Snaily's back! PLUS exhibition & residency NEWS!

"Into the Unknown" Toni Hartill 2023

And, just like that, another snail image has evolved! 

(Well, not really "just like that."
There are a fair few hours of hard graft involved, 
but so very enjoyable to bring this image to life.)

And, as in the earlier images, where the narrative has been 
semi-autobiographical, 
this one is perhaps the most personal so far.

Perhaps it might resonate with you?

SCROLL DOWN
for news of my coming 
SOLO EXHIBITION & ARTIST'S RESIDENCY!

Where the snail tales began!

My first snail image was created as an etching in 2020 
for an exhibition Taonga o te Ngahere - Treasure of the Forest. 
I was inspired to include the endangered kauri snail, pupurangi, 
and the mighty Kauri tree - 
both taonga only found in the north of Aotearoa, NZ.

"Kauri Snail" Toni Hartill 2020
Aluminium etched with copper sulphate
Plate size: A5
Paper size: A4

From this small image I was curious to consider the challenge 

of recreating the image as the largest possible etching 

I could create in my home studio, thus including a lot more detail. 

"Home as a Sanctuary"

This work was created soon after our initial full lockdown 

in 2020, due to the covid pandemic. 

As mentioned in an earlier post, snails seem to have become a totem creature for me 

and I was inspired to attempt to use the kauri snail as a means to gather and convey 

my thoughts at this perilous time. Returning to our family, our homes, 

our physical and spiritual place of belonging, to a place we felt most safe, 

very quickly we seemed to accept that our “worlds” would need to shrink 

back to include our own “back yard", our sanctuary.

"Home as a Sanctuary" Toni Hartill 2020

Aluminium etched with copper sulphate

Plate size: 300mm x 585mm

"Stick to your Bubble"

As we went into a nationwide lockdown, a call went out 
from printmaker Celia Walker, to participate in a print exchange 
inspired by our experiences in isolation and so, this linocut came into being 
to reflect the message of the time, "Stick to your bubble!"

"Stick to your Bubble" Toni Hartill 2020
Linocut SOLD OUT

"A Cautious Reopening"

Inspired by the experience of being in an extended lockdown from August til December 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, this linocut was created to express my (and others') cautiousness towards the stepped reopening of our bubbles. 

I'm the timid one still inside the jar...

"A Cautious Reopening" Toni Hartill 2021
Linocut
Paper size: A4
Available to purchase from ONLINE SHOP

"P is for Pupurangi"

This image was created for the 

PCANZ collaborative bestiary book project in 2022.

"P is for Pupurangi" Toni Hartill 2022
Linocut

And so.... 

Into the Unknown!

"Into the Unknown" Toni Hartill 2023
Linocut
Image size: approx A4 210 x 297cm
Paper size: A3 297 x 420 cm

In this latest image Snaily is off on her travels alone! 

Out of her jar and away from her bubble!

In the distance is the iconic cone of  Taranaki Maunga 

- a long way from home for a little northland snail!

"Into the Unknown" detail Toni Hartill

It's about summoning the courage to sometimes 

step outside of your comfort zone and to seek 

new horizons, challenges or adventures, 

not really knowing what lies ahead.

It's also about striking out on your own

to try something new, without your usual 

support of family, friends or colleagues.

Sometimes we need to forge our own path, 

to go it alone, 

to discover where we are going next and 

to appreciate where we've been 

or what we've achieved.

SOLO EXHIBITION 

& 

ARTIST'S RESIDENCY

Photo credit: from out of the blue studio gallery

Inspiration!

Early last year I received an invitation, literally from out of the blue, 

from Viv Davy to have a solo exhibition and residency at her beautiful gallery

from out of the blue studio gallery 

Opunake, Taranaki, NZ. 

Nov 9TH -Dec 17TH, 2023

This was an opportunity 

to step out of my comfort zone 

and into the unknown!

Firsts!

This opportunity is an absolute first for me in so many ways, 

personally and for my arts practice.

For starters, I've never been to Opunake. 

I didn't even know where it was! Do you?

I've never been invited to exhibit solo.

And this is the first time I've prepared a special body of work for a solo. 

My first-ever solo, last year, was actually a retrospective 

of my artist books created over 5 - 6 years.

 

Working towards this show has been a huge 

and somewhat daunting undertaking, 

requiring me to create a, mostly, whole new body of work 

in less than a year. 

Taradise - artists' residency and accommodation

Residency!

I've long dreamed of doing a residency!

