ReCOLLections Art Blog

Trademarks and copyright in NZ. While they both protect different aspects of creativity, understanding the distinction is crucial.

Commissioning art is a rewarding experience allowing you to bring your vision to life and create a piece of artwork that is truly special and meaningful to you.

From Frances Hodgkins to Rozi Demant, each artist adds a unique brushstroke to the canvas of New Zealand's female artistic heritage. Lets take a look at who's who.

art isn't just a commodity but a profound investment in the soul of a nation and the hearts of its people.

We'll investigate how microplastic pollution and the hazards of oil paint toxicity can affect the environment and what artists can do to help.

Whether you're a renowned painter in New Zealand or a budding artist halfway across the globe, your attire can reveal much about your artistic persona.

Take a look at the vibrant and diverse world of New Zealand art, as they redefine boundaries and weave cultural identity into captivating masterpieces

Enter the enchanting world of glitter art: its techniques, symbolism, and transformative power explored by artists in captivating creations

Explore the pros and cons of donating artwork to charity as an artist, balancing social impact and artistic sustainability.

Check out the world of mixed media art, where creativity knows no bounds. Discover the fusion of materials, techniques, and limitless possibilities with Collette

Capture your pet's spirit with a personalised pet portrait by a New Zealand artist. Add a touch of warmth and joy to your home with a one-of-a-kind artwork

Finishing touches like using your own personalised sticker for packaging is an inexpensive yet stylish way to do things. Check out my post on stickers

As an artist, you often need to create a bread-and-butter line, a line of something that sells quickly, easily and often.

Saving the earth all by yourself, seems impossible right? Here are 8 tips that you as an artist can start with to do your bit in helping save our planet

Where do you start when doing artwork commissions? Here are some tips to make that easier

The 'Old Ball' range is coming together nicely with this second instalment. I felt these convex canvas's by Fredrix just screamed paint a ball on them.........

An artwork about missing seeing smiles because.... click on the image to read more

This artwork is the last of a larger piece about whats behind the mask. As we navigate covid and having to cover our faces

Celebrate Collette's artistic success with two featured images in the 2021 New Zealand Artists Calendar. Available at Whitcoulls and select retailers.

I like to do a bit for charity where I can and this one where I can help Free Pakistani families from debt slavery .......click on the image to read about the exhibition and how you can help too

An eclectic range of mixed media artworks along with 100 watercolour pieces. Inspired by the book 'The 100 Dresses' which has an anti bullying message.

The One Size Fits All Show 2018 is all set to go, so get out your brushes, canvas, cameras etc and get creating

1950's Swing dresses look so much better with big fluffy petticoats and although I have a few I thought I'd give it a go to make my own, here's how I did it....

Not one to brag, well ok i have to brag, I won Miss Retro Motorama 2014 so heres the photos for you.......

Mary Lou is a favourite wooden bead toy from New Zealand. The perfect painting to donate to this Charity Art Auction

Caricatures by Collette, well what can we say? New Zealand contemporary artist

A little bit about NZ weather from my point of view.......click on image for more

Insights from an experienced gallery owner: Challenges, selection process, and working with galleries. Essential guidance for artists.

2010 Blog Review – what did I end up talking about? I had planned to write something every day about art

One of the top questions artists ask is how and where and should I sign my paintings? There is no real simple answer but it is something you should do

Christmas time in New Zealand doesn’t have anything to do snow and sleigh bells,

Every society has its unique linguistic code, and New Zealand, with its rich cultural tapestry, is no exception. Let's take a journey and uncover Kiwi slang

what is a knot and how are knots an art form? From celtic to trinity theres many different types

When and why you should rework an artwork. it's ok to do says NZ artist Collette Fergus

I only recently heard about these miniature works of art and what they are about. The concept is to create trading cards to swap with other artists that are a uniform size as
2 ½” x ....click on image for more

If you ever needed a good excuse to open a bottle of champagne, here’s an excellent one: to take part in the annual........

