YOU TAUGHT ME TO FISH FOR TEA – Waitemata Harbour

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YOU TAUGHT ME TO FISH FOR TEA – And now I know you’re proud of me. Auckland Waitemata Harbour painting

For interested buyers, don’t hesitate to ask at this link for a “First in first serve” acquisition of the framed original or number 1 of 15 limited edition acrylic enhanced reproductions. Auckland Waitemata Harbour 

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THE STORY

This is my friend Graham Braddock’s 11-year-old daughter, Geraldine. 

I photographed Geraldine with my Canon T90 (Pre-digital Kodak film) fishing from a willow tree on their small lifestyle block pond in Dairy Flat. As I was viewing the images an idea formed to use Geraldine in a setting among Pohutukawa trees (New Zealand Christmas tree). 

The Pohutukawa trees were photographed at Sentinel Road Beach on Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and the story “To teach a child to fish” formed. I imagined  the journey in the owners back story through the years of discipline from that first fishing lesson. 

The grown-up child’s life symbolizes success in the acquisition of a dream. The grown-up appreciated her parent’s practical knowledge and education to catch her own fish.

On reflection, this is a journey worth the patience and sacrifice of any parent helping children understand the techniques necessary for catching food for their table. The analogy is, teach your children well and their will reward will be yours as you bask in their success of proud parents.

I assume you have heard or read the Chinese Proverbs “Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime”. This painting embodies that truth. The child became a contributor and not a beggar with good foundation disciplines. Auckland Waitemata Harbour painting

The painting’s history

I started painting in 1987. After I experienced purpose confusion and depression in Dairy Flat the painting found its way to my aunties garage in Glenfield, Auckland amongst spiders and dust mites.

The painting traveled to Snells Beach in 1990 and then to Warkworth in 1994 until. It lay dormant amongst the dust and spiders until the 2016 and a moment of inspiration to bring it back to life.

I evicted the spiders and dust mites and grabbed a warm soapy kitchen cloth and cleaned their unwanted excretions. I could almost hear the painting breathe a refreshing sigh of “About time”!  In the daylight of a new season, it perked up hearing it was to receive new paint and new framing.

Added to the new frame is the text of the allegory and a Snapper fish. The added fish I created from a desperate moment. I averted a near-disaster when the painting dropped on a sharp object and smashed a hole in the backboard of the frame. Not being one to stay defeated, I painted the Snapper on a specially shaped disk to hide the hole. I guess that is what you would say, an artist at their best, creating something out of nothing!

The painting’s allegory and scenery would be an inspiration in any interior decoration for homes or business walls in London, Auckland, Paris, or New York. Its appeal bridges international boundaries into the hearts of viewers who will own this story, no matter what their culture

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STATUS and MATERIALS

ORIGINAL FOR SALE  * Bid or tender for the original artwork. All offers are considered around $15,000
Mixed media, artist oils, airbrushed watercolors, watercolor pencil, and acrylics on gesso primed, NZ particleboard. Wattle Isoguard varnish protection.
* Original and Limited Edition reproductions are supplied with Provenance, coded Authentication of Sale Certificate, and maintenance/care information.

15 LIMITED EDITIONS “ACRYLIC ENHANCED” CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS
Please ask about the price and sizes – Replicating the original size, the full size (830 x 1470) on stretch mounted archival canvas starting from $3500 in GST

75 LIMITED EDITIONS CANVAS REPRODUCTIONS * 
Unframed sizes | 960 x short side – $960  |  650 x short side – $650
Printed on long-life archival canvas. 8 color giclee printed on fine art archival paper or archival linen canvas and acrylic enhanced. Protected with 2 coats of UV archival spray.
* Stretch mounted reproductions will incur added charges for mounting and freight.

OPEN EDITION POSTER ART PRINTS * 
Unframed sizes | 594 x short side – $120
* Posters printed on fine art papers and treated with two coats of UV archival protection spray.

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FASHION

Images from “You taught me to fish for Tea” are not planned for exhibition on Women’s Fashions through Vida and multiple product lines at Fine Art America.

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SHIPPING

•  Includes insurance and package/handling fees.
•  The Original and Limited Edition reproductions ship with the Provenance coded Authentication of Sale Certificate and maintenance information.
•  Poster art prints ship in insured tubes.

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AWARDS

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