Painting Middle Earth:
A Majestic Painting Experience
By Linda Fisler
“On the Way to Paradise”, painting by Linda Fisler, 16X20, oil on canvas board.
New Zealand, a beautiful, far away land of mystical origins and home to J.R.R. Tolkien’s and Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Because of the success of the films, New Zealand has become known as Middle Earth. No one can deny the beauty of New Zealand that Peter Jackson captured in the films. And most artists who are Ring fans have a dream to paint there. My dream came true.
It was a long wait from January 2010 when the announcement that Passport & Palette would be offering a workshop New Zealand lead by Kevin Macpherson. The opportunity presented itself to travel to Middle Earth, paint it with a Master, and meet some prestigious artists who live the dream of painting New Zealand every day. But November finally arrived and the preparations for the journey began.
After a long but worthwhile airplane ride, we arrived in Queenstown. This little town (population of approximately 20,000) is nestled between the Southern Alps (The Remarkables is part of the Southern Alps) and Lake Wakatipu.
On the left, Lake Wakatipu with the majestic Remarkables standing guard.
The photo on the right is my study done the first day of the workshop of the Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown Gardens, and the Remarkables.
The Swiss Alps-like setting in itself would inspire any artist to grab their brushes and paints. Queenstown is an adventure junkie’s dream. The city seems to never stop regardless of the season or weather. Winter welcomes skiers and snowboarders; Spring welcomes bungee jumpers, jet boat thrill seekers, hikers and horseback riders which carry over into the Summer and Fall months. Outdoor activities prevail, and with the backdrop of snow peaked mountains, turquoise to aquamarine colored lakes, beaches and sounds provides the subject for any artist’s canvas.
Most of us arrived a day early to shake off any jet lag and enjoy some of what Queenstown and its surrounding area has to offer. The first day of the workshop we explored Queenstown lakefront, painting in the beach park area and also the Queenstown Gardens.
Two photographs of the Queenstown Gardens in evening light. The photo on the left is of the Gazebo.
On the right is my study of the lily pond in Queenstown Gardens.
The park area provided multiple subjects to paint which included a view of the Remarkables, Lake Wakatipu, and even the old steamship the TSS Earnslaw. Queenstown Gardens also provide a wealth of subject matter from a lily pond with ducks to wisteria covered trellis, giant azaleas to a pine forest with dappled light. Little did we know all that was to unfold itself before our eyes and planned out by Kevin Macpherson and Passport & Palette.
Kevin painting in New Zealand.
Traveling to paint is no foreign concept to Kevin, who has traveled internationally to capture the landscapes of faraway lands for much of his painting life. Through his series, Passport & Palette, tidbits of knowledge on how to accomplish this and how to travel and paint in these faraway lands are passed on to its viewers. During the workshops, the participating artists are mentored, coached, coaxed, and become explorers. New Zealand was no exception.
Linda painting at the Chard Farm Winery. Who couldn’t be inspired?
On the right is my painting “Quiet Evening Solitude” Oil on Canvas Board, 16 X 20. It is from a study I did on the banks of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown Gardens. I fell in love with the light on the dingy, but since have decided the tree is the star of the painting.
Due to Kevin’s pre-scouting trip to New Zealand in the Fall and his arrival in Queenstown early to scout locations, he was prepared to provide the participants with a full palette of choices to paint at every location. Each day we ventured out to a new spot of inspiration. From Skipper’s Canyon to the Chard Farm Winery to Paradise (a little town outside of Glenorchy), the vistas were awe-inspiring, drop dead gorgeous. The atmosphere is so brilliant that the views went on for what seemed like forever. As with all mountain and island settings, the conditions of light and shadow were in constant change at what seemed like breakneck speed and presented us with a challenge that tested our patience and re-enforced our “paint from memory” skills. Grab the light when you can in this mystical land, for the weather and atmosphere truly does change within minutes.
Along with the gem of endless landscape possibilities, Kevin took the opportunity to introduce us to a few other gems living on the South Island of New Zealand. Ben Ho, Mary Mai, and John Crump are some of New Zealand’s renowned artists painting in the area of Queenstown. Ben Ho and Mary Mai live over by Lake Hayes and emigrated from China to New Zealand in 1988. They are married, raising their son and sharing gallery and studio space in their home above pastures of sheep and views of Lake Hayes and the surrounding mountains. While schooled in China, Ben and Mary’s approach to painting comes with impressionistic flare capturing both landscapes and cityscapes. Ben’s focus is mainly landscapes capturing light and shadow through color relationships and temperature changes while Mary displays carefully crafted, harmoniously blended cityscapes in the their gallery. Both are plein air painters and Ben joined us while we painted a scene just outside his home. Grabbing information from the scene around him and with his brush defining the planes of his composition, Ben crafted a painting which captured the rapidly changing conditions due to the storm clouds forming over the mountains and the sunshine on a cottage just below in the nearby pasture.
Top left: The views go on forever!
Top right: Kevin providing instruction to Sharon, an AMO member.
Bottom center: Ben Ho joined us behind his home and gallery to paint the Lake Hayes scene complete with a little cottage which you can see over his left shoulder.
A few days later we were introduced to John Crump in the wonderful town of Paradise. We visited John’s gallery admiring his plein air paintings, learning about his newly built easels and was presented with his paint-mobile; a pick-up truck converted to into a portable studio.
John Crump with Kevin in the photo on the left. John with the painting he did with us at the Sheep Farm.
John joined us in the gale force winds of Paradise Valley to try and paint. We gave it the good ole’ college try and after a few easels toppled and a few higher than gale force wind gusts, John suggested we move to another location he had in mind. So off we went to paint a sheep farm, complete with a red barn and accompanying buildings for sheering. Of course, the sheep were in the front pasture to add to the scene. John and Kevin painted to the serenade of the sheep and lambs (as well as Hugh Smith’s (AMO Member Nedra’s husband) guitar, while most the participants watched, asked questions and enjoyed the mastery of these artists demonstrating their skills and sharing their knowledge with us. The joys of plein air painting (the ever changing weather conditions) and the benefits of a Passport and Palette workshop (painting and sharing of knowledge from not just one Master artist, but 4 artists!). Now that is an experience!!
Kevin painting in Paradise while being sernaded by Hugh’s guitar playing.
And for those of you who are Rings fan, every turn in Queenstown presents itself with familiar scenes from the movies.
From the Ford of Bruinen,
This is where Arwen takes Frodo across the river and summons the river to rise and sweep away the Nazgul.
to the Amon Hen,
Although Amon Hen was an image digital mastered into the film, many of the vantage points from my hike up the One Mile Creek trail provided the same view as seen in the movies.
to Rohan,
Deer Park Heights (smaller hill in the foreground) was cited by many of the tour guides as the place where Rohan was filmed.
and Lothlorien
Lothlorien, as cited by many LOTR websites was filmed in and around Paradise and Glenorchy. The photo was snapped at a private farm overlooking the Dart River and the mountains beyond. A familiar scene to many a Rings fan!
you won’t be disappointed if your intention is to paint Middle Earth. And, if you aren’t a Rings fan, the land and sea will undoubtedly draw you in and make you a part of the mystical paradise that is New Zealand.
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This article was written for AMO Magazine and is reprinted here with permission from the author. All rights reserved.
Check out Artist Mentors Online at www.ArtistMentorsOnline.com
Linda Fisler is an artist and business mentor, partnering with Kevin Macpherson in the Artist Mentors Online joint venture.