Artists should make an effort to enter art competitions for several reasons. The pressure of deadlines, the prestige of winning and the opportunity to get exposure

Here are some practical tips to help you Conquer Procrastination and Unleash Your Creative Potential by NZ artist Collette

Capturing the essence of clouds in landscape artworks is a skill that can elevate a painting to new heights. Check out my tips

Skulls and Crossbones, what does this mean symbolically? The skull and crossbones is a symbol consisting of a human skull and two bones as in long bones which are crossed together under the skull. It is generally used as a ......click on image for more

Starving artist no more with these 18 Frugal Hacks to Unleash Your Inner Monet (Without Breaking the Bank). As anyone who is self-employed knows; there are ups and downs with income and work especially for artists. How can you save money as an artist?

Looking for gift ideas for artists? Check out our list of 10 perfect gifts for artists of all skill levels, from sketchbooks to art classes

Dr Sketchys

What is Dr Sketchy’s? Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art school is the world's premier alternative drawing movement. Artists draw glamorous underground performers like ......click on image for more

Last night I attended my first Pecha Kucha Night, held here in Hamilton. I dragged my darling hubby along and he too enjoyed the interesting speakers and the quick fire talks that didn’t drag on like your usual speeches tend to.....click on image for more

The Eye of Ra or Horus (as its really called) is a powerful symbol of protection

It was surprising to see a smaller turnout for the awards this year, especially after all the fuss that went down in 2009.

Every now and then a painting surfaces that has been created by someone considered evil or infamous in some manner, the first time I ever heard of one was in a book about Hitler who the world knows as.....

Exhibition openings can go wrong, but don't worry! Here's some fun advice to make you feel better if things don't go according to plan

Recently I mentioned that I’d had a go at needle felting and that I’m keen to try actual felting as it looks lie an interesting craft

Whats the difference between a crown and a Tiara, an artists musings on the style of headwear often worn by Queens and brides

Its no secret that I like to do crafts along with my art, it’s that need to create or see how to create new things. It’s also......

No two ways about it, I love Lace, I like to wear it and I like to paint it, in fact it often appears in my artwork.

Being an Octopus
We all talk about needing more than two hands to get all the work done that we need to do each day. I know I certainly could do with a few more, what with.......

Art Quotes and Sayings
There are many quotes out there about art, my favourite being, “Support Living Artists, the dead ones don’t need it!”

Fairfield Bridge is an iconic landmark in central Hamilton. Artists focus on it when painting or photographing scenery in the city, meaning I have seen.......click on image for more

Every now and then the debate comes up as to whether or not we should change our national flag here in New Zealand.

Want to know how to design colouring books? you have come to the right place.......

Most artists presume they get rejected from a gallery because their artwork isn’t good enough, but it’s not always the case.

We have all seen it, the way some artists tend to paint similar things when they’re hot and the buying public are snapping them up. The ‘Rangitoto and toi toi’ paintings common on trademe.co.nz, or the .....

What do you do on a cold winters day in Hamilton if you’re an artist? You catch up with friends and do a studio session with them, maybe have a few .....click on image for more

All species of poppies are attractive and most are cultivated as ornamental plants. A few species have other uses, principally as sources of drugs and foods. The opium poppy fir instance is so widely used, for ........

Branding is a strategic process that involves creating a distinct identity and reputation for a product, service, or, in the case of artists, their artwork

Arsenic is a colour believe it or not and there we were thinking it was just a poison, so today’s blog entry is about some of those colours that we wouldn’t normally have on our palette or we may have mixed by accident and never had any idea what they were called. Some of you will know as.....

The painting today is a ‘red eye’ as in red eye deduction but that’s not one of my tips as we’re not working with people for this, it’s about ....

No doubt you would have studied some of the history of cave man art when at school, I certainly did. Most of it we don’t remember, but some of the images still stick in my mind, especially the....

Some days Im simply stuck on what to say, I still have around half a year to write things for this blog, but hey at least I can celebrate making it to that half way mark!

What do you write about when your desk is piled with papers and you know you have to get your.......

Claret vs Burgundy… are we talking about the colour or the wines? Discover the fascinating world of burgundy colour and its diverse meanings.

I have a book in my bookcase called ‘A Guide to Japanese Flower Arranging’ and I’m about to embark on creating some of the designs as I think they’re so simple and stunning looking. Im not sure how....

