Tristan Lavender Art

Latest works

I’ve recently spent some time studying the nineteenth and twentieth century black and white print illustrations of Donald Maxwell, Arthur Guptill and others.

This inspired me to pick up my fine-liner pens, then add a watercolour wash. I particularly like this combined effect for capturing the form and texture of buildings. It allows me to indulge my love of detail which I then need to balance with ‘quiet areas’ of white space. This creates interesting compositional shapes.

(For pricing of these works, please see the Gallery page).

Red Geraniums at St James (pen & wash).

This is the view of St James Anglican Church in Mangere from the entrance steps of the Hall next door. Your eye is taken around the picture: drawn downwards by the hard diagonal of the gable and back up with the upward swing of the line of flower heads.

On the Fence (pen & wash).

I liked the undulating outlines along the backs and heads of these 3 gulls, contrasting with the lines of the fence. I also liked how quiet these normally boisterous birds are when resting.

Mangere Sunrise (pen & wash).

I spent a morning cycling around the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour with my camera. The first sunrays on the hillside and stonework caught my eye, and watercolour was the ideal medium to convey the soft light.

Below the Window (pen & wash).

The flowers contrast strongly with the rough texture of the volcanic rocks from which this small church is built. Perfect for a pen and wash technique.

Onehunga Wharf (pen & wash).

The new Mangere Bridge is a popular spot for walkers and fishermen. It overlooks the old wharf, and the gentle curve of the embankment leads the eye into the frame. Every week I cycle pass this wharf and across the harbour to where my local art group meets.