Colonial Garden Bird and Pacific Frigate Bird by Don Binney

This painting called Colonial Garden Bird dates from 1965.  The homestead is one that was in Mount Eden in Auckland and unfortunately was destroyed before he finished the painting.  The house has very strong style elements for its period – the coloured glass around the front door and the verandas on both floors.

By 1968 when the work Pacific Frigate Bird was done, Binney's technique had pared down and become brighter as a result of the use of acrylic paints.  It is this style of painting that made Binney quite famous in New Zealand terms.

For an earlier post about Don Binney click here

My attention was drawn to these works by New Zealand Art: From Cook to Contemporary.