Long nails have always been a part of my life. I like many others see them as glamorous and lady-like especially when painted up beautifully. When I was......click on image for more

From transforming raw ingredients into culinary masterpieces to the intricate art of plating, the world of cooking remains a captivating exploration of creativity and innovation.

Monarchs often appear in my art work. I think they are the most beautiful butterflies you can ever see and I’ve seen.....

Buttons have always fascinated me, I remember as a child sifting through the mountain of buttons my mother had in her sewing desk, there were....click on image for more

There is an art to "painting a rainbow" or finding beauty in unexpected places. From art to acts of service, learn how to brighten your spirits and bring others joy even on the darkest days.

The ability to sketch and draw is a cornerstone of creating art. While most of us are acquainted with the basic principles of lead pencils like 2B, 4B, 6B, and 9B, the knowledge continues beyond there.

Since the 1980s I have been infatuated with the flashy cocktail. It wasn’t about the alcohol content although it did appear to be sophisticated as an adults drink and the ‘mocktails’ given to us as kids was just.....

A tattoo is a marking made by inserting dark, indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment mainly for decorative reasons. Tattooing has been practiced for....

My favourite pottery is made by a local contemporary potter called Tammy Kuypers, her work is quite diverse and always unique in that it is so unusual you wont find anything else quite like it. Tammy’s work is.....click on image for more

One thing I fear as an artist is loosing my eyesight. I woke up today with terribly bloodshot eyes caused from a makeup allergy and although it

I would literally break into a sweat thinking about creating a cake for my children’s birthdays, as being an artist everyone expected me to be really clever at it and I simply wasn’t!

The word cartoon has various meanings, based on several very different forms of visual art and illustration. The original meaning was in fine art, where cartoon meant a.....

I Paint What I See. "What do you paint when you paint a wall?" A poem by Diego Rivera

Want to know about the artistry of paper mache? Learn techniques, tips, and inspiring ideas for your next masterpiece

I must confess Im not a huge fan of mosaics although some artists who work in this medium do impress me.

Discover how to organise your mobile art case efficiently and unleash your creativity with a curated selection of essential supplies

Op Art exists to fool the eye. Op compositions create a sort of visual tension, in the viewer's mind, that gives works the illusion of movement

I came across this poem about art and what it would be like to live life without it. I thought it was lovely and wanted to share it with you.......

The most prized of colours or at least the metal Gold is anyway! Gold or golden as it is sometimes called, is made...click on image for more

I can’t knit, there I’ve said it! My Gran tried to teach me but she gave up after I created a........

A stencil is a template used to draw or paint identical things like letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, or patterns every time it is used. You may have also heard of it called pochoir the term used in....click on image for more

Well I obviously know a bit about weblogs because I write one but I’m no expert For me this is a way to work on my fledgling writing skills as one day I ...

Got you there, Im fortunate enough to not suffer such things, as I like to look on the bright side of life as much as possible, it also helps to not have unrealistic expectations

There’s something special about foggy frosty mornings, some people hate them but I myself, well I really like them a lot. The air of mystery and suspense

Silver is a metallic shade that resembles gray, the visual sensation usually associated with the metal silver is its metallic shine

Years ago I did some training in ticket-writing; an art that is quickly disappearing due to computer generated signage that is quicker and tidier and can be reproduced in multiplies by the click of a button. Because of the repetitive nature of.....

I received an email recently advertising the materials for a technique called scratch-boarding. I had never heard of it before but was fascinated by the accompanying images and thought, hey I might.....

Decoupage is the art of decorating objects, art or furniture by gluing coloured paper cut-outs onto them along with special paint effects, the addition of gold leaf and other mixed...

Coffee is a beverage that I adore; in fact you can almost guarantee that when I am writing these posts, I will have a ...click on image for more

For centuries Chinese painting has fascinated westerners for its unique qualities and style. The simplicity and controlled elegance are key features to this style of art

I got a bit stuck today with something to say and I did promise the Arts Council I'd talk about what I do on some ordinary artist days, so what did I do today then?

Well I have a solo show coming up so today has been about......

Symbols have always played an important role in art from the very earliest of times. They often represent an idea or quality, for example blackbirds

We have all seen them, the wooden creatures with movable joints that contort in all directions. I actually have....click on image for more

Egg tempera is a type of paint made by adding pigments to a mixture of egg yolk and water. It is said to be one of the oldest, most ...click on image for more

Winter is our coldest season; it comes between autumn and spring. In a lot of artworks it is portrayed as white and snowy, especially in .......

Learning about art has been a long road for me. I never profess to be an intellectual and I unfortunately I wasn’t in the position to do an arts degree early on, so what I do know has been either.......

Did you know that the human eye can distinguish about 500 shades of gray. It stands for everything between black and white.

Explore Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 'Vitruvian Man' and his pioneering study of human anatomy. Discover the genius behind the artist and scientist.

Keeping it simple and straight to the point black is the absence of colour

Flowers have always held a fascination with artists to paint. Whether because of their temporary nature being made immortal on canvas or simply for ...

Brown is a tertiary colour; it is a mix of the three subtractive primary colours, red, blue and yellow. Brown exists as a colour perception only in the presence of a brighter colour contrast like....click on image for more

Learn how to succeed as an NZ artist, selling photography in New Zealand. From pricing tips to online platforms, unlock the secrets for better photography sales

Sculpture is defined as three-dimensional artwork and is created by shaping or combining materials, usually stone, clay, ceramic, metal, glass, wood, or even.....click on image for more

Back in the 1980’s (My heyday or teen years!) I enjoyed doing little theatre. It was and probably still is a highly competitive world and as I didn’t care to

I live New Zealand movies and am a staunch supporter of them, hungrily hunting out NZ movies on our hiring system Fatso.com and ordering every single one regardless of what...click on image for more

What are faberge eggs and what are they made from? Heres a short story that explains some history.

The debate on black and white being colours is huge, yesterday I focused on black so naturally I need to talk about white also

If you asked me how I come up with names for my artwork I would be the first to put up my hand and admit that sometimes I...click on image for more

Take a look at a condensed but captivating journey through art history's timeline, to see what happened and when.

There are not a lot of big events that happen in Hamilton, but one that does every year is the Balloons over Waikato where hot air balloon enthusiasts from all over....

Said to be one of Edvard Munch’s most important and famous paintings, it’s not widely known that there are actually four versions of....

What percentage of artists are left-handed?
Although the population in general are more right handed, in comparison there is......

Once upon a time I ran an artist online chat group. It was a place for artists to come to and talk about art stuff mainly and to....

What do we know about the concept of right brain and left brain thinking and how it affects your art?

Working with animals in art can be rewarding as well as frustrating. Heres some tips and tricks for your animal portrait painting by nz artist Collette

I have quite a few pieces of both my daughter’s artwork around the house, it brings back many happy memories of days painting or drawing together

Tips on how to use glass paint, by Hamilton NZ artist Collette Fergus. Its more versatile than you think

Discover the distinction between trademarks and copyrights in the art world. Explore how trademarks protect branding elements, and copyrights safeguard creative works

I’ve noticed a trend in more round paintings these days, the last group exhibition I went to had four different artists work on round canvas’s with each one being quite impressive in how they artist’s worked the shape of the canvas into the theme of the artwork.

It wasn’t that long ago that round canvases were hard to come by; needing specialist framing for the stretched canvases or.....click on image for more

what is Yin Yang? It comes from Chinese culture and represents the two opposite principles in nature. Yin Yang means black vs. white, day vs. night, good vs. evil

Explore the meaning of green in art, culture, and nature. Discover the symbolism of this vibrant colour in Collette's insightful article

Unleash your artistic spirit and conquer self-doubt with a captivating tale of apple paintings. A journey of growth, passion, and triumph.

Tap into your artistic spirit with winemaking. Dive into the world of flavours, blends, and labels adorned with your art with NZ artist Collette

Artists studios like office spaces are as diverse as the people who work in them. There is no hard and fast rule as to how they should be laid out or what....click on image for more

Andy Warhol aka Andrew Warhola was the main figure of the Pop art movement as well as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His main claim to fame was...

Take a look at the captivating realm of Surrealism, where imagination defies reality and embraces the mysterious world of oddities and dreams in art

Artists ask me this question more often than any other when talking about techniques in artwork. What is varnish, what does it do and why do we use it?

Contemporary means 'present day', or reasonably close. Contemporary art is art produced....

This mens business shirt refashion is probably one of my favourite revamps so far. Have a look and let me know what you think......

Autumn is the transition from warm summer months to the cold weather of winter, and its related status as the season of the primary harvest, has dominated its themes and popular

Jewellery, the art of creating items in gold or silver or other metals as well as many other materials for adornment and beautification is an interesting and.....

This is such a personal thing and can be summed up in “How long is a piece of string” its pretty much impossible to put a time on such things. Like the Mainland ad, all good things take time......

Blue, one of the three primary colours, is unique in the colour spectrum. From Sky to Sea to feeling the blues, learn more about the colour here

Take a look into the world of artistic excellence with this list of Art Awards that are open exclusively to New Zealand artists.

This commonly expressed sentiment means "If anything can go wrong, it will." Many problems, failures, and annoyances are attributed to Murphy's Law, but most people do not know......

Gold or silver leaf isn’t just for gilding things like mirrors, you can use it in your paintings too, just check out Gustav Klimt’s work where he used ......

Learn how to create a unique crackle effect in your paintings with Collette an NZ artist. Discover different methods and techniques for achieving this weathered, antique look in your artwork.

Facing a blank canvas can be daunting. "Blank canvas syndrome" is the feeling of being overwhelmed or intimidated by a blank canvas or sheet of paper. In this article, we explore the causes of this syndrome and offer tips for overcoming it, including embracing the imperfection of the creative pro

In the streets of modern Japanese cities amongst the dark suits and strict corporate dress codes, it is still possible to see reminders of ancient tradition - unusual women in bright kimonos with white powder wax on faces and traditional sculptured hairdos.

Snail mail, love letters, correspondence, paper and envelopes with ink on them; whatever you call letters or even what you may think of them

I could go two ways with this, we could talk about painting hands or paintings on hands so to get the latter out of our systems here is a link to some really cool paintings that....click on image for more

Realism is a type of art that shows things exactly as they appear in 'real' life. It began in the 18th century, but the greatest Realist era was in the mid-19th century. Most Realists were from France, but there were some famous.......

Orange is one of the most vibrant colours there is. It's a combination of red and yellow and appears between these two colours on the colour spectrum

Impressionism emerged as an avant-garde art movement in France around 1870, here are some tips on how you can paint in this style too

I get asked a lot about what the difference is between a resume, a bio and an artist’s statement. A resume is pretty much like a job resume where you have contact details, your history as in exhibitions, education etc and.....click on image for more

Unveiling the revolutionary world of Cubism, its pioneers, techniques, and enduring legacy. Take a look at the captivating artistry and multi-dimensional perspectives

Do you want to find and develop your unique artistic style? Explore the balance between personal expression and market demands in the art world with Collette

Mastering abstract art requires practice in form, colour, and composition before it becomes a fulfilling pursuit.

Sun Painting or Heliographic Art as its technically called is a process where transparent fabric paints are applied to fabric (100% cotton is the best.) and while the paint is still wet, objects like stencils, leafs, feathers etc are placed onto the wet fabric. You then place it in the sun and when it dries, the outlines of the objects are transferred to the fabric.....click on image for more

Because purple is derived from the mixing of a strong warm primary colour (Red) and strong primary cool colour (Blue) it has both warm and cool properties.

What do I know of Mr Picasso? Well I'm not going to give you a tiresome rundown on the man’s history, there are many websites and books that can give you that sort of information.....

I’ve been working on some new techniques at the moment. They are most likely tried and trusted methods of other artists and been done before in one form or another, but they are new to me anyway.......click on image for more

Perspective is quite a complex subject so Ill try to not confuse you with too much information.

It’s important to get perspective right when paintings or drawing as an.....click on image for more

Uncover the iconic New Zealand paintings that have left a lasting impact. From humour to heritage, explore the diverse artistic landscape of my country

There are two common designs for easels, tripod and H-frame but it doesnt end there. Which one will suit you best and why?

When I get artist’s block, I put my brushes down and do something entirely different for a while. Taking the focus off my art takes away the stress even with........

Think candyfloss and cupcakes, Barbie, Flamingos' and well lets not get carried away here. Pink can be a serious colour too. Read on to learn more about this fascinating colour.

Are you confused as to what type of paint you should be working with? Read my blog on artist paints and see if I can answer some of those burning questions........

Some of the most famous paintings in the world have been made by the greatest painters of all times. I acknowledge their mastery and skill and admire all these works, from the Mona Lisa to the melting clocks of Dali...

I don’t buy into the secret smile stuff, though, in fact, I can't even see what the fuss is about, so why you ask, do I like the Mona Lisa so much

Along with many other artists I know, I get emails by the dozen from both vanity galleries and book publishers wanting to exhibit or publish my work. Most of these vanity galleries and publishers.....click on image for more

Some artists have a clear idea of what price they want for their work, some are realistic, some are insanely greedy and the rest end up under-pricing their artwork

I found this article http://www.stuff.co.nz/s/QPRe on the net yesterday and have to admit I was highly surprised that it’s still going on, all this ripping off of innocent people, and in my own city

Ask any artist what they consider is Teal and you will get different answers, just like when you ask them about what they think constitutes beige.

Trying to find that perfect topic, size or colour fro hey your art to sell is like hunting for a needle in a haystack but this may help a little

This is Boozehag, from its bar origins to a beloved artistic icon. Uncover the challenges, misconceptions, and continued demand for this whimsical character

When you send work around the country or overseas, it pays to wrap it well as no matter how careful you may be with your art, not all couriers have the same respect or care for it......click on image for more

I often teach a night school class for students who may wish to learn more about the use of paint mediums. So here are a few tips on mediums...

The type of canvas you use will depend on the type of paint you use.....cotton duck is used for acrylic painting, while linen and cotton duck is used for oil. ......

In 2009 a pile of Rubbish won the National Contemporary Art Awards here in Hamilton New Zealand. It created a furore like no other. We are used to the outrage and shock from the public each year over the winning pieces and that’s exactly what the people who run it want…controversy and people talking about it. Well this time I somehow got embroiled in it....click on image for more

Yes I know that figures and money matters are boring for us artists but when you're a working artist you need to look at keeping accurate records and making sure you are taking care of your tax obligations. Here are some of my tips and advice for organising your records......

Today’s artwork is smooth and shiny. I used the Golden Clear Tar Gel for this effect, its simple to use; you pour it on where you want it to be and wait for it to set. The effect is like that of a bubble, with a raised glassy surface.However Im not going to talk so much about the .....

A basic understanding of colour theory and the colour wheel is like having a secret toolkit for every artist, unlocking endless possibilities in your work.

Red is my favourite colour, both in my life generally as well as in my art. It’s a colour that can have two distinctly different meanings

Some say that it isn’t a realistic career choice, yet the myth of the “starving artist” stereotype is still very much alive and kicking

When I teach an art class or mentor any other artists, I always advocate that they read this book. I usually also ask my art students to do the artists pages at the beginning of class if we have enough.....

NZ artist Collette shares brush selection & care tips for your art. Expert insights for all artists

Yellow is not merely a standalone hue; it's a versatile collaborator in the world of colour alchemy. Lets look at what yellow is as a colour for painting

Research is important to me as I like to know the history behind things, why they are what they are and their significance to the project I might be working on.......

An artwork must possess an essential characteristic of being 'original,' meaning that it originates from the artist and is not derived from another individual's work

Mistress of Dots, Yayoi Kusama has an exhibition “Mirrored Years’ on at The City Art Gallery in Wellington, so with this project in mind, I set off on the overlander train both to enjoy the scenic tour on the way and to see the exhibition.

Things I think you should know about dealing with art galleries as an artist and a gallery worker.......

The day has come where I have to dig deep and become disciplined with my writing and painting for the next 365 days.

The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Germany in the 16th century but the history of Christmas trees goes way back further than that.