Did anyone say #Bard #Mouse with opposable thumbs? I didn't actually get much #drawing / painting done while I was on holiday in Melbourne a few weeks ago for my birthday (30!), but I did draw on the plane ride. Shiny stuff is haaaard to paint but maybe I'll do a little painting of him? #dndcritters

I'm working on this example painting for my #queer #botanical #watercolour workshop in July, and I'm going over the techniques I'm using, the layering of colours, and reminding myself I actually know my shit and feeling genuinely excited to share my knowledge now ❤️ #wellington

It's been 2 months and I've finally defeated my art block - working on a sketch for a botanical watercolour painting! I'll use the painting on a poster for weekend watercolour workshops for beginners, first session is in July in Lower Hutt ❤️

#watercolour #botanicalillustration #sketch #wellington

My drawing skills are perfectly consistent, as long as the room’s the right temperature, I slept just enough, ate well, have zero plans later, my chair feels right, my internet’s stable, I’m wearing my cozy hoodie, no one texts me, and I don’t remember that one embarrassing thing from 10 years ago.

Interesting side effects of AI generated images being sold as art in conventions: It feels really awkward when you're unsure at a stall whether someone actually painted the image and I don't want to ask bc I'm aware that it would be SUPER depressing for them if they did paint it themselves ya know.

Reminder to my neurodivergent brain that working remotely means you bill for your whole working time not just the parts you were hyperfocused for! Being idle, thinking and talking through things with others, or staring at a blank page/document for a little bit is all part of the work process.

Prepping my cards and prints for my first market of the year - Medieval Market on Saturday in Levin, NZ!

I used new files from a professional art photographer and the difference compared to doing it myself is insane. Made a few adjustments to products based on customer feedback too ❤️

i prefer “performance art” rather than “crying in the grocery store”

Language is so cool, like at what point did the word 'mate' become synonymous for both 'a sexual partner / companion' in the animal kingdom and 'a good very platonic friend' in our society. It has such a wildly different brain feeling depending on context.

Today I looked at this bookshelf I painted for my first book illustration contract and it finally sunk in that I'm doing the thing small me was dreaming about while writing book reports on Beatrix Potter stories 🥹 ngl, its a nice feeling.

#watercolour
#bookillustrarion
#queerartist

Finished sketching pages 2&3 of 'Exquisite' today, a gorgeous children's book centered around #conservation that I'm illustrating for a local author in #watercolour and pen. Tis my first book so it's daunting but I'm loving seeing it come together ❤️

#childrensbook
#illustrarion

I managed the 30min walk from my art studio to my house tonight (was grumpy, needed a cool down) and considering I was using a cane full time 6 months ago it felt like such a novelty. I'd given up on hoping to get back to this level of mobility, even if it's likely not a new standard for me

A mistake is just a technique you haven’t incorporated yet, art is about finding new and interesting ways of making mistakes

I'm Loving the amount of science and scientific/botanical Illustration on this app! Here's my offering: #Insects of #Aotearoa No.I, in #watercolour, which is a print on my website. I'm currently researching fresh water fish to paint next in the series!

#scientificillustration #sciart

One of the most meditative things I can think of is drawing dried grass. A subtle little #trans #pride #illustration is on the way 🏳️‍⚧️
If I do prints of this one I'm seriously considering donating some proceeds Outline Aotearoa, since they really need the support right now. #queerart #transartist

I'm viewing test prints for my new floral tile print tomorrow, along with updated files for all my prints! I had the originals professionally photographed for the first time because my work is obnoxiously detailed, so it's been hard to replicate that in prints. Excited!! #botanicalart #patterndesign

You do not have to consume every single tiny piece of bad news in order to be a good person. It’s ok to miss things. Traumatizing yourself isn’t the same as activism. Bearing witness to the point that you’re paralyzed with fear and horror and fury isn’t going to help us get through this.

Yet another artist making the shift away from Meta! I'm an illustrator from Aotearoa New Zealand, and I paint in watercolours mostly with a focus on botanicals and odd critters.
Lil intro before I start getting into the swing of things!