Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Portrait of an artist and her rat in the painting and mosaic studio of Janet Keen, Rotorua, New Zealand.




All sorts of people with different styles of art are made to feel welcome and accepted into my painting and mosaic studio. 
Even their pet rats. 
So far four people have come for lessons and bought their dogs. 
This is the first time I've had a rat pupil
She was really well behaved.



This is Kyra's take on a victorian rat. 
We may be doing other rat illustrations. 
I will post one I commissioned one of my clients to do for me of a rat resting on a couch in my studio. 


Of course now I want a pet rat. 
It's the loveliest feeling to have a rats whiskers caressing your fingers and the trembly sensation of a warm little rats tail running along your hand sends warm shivers up your spine. 
As usual my cat Gary and my husband Graham are not in favour of it so I   guess I'll just have to adore other people's rats from afar. 

Creative Quote of the Day
“The flute of the Pied Piper of Hamelin has never left us and it is essential that we train our ear to detect its false notes because in our case the flute is being played by the rats.”
Dimitris Mita


Enrol your child in my after school programme on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdays. They will never be bored, they will have a lot of fun and they will be enriched by  the experience. 

Phone 07 3463435 or email jkeen@clear.net.nz  

 This is my latest pupil Chloe. 



 What a delight Chloe is because she's a deep thinker and very sensitive and loves art. 
Here is her morepork. 
And here is the comment that her mother sent me via the email. 


Chloe was over the moon with her time with you just chatting and being creative.

I haven't seen her this excited in a long time and that pleases my soul. 
She is my special girl  she, can't stop talking about her next class and how she wished she could go every day.

Thanks for spending time with her and being so positive!


Kind Regards,

Melissa

With Chloe I am setting her homework from childrens illustrated books and we are trying  to put different media on owls. She gave me a lovely card before she even got to class. I feel like she is a person who has been sent to me by God. I am so blessed.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Paradise Valley Wildlife Photos that I liked best of me and animals taken by Sharon Love





The Keas were especially friendly. They liked my zebra ring.





The donkey was a sweet natured hungry beast.



Gorgeous cute goat.






I lied this little hut with the deer antlers.


The lion cubs were so frisky and wouldn't sit still for a posed photo.


I think this is my favourite one





The stream is full of trout and ducks.


All the paths are so clean and tidy.


So as you can see you can have a lot of fun going with another photographer and taking photographs of each other in different picturesque, animal filled locations. 

 I am going back with Wieland Hartwig and his wife Chin next week and we are going to get shots of each other interacting with the animals.
 I am hoping to get a good shot so that I can add it to the exhibition Wieland and I are having on the 22nd of April.  

Creative Quote of the day 
When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
Ansel Adams





Friday, March 14, 2014

Photographic and Mixed Media Exhibition in the Rotorua Public Library, coming soon watch this space.


 Animals are in .....
 


Wieland Hartