Excited to let you all know that I've been selected to participate in the Kaipoi Art Expo! 🎉 I'm honoured to be among the few non-Waimakariri resident artists in this fantastic event. Can’t wait to share my artwork with you all. Here’s a sneak peek of one of my pieces in progress. Stay tuned for more updates! #KaipoiArtExpo #ArtistLife #ArtExhibition #SneakPeek #Excited

🧵✨ Diving back into sewing after a break! There’s something special about transforming fabric and thread into something new. Excited to share this journey with you all. 🪡👗 #SewingComeback #CreativeJourney #FabricFantasy

"Thrilled to have my painting 'Drought' displayed at the Christchurch Art Show alongside other talented artists from Arts Canterbury. The Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre is buzzing with creativity - come join us and show some love to our art community! 🎨✨ #ChristchurchArtShow #ArtsCanterbury #SupportLocalArtists"

At the Christchurch Art Show, Te Pae 8th to the 10th of March. “Drought”. Oil on paper. $880. Portrait of a farmer reflecting on the summers drought in Canterbury #christchurchartshow #artscanterbury #

Arts Canterbury Juried Show - Oxford Art Galley. On all month. Great art including “Flap the Magpie” by meeeeee!

Good things take time. #artscanterbury #sepiadrawings #loveyourniece

West coast road tripping with Liz Ranford.

Todays effort. There are always days when it works and days when it doesn’t. Not sure where today is going, but at least I am the studio and trying. #artscanterbury #sepiadrawing

Sometimes getting back into the swing of things takes a lot of time. Other days ………. #artscanterbury

Thoughts from Hedgehog rehab. Either Beatrix Potter had no idea about hedgehogs or Mrs Tiggy-winkle was hiding a powerful amount of poo behind that prim white apron. #hedgehog #hedgehogrescue

Bath time so traumatic, breakfast is the only thing that makes it better.

Mr Hedgehogs favourite breakfast. Dine Tender Chicken

Today I decided to paint some of my friends ……… #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #lostsaintsofthehurunui

Din dins

Backwaters

Fishing.

Sunset over the Arabian Sea.

A nice cup of chai. Found out that tea is part of the Camilla family. I always thought it was tiny wee leaves like a tea tree. The things we learn

On the beach

Monkeys and water.

Got to love me a bit of churches!

After nearly 30 year of being friends - we both look pretty good

So, here’s the thing. I spend too much time online looking at YouTube videos, Instagram, and Pinterest, trying to teach myself new painting techniques. Then, I try to put them into practice. These things seem much easier when someone else does it. I have spent days trying to work out how to gild paper and make shellac soo I can paint over it all with oils. Also a couple of days drawing the image. Finally, I feel that I am getting somewhere with this. But I couldn’t figure out why the paint was just being weird to mix - then after I had spent hours painting, I had a good look at the tube of brunt sienna I was using. Another masterpiece destined for the bin. #artscanterbury #goldleaf #oilpainting #oilportrait

Anyone spot this in the Christchurch Star? Arts Canterbury Art Show

Wow. I met Jane in Israel, she is lovely, we chatted a lot. And now she has written this blog. Very chuffed. https://www.anart4life.com/meg-maguire/?ref=anart4life-newsletter

Our community Rooster. We have a feral rooster living down at the corner of our road. He has been there, by himself, up a willow tree for years. As long as we have lived here in Waiau. Think he is one of the best fed chooks in the region. I don’t know how many of us feed him - but there is always food dropped off each day by someone. I love our community rooster. This portrait of him will be on show at the Arts Canterbury Art Show at the Cashmere Club, Christchurch this weekend. #artscanterbury #chooksdrawing #chickendrawing

Only a week and a half to go! Head on down to the Cashmere Club 25th, 26th and 27th. Over 70 artist exhibiting.

Come along and see this show. 70 odd artist - including your truly. #thelearningconnexion

Daddy daughter moment

Cat!!!!! Small annoying creatures, that bring joy, happiness and sometimes mice. #artscanterbury #catdrawing #thelearningconnexion

Evolution of an bird drawing #artscanterbury #birddrawing #ravendrawing

Since returning, I have been trying to get some time in the studio.  Today was the day.   But what to draw?    I have been thinking about a beautiful American lady I met on my travels.  Sue makes the most exquisite quilts.  We were chatting about what we had seen on our travels that most inspired our creativity.  She showed me some beautiful images of mosaic floors for her next masterpiece.   What inspired me?  All the cats I saw lording over these awe-inspiring historical places.  So this is for Sue.  And a special thank you to all those who feed and care for even those who wish to remain wild. #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #suedierks

I found Helen of Troy. And yes, I think she is worth sailing a thousand ship for!

Storks. I think this guys are my spiritual birds

Cats of Ephesus #intrepidtravel

This is how to do a thermal pool. Bathing among the remains of a 2000 year old temple in 36 degree water. Hanmer springs eat your heart out. #nothanmersprings #cleopatraspoolpamukkale

This is much more my thing. Ebru - The art form of marbling is defined by the creation of colorful patterns through the sprinkling and brushing of color on a pan of water with oil. The patterns are then transferred to paper with beautiful creations that are different every time.

Trying to keep my creativity rolling while on holiday - but found that pottery is not my forte

Up and away. Cappadocia . (And no, I didn’t even think about getting in one!)

Haggai Sophia. Istanbul.

Basilica Cistern. Istanbul

Baptism Sight, Jordan.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

The main attraction. Petra! Still one of the most amazing sights I have been to. Plus I made it to the Monastery - 12 years older and a lot less fit than last time!