 To have the opportunity of spending a decent length of time 

in a far-away place, 

(far away enough not to just pop home at the weekends) 

immersed in the environment, 

is beyond exciting. 

Bucket-list stuff!

I've also never left my family to spend more than a few days away.

 

To spend it working on my art is ...!!!

(You may have heard mention of this gallery in earlier posts: 

I was involved in a group show, The Beach, 

last summer, and was due to visit at the end of January 

when we were hit by the Anniversary Weekend floods!)

Recent Visit

My freakout-ometer had been quavering between 

through-the-roof excitement 

and sheer terror.

To set my mind at ease and to help me prepare 

for the many aspects of this great adventure, 

including installation, talks, workshops, 

demos, and the residency,

hubby and I took a long weekend roadie down 

to Opunake to meet Viv and to make plans.

 

Now, I am through-the-roof EXCITED!!

"Into the Unknown" working drawing THartill

I created this image before I ventured down to Opunake,

conjuring up a well-trodden path, 

through lush NZ flora of ferns and flax,

purely from my imagination,

 

although with a tiny spark of inspiration 

from the well-known Charles Heaphy painting 

"Mount Egmont from the Southward" 

as seen here in The Big Picture by Hamish Keith.

"Mount Egmont from the Southward"
Charles Heaphy

I was amazed therefore to see aspects of the landscape emerge, 

a lot like my imagination had conjured!

"Into the Unknown" detail Toni Hartill

"Into the Unknown" detail Toni Hartill

The road, Mt Messenger.

"Into the Unknown" detail Toni Hartill

We circumnavigated the mountain however, 

not a peek did we get.

That's something more to look forward to!

I know you're in there Taranaki Maunga!

Editioning

I have hand printed 2 limited editions, 

each of just 10 lino prints.

Version 1 is a warm brown-black.

Version 2 is a deep blue-black.

Image size: A4

Paper Size: A3

Paper: Fabriano Rosapina 285gsm

Ink: Charbonnel Aquawash

Sales & Enquiries

You are welcome to contact me 

for any enquiries or to purchase.

NOW AVAILABLE 

in my ONLINE SHOP!

Prints can be picked up from me 

in Auckland or couriered. 

$135 NZD each

Free tracked Economy Courier within NZ only.

Rural delivery and Signature services are extra.

I will also take some with me to Opunake

in November.

If you would like to reserve a print, 

of either colour, blue-black or brown-black,

to pick up from me in Opunake

please message me to arrange.

My exhibition will be open to the public 

 Nov 9th - Dec 17th, 2023.

I will be in residence for this entire period of time 

and look forward to meeting and connecting with others 

in and around the Opunake, Taranaki region.

Please do come say Hi!

"Into the Unknown" editioning brown-black version Toni Hartill

"Into the Unknown" editioning blue-black version Toni Hartill

"Into the Unknown" editioning Toni Hartill

"Into the Unknown" editioning Toni Hartill

"Into the Unknown" two colourways Toni Hartill

Subscribe to my NEWSLETTER for updates.

Follow my blog 

to be notified when a new blog is posted.

Button at TOP of Right column.

Photo credit: from out of the blue studio gallery

from out of the blue studio gallery

https://fromoutofthebluestudiogallery.com/

Thanks for visiting!

"Distant Conversations" - Covid-19 inspired Print Exchange

Linocut edition. Toni Hartill

The Covid-19 pandemic reached New Zealand in late February 2020. As NZ went into a nation-wide "lock-down" on the 26th March, in order to stop the spread of the disease, printmaker crony Celia Walker sent out a call to a group of 16 printmakers across the country to participate in a print exchange inspired by our experiences during our period of isolation.

EDIT: To view the final exhibition "Distant Conversations" see my later post here.


My print was inspired by the concept that was drummed into us on a daily basis on all media
"Stay in your bubble" and features NZ kauri snails, a favourite critter of mine.

Kauri snail linocut. Toni Hartill

My appreciation for snails began when I read the utterly charming book "The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating" by Elizabeth Tova Bailey. I have not been able to squish a snail since!

And ever since I created a linocut kauri snail for the group exhibition "Forest has the Blues" I have become even more taken by snails. They have perhaps now been adopted as my totem animal.

"Snaily", aka "KS" traveled to Spain with me last year and has in fact become something of a celeb in his own right! Check out #snaily on Instagram and you'll find him there as you scroll down.

Snaily at Sergovia, Spain, 2019.

Snails also seemed to be a particularly apt symbol to use at this time representing adaptability, the need to slow down and make the most of what you have to hand.
The shell itself can symbolize safety, protection and self-reliance while the shell's spiral can represent growth, evolution, the cycles of nature, continuity, etc. Also the snail's habit of withdrawing into its shell when a threat is perceived, and its ability to seal itself away for long periods being completely self-reliant also seemed especially relevant.

At a time when we were confined to our homes and
our lives had to slow right down... well, you get the picture.

"Stick to your Bubble"

 

Paper size: 17.5 cm x 25 cm
Media: Linocut
Paper: Hahnemuhle Stella Matte, 230 gsm
Edition of 30



I have printed an edition of 30 prints,
allowing for 16 for the exchange and the remaining edition to be available for sale.


I am offering a limited number of prints 

for just $85 each.

 

Free shipping within our NZ bubble!

 

 EDIT: Currently available from my online shop: tonihartill.felt.co.nz

International shipping additional. 

Please inquire for price and policy

and to purchase. 

UPDATE: SOLD OUT!

Note: There are likely to still be delays 

in shipping internationally.

Toni Hartill

So, if you'd like a wee memento of our Covid-19NZ experience
please contact me directly if you are interested in purchasing a print.

Toni Hartill

Prints will be packed in a cellophane sleeve*, backed with card,
and wrapped with recycled cardboard to protect the print while in transit.



*Why a cellophane sleeve?
This protects the print from moisture and finger prints and means the print can be displayed and enjoyed until / instead of  having it framed.

Toni Hartill

The making of

 

Click on an image: it will enlarge on your screen and
you can then scroll through all of the images.

Or just continue scrolling here.

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

The progression of carving the lino

The quality of the pics in this video are not great - I snapped the pics at the end of each carving session as a record of WIP (work in progress) so the lighting is pretty dodgy I'm afraid. 

I chose to mix a dark, warm, mossy ink colour for this print,
so although it can appear black in the print, look closely, it's not quite.
(I actually seldom use a straight black ink.)

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

Toni Hartill

This was such fun to work on.
Its the first lino cutting I've done since last year as I've been fully immersed in learning to etch aluminium with copper sulphate. I've discovered a deep love for both techniques, which couldn't be more different, but I do so LOVE to carve lino, as this has reminded me. I have some new challenges set for myself to "up my game" so stay tuned.


I look forward to receiving the exchanged prints from the other artists in the group and I will share them in a new blog once they all arrive later in the year.


Many thanks to Celia Walker for organizing this welcomed diversion.

 

A delighted "Snaily" - sidekick of Toni Hartill

Snaily was certainly chuffed to feature!




Thanks for visiting!

Forest has the Blues - Critters!

This year's iteration of our "Forest has the Blues" installation will include 

CRITTERS!

New Zealand insects, small reptiles, birds, and perhaps 

a few imported pests just to liven things up a little!

My contribution to the quietly munching understory 

is the New Zealand Kauri Snail

or

Pupurangi.

To find out about these once  plentiful but now threatened beauties 

visit this Department of Conservation page: Kauri Snail/ Pupurangi.

My Pupurangi are approximately 28cm long linocut prints 

carved with a combination of pfiel gouges and dremel tool.

This was a fun interlude to some more serious projects 

being juggled at present.

aaaaaaaaarrrrrrgghh

they escaped in the night 

and are now happily munching on my noticeboard!

I know.... when will I grow up?!

Students of Pukekohe High School

Also taking part in this year's installation are a new class of senior students from Pukekohe High School, under the guidance of their teacher and contributing artist Esther Hansen. Esther's students have been tasked with creating critters, for their own installation, - a completely new component to this year's installation, and to also inhabit the main forest installation.

Recently we "Foresters", as we loosely term ourselves, met as a group to catch up with each other and to see and hear how progress is being made. This was an opportunity for Esther to bring a collection of her students' work along to show, and what a treat to behold!

 Below are just a few images of the works in progress by the students.
They are using two printmaking techniques: drypoint etching and woodblock.

 

Such finely detailed, and beautifully executed, images don't you agree? And this is still early days! The students are making a wonderful contribution to the exhibition.

I will be visiting the students next week during their class time 

and greatly look forward to meeting them all and seeing and hearing about their progress. 

I shall report back in a new blog so watch this space!

To see earlier posts about the  
Forest has the Blues project click here.

And/ or please follow and share our 

facebook page: Forest has the Blues.

Thanks for visiting!