{ new zealand: part two }

So here is part two of my recent New Zealand trip. I left on Part One here as we arrived in the Havelock North/ Hawkes Bay region, in a landscape that was beautiful in its contrasts. To one side was the river and also Craggy Range (which is just that - very craggy and majestic), and of course the amazing winery. We did lunch here on one of our days and the food indeed lived up to expectations - I think the 'best-meal'of-the-trip' phrase was used a few times here. A wonderful place.

Then behind us, the country rolled away into these beautiful hills of pasture with sheep and dairy cows and produce at every turn. I love how industrious an honest this place felt. This was the property across the road... what an amazing drive! We desperately wanted to venture down it as no doubt there was an amazing home nestled in there but couldn't quite rustle up the courage. Inviting though isn't it?!

The little coastal town of Napier was not too far away and we were lucky to have the most glorious day there. Napier is known as the Art Deco 'capital' of New Zealand as the city was virtually re-built in 1931 to the designs of the time, following a devastating earthquake that shattered the city. There were some great buildings but better than that were these amazing public gardens running along the beach at the head of the township.

The final leg of our journey was a couple of nights in Auckland; and I must say this was the perfect bookend to the trip. I'm starting to sounds like a broken record now but again, I really loved this place. We had a great day out at Mudbrick on Waiheke Island, wandered the laneways and then art gallery here was also very impressive. We had all but run out of time and almost didn't go, but ended up ducking in an hour before close on our last day and I was very glad we did. You must also eat at the O'Connell St Bistro if you are in town... it's a bit of an institution and was where we had our last supper, thanks god we did as we were in need of some sort of solace for that last-night-of-holiday pain that was setting in! 

Well thanks again for reading, and I hope you've enjoyed the second instalment! I would love to hear about your New Zealand experiences and of course any tips on what I need to do over there next time...... because there will definitely be a next time! Thanks for reading, hope to see you soon.

Pip xx

{ new zealand: part one }

Hello! I know it's been a long while since my last post but I'm now back & raring to go after returning from the most wonderful few weeks away in the crisp, cold and beautiful New Zealand. I've literally over a thousand photos - so this is very much just a snapshot - but thought I would share a few of this beautiful place and time. There are many stories to go with it all but as they say, a picture tells a thousand words so I will let these do the talking. 

My favourite way to discover a new place is with an early morning run... we started off in Queenstown so imagine how great it was to wake to days like this. So much beauty and inspiration.

We day-tripped to quaint little towns, snowcapped mountains and beautiful wineries. There's just no better way to re-enegise and rejuvenate than with fresh air, beautiful surrounds and great coffee, food and wine. In my opinion, New Zealand takes the cake on all of this.

After a few days easing into holiday mode, we then headed up to Taupo on the north island for five absolutely magical days at the most amazing lodge nestled on Huka Falls. 

Words cannot describe this place. The natural beauty was just awe-inspiring; 

the lodge itself was immaculately appointed, the gardens perfectly manicured, 

the food world-class, and the staff and service were all just perfection. 

It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life so far and I dare say for a long time to come.

Perfect in every way.

From there, we headed south to Martinborough to make our way back up again via the beautiful wine and agricultural country. The gardens, flowers and lush landscape were a horticulturalist's dream!

Then finally we arrived at another magical place to mark the halfway point of this wonderful trip
at the amazing River Lodge, nestled on the Tuki Tuki River in Hawkes Bay.

Well I hope you've enjoyed these snaps so far - there's heaps more to come! So pop back soon as I can't wait to show you the rest.

Until then! Pip xx 

PS. All photos taken by me on my iPhone. They're pretty great these days.

{ life imitating art }

It has been a while since I last posted, so I had been looking forward to catching up on my last few weeks and finally giving my abandoned little blog some love. Like most people these days, my iPhone camera roll pretty much serves as a running visual diary of my life, so this is where I started to jog my memory of what I've been drawing/ painting/ loving/ eating/ wearing of late. In scrolling through, it became really apparent to me how much my mood - and then my drawings, and then everything else that follows - run so much in phases and themes. 

Are you like this, too? Do you get on a roll and become obsessed with something until it overtakes your life - and then quickly jump on to the next thing that takes your fancy? Or are you all disciplined and steadfast in your style with no digression or compromise at all? I kind of wish I was the latter, like Diane Keaton's character in 'Something's Gotta Give' with her white pebbles and polo neck sweaters.... but I fear I am still way more flighty and flippant than I realised! Sure, the above are all green and natural and flowing and calm, but my point is that next week it will be something entirely different again.

I'm sure everyone is like this to a degree and and I don't know that either is right or wrong (or even what I'd prefer to be). I also don't know that anyone else really cares (!) - but it's caught my thoughts so I figured I would share it with you. I'd love to hear if you're like this, and what are your current loves  - tell me what you think!

Pip xx

*photos all mine' taken on iPhone; of various drawings, places and stage.

{ pattern making }

If a pen (or pencil) is within arms length, I can't help but find myself scribbling and doodling shapes and lines, swirls and curls. It's something that has always been a bit of a mindless habit for me, howevee a little while ago I decided to take a different tact and properly draw some of these patterns I so love. Here's what happened. 

Pattern No. 3 in Red (295 x 295mm)

Pattern No. 2 in Sky Blue (205 x205mm)

These two pieces - 'Pattern No. 2 in Sky Blue' and 'Pattern No. 3 in Red' are now for sale. If you're interested and would like pricing or have any questions email me at pip_boydell@hotmail.com (both can be provided framed or unframed - however you like!). You might actually recognise these as similar to one I did for Black & Spiro last month - this one found it's way to the home of the very lovely Grace down in Adelaide. I wonder where in the world these two might end up?!

You may have noticed that I am loving this colour pairing right now... so much so that I managed to co-ordinate my outfit to my paintings yesterday without realising (see image 3rd down). Cute one Pip. Well I hope you are all having a lovely week out there! See you soon. 

Pip xx

Top 5 images - artwork and images by Pip Boydell. 6: via Instagram (user @abeachcottage) ; 7. Viap Quarter Life Prep; 8. BEE at Atlantic Pacific

{ colour wheel }

 From top: colour in my studio; a snippet of my latest bananas; pretty jonquils & a shell;

paint colours again; morning coffee in my studio (sparkles thanks to Lumie app); 

and lastly the full Banana Bunch painting.

Winter has well and truly hit and I do love all this cosiness and rugging up; but no matter what time of year I think I just need to have bright and fresh colour around me. These are a few pics from my studio over the last little while.... and yes those little squares of bright colourfulness are indeed paint cards! When I was growing up my parents owned a hardware store, and ever since I cannot help but go past these big walls of colourfulness without stealing a few chips. The perfect way to freshen up my little studio space on a cold dreary June day!

There's also a pic or two of my Banana Bunch painting which is being framed at the moment before going off to its new home in Adelaide. The story of this one was a bit serendipitous actually... I received an enquiry about another painting that had already sold, and at the time didn't know anything about this lovely (now) customer - but she got me just at the right time as I'd just finished these bananas, and thought I would send images of it on just in case she liked it too. Little did I know that her husband's family had actually a banana wholesesaling business for 20 years - so it had to be hers! This is what I love about what I do. Not only is creating these paintings such joy for me to do, but I love the stories of where they end up, and how they get there, and what they mean to people along the way.

Hope you're all staying warm in the chilly weather (and enjoying the Summer, for those in the northern hemisphere) - and I promise I will be back sooner rather than later!

Pip xx