The Bumble Bee

Bombus terrestis

Bumbus terrestis or the Bumble Bee was once called the Humble Bee because of it's hum.It's numbers are now declining due to loss of habitat and pesticides.  I made this work in celebration of these busy little creatures which hum in our gardens during the Summer months and in recognition of the loss

of bees worldwide.

 

 

 

 

Bombus terrestis is now on exhibition in the Small Sculpture Award at the Waiheke

Community Art Gallery.  It is made from knitted yarn wire and beads, and will be on view

until 13th April.

 

 

Midnight Collective

all photographs copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 

 

Kawakawa leaves for the Book of Flowers

Kawakawa leaves for the Book of Flowers

 

 

This small painting is of Kawakawa leaves, sometimes called the New Zealand pepper tree,

it is a native coastal shrub.  This variety is called Macropiper Golden Heart because of the golden splash in the centre of each heart shaped leaf.  

The leaves are often pitted with small holes made by a native looper moth. 

 

 

 

 

Maori custom uses the leaves as a head wreath for tangis (grieving and burial for the dead).  It is also known for it's herbal properties and can be made into a tea or chewed to relieve toothache.

 

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014
Midnight Collective

 

Some Ferns for the Book of Flowers

 

 

Some Ferns for the Book of Flowers

I have seen the Rau-renga or kidney ferns growing on the banks of a tributary of the Whanganui Awa, they are a pellucid green and although it is a common fern it is a sight which is hard to forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midnight Collective Environmental Blog

Jill Studd's website

 

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2014

More from The Book of Flowers

 

 

More from The Book of Flowers

 

This painting is of another manuka flower, Leptospemum scoparium.  It is a rich pink and red

and although a wild variety can be found in gardens thoughout New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

These paintings will form an exhibition at the High Tide Cafe

44 Marine Parade, Paraparaumu during May this year.

 

 

 

All images copyright of Frances Jill Studd 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The Book of Flowers

 

 

The Book of Flowers

 

Here is a picture from my latest project which I have just begun, it is called The Book of Flowers and  will contain some native flowers of New Zealand.  This is a specimen from our neighbour's pink manuka or Leptospernum scoparium.  The flowers range from white to pink and red and it is a favourite with the bees.

 

 

 

Pink Manuka

Watercolour on paper

 

All images copyright Frances Jill Studd 2013



Mantle at The Mahara

Mantle at the Mahara Gallery


My exhibition 'Mantle' opens at the Mahara Gallery, Waikanae on Tuesday

17th December at 4pm - all wecome.  It runs until the 2nd February so you can catch it over the holidays.  Here is another photograph from the series:

 

 

This photograph is made from a combination of images, the main one is an

historic christening gown

 

 

 

all images copyright of Frances Jill Studd