Little Petra, Jordan

Karak, Jordan

Dead Sea, Jordan

Jerash, Jordan

Jaffa. Cool arty community. I could live here

Caesarea

Nazareth

Bethlehem. Odd place where religion and oppression collide

Can’t remember the name of this Greek Orthodox Church, but it was lovely. On the Sea of Galilee

Church of the beatitudes

Sea of Galilee

Dome of the Rock.

City of David. Playing in the tunnels. Water and drainage

Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem

Forts and Medinas. Tunisia

I love a good Roman ruin! Tunisia

The stunning mosaics of Tunisia.

Channeling my inner Gertrude Bell. Kairouan, Tunisia

Cafe Berber, TOZEUR Tunisia. This has to be the best cafe in Tunisia. Great coffee, great atmosphere #cafeberber

Mint tea with almonds!

The remains of the Great Harbour of Carthage. Somewhat smaller than I imagined. But still Carthage!

First day wandering around Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia.

And it’s a wrap. Short and sweet first solo exhibition done. Thank you again to everyone who came to see my show. And a huge thank you to all my new collectors out there that scooped up a drawing and made the show a success. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to spend my days making art and pretend it’s a real job! Your support means the world to me. So thanks, I will see you all next time. #thelearningconnexion #artscanterbury #theartscentrechristchurch #soloexhibition

Thanks to the team for helping set up the exhibition. There is alway way more work than I think, and I couldn’t have done this without them. (And the that my team all flew in from Australia for the event!) “The Watchers” on at the Arts Centre, Christchurch till the 2nd of April

3 of the 4 of us. Opening night of “The Watchers”. My sister Kate and I video calling my brother Peter in Western Australia.

This is the reality of 2 days before an art exhibition. Not a lot of art, but a lot of admin. #caffeine and cortisol #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion

Stencil day. This is the day I dread the most. Cutting the stencil - mindless boredom. And it’s guaranteed that if something can go wrong it will! Come to the exhibition, Christchurch Arts Centre 28th March - 2nd April to see if I have managed to fix it up! #soloexhibition #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion

16 days to go. Exhibition starts on the 28th of March. #soloexhibition #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #theartscentrechristchurch #pumanawagallery

The evolution of a painting. Cutting it close to the wire. Not finished yet and it’s only days to go. “The Watchers” The arts centre, Christchurch 28th March #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #soloexhibition

Some days no matter how busy, the only way to cope is to lie on my back in the grass and look at the sky. #stressed #artexhibition #thelearningconnexion #artscanterbury

2 points. 1/. This is why I should never bring any of my art supplies into the house and 2/. This is also why it takes so long to get any work done!

It’s all go here in my studio! Getting closer to the exhibition time, and the panic is on

It’s really happening. Save the date! 28th March thru to the 2nd of April. Christchurch Art Centre, Pumanawa Gallery. 2 Worcester Boulevard. Christchurch #thelearningconnexion #artscanterbury

Love love love working in pencil on Kraft paper. Totally my happy place! And big scale to. #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #sepiadrawing

Finished! And it’s a big one 1300mm x 1100mm. Oil on linen

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY!! I have a new artist website!!!! www.megmaguireart.co.nz - please pop in and have a look. If you want there is even a spot where you can sign up for email updates. I have no idea what those updates will be, so lets work on this together. Tell me what you would like to know, and I shall endeavour to accommodate. Setting up this website is such a big thing for me. I am finally doing the one thing I have always wanted to do. Near on 55 years of dreaming of being an artist. But the FEAR! Oh my god, the FEAR of putting it out there. Well, I have decided that fear sucks. I will pursue my dreams, and I hope you come along with me. Special thanks to Melody and the team at Love My Online Marketing and big brother Peter for all the help in getting it this far. #lovemyonlinemarketing #peterjohnmaguire #artscantebury #thelearningconnexion

Most days, it’s not about the successes. Epic fails happen and they happen a lot! Art is about the picking myself back up and starting again - each and every day!

Unfinished Bird Drawings. Sooooo much work still to be done. Getting ready for my solo exhibition 27th of March #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion #birddrawing

Storm on the Quad! Very proud he managed to do it!

I could be painting and getting ready for the exhibition - but Christmas Trees!!!!

Close ups #thelearningconnexion #artscanterbury #nzbirdpainting

And this is why it takes so long to finish a painting! Only 111 days till the exhibition and baby wants to help!

“Arts for arts sake, money for Gods sake…………..”. Getting ready for my first solo exhibition in March 23 #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion

I like birds! Extra large oil painting on the go #thelearningconnexion #birdartust #artscanterbury

That was a very stressful 1/2 an hour hoping this wee fella would recover after flying into the window. He is up and away now. I love the way these guys come visiting about this time each year

Happy birthday Emily Devine O'Brien

Sarah’s Cat. Soft pastel #thelearningconnexion #artscanterbury #catpainting

Meg and Bill’s excellent adventure

Bird sketches. Birds are one of the best ways I know to get my drawing back on track when the creative fountain has run dry. #thelearningconnexion #birddrawings

New painting “I see, but I don’t want to see”. All packed up and ready to go to the Inside/Out exhibition at Down By The Liffey gallery in Lincoln. #downbytheliffey #thelearningconnexion #nzportraitpainting

Sick and tired self portraits! Here is a painting of my cat. #artscanterbury #thelearningconnexion