Michael Purdie

Notes
Colouring in: The Doves

Colouring in: The Doves

This wood engraving by Eileen Mayo was created by carving the picture onto a block of wood. Eileen was known for her great skill at doing this. She then used a roller to put a thin coat of ink onto the carved wood and pressed it onto paper to make this print. Have you ever tried making a print by carving something like a potato and then applying ink or paint and pressing it onto paper?

Notes
Colouring in: Mantis in the Sun

Colouring in: Mantis in the Sun

This print by Eileen Mayo is like a close-up of a praying mantis and the insect it has caught. It shows a lot of detail. It's almost like we are right next to it! 

Notes
Colouring in: Kākāriki Karaka / Orange-fronted Parakeet

Colouring in: Kākāriki Karaka / Orange-fronted Parakeet

This small painting is of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous birds, kākāriki karaka (aslo called the orange-fronted parakeet). It was made by Eileen Mayo in the 1970s along with 34 others for a set of cards that could be collected in packets of Gregg’s Jellies.

Notes
Colouring in: A Garden Enclosed

Colouring in: A Garden Enclosed

This screenprint by Eileen Mayo is of Cuningham House, the big glass house in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The building is kept warm all year so that the plants inside stay healthy and grow well. Have you been there? What sort of plants did you see?

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Colouring in: Nathaniel Webb, Esq., of Roundhill Grange, Charlton Musgrove, Somerset

Colouring in: Nathaniel Webb, Esq., of Roundhill Grange, Charlton Musgrove, Somerset

This painting was made around 300 years ago, so it’s quite old. The man in the picture was called Nathaniel Webb. In his portrait Nathaniel wears very fine clothes and a wig. It seems strange to us now but at that time it was a popular fashion for rich men to cut their own hair short and wear a wig.

Notes
Colouring in: In the Wizard's Garden

Colouring in: In the Wizard's Garden

This painting looks as if there’s a story happening in it. What do you think that story is?

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Redfern Gallery

Redfern Gallery

Recently whilst on holiday in London I worked on Christchurch Art Gallery's behalf at the Redfern Gallery in Mayfair.

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A dingo in Somerset

A dingo in Somerset

There are many projects being worked on at Christchurch Art Gallery whilst we are closed to the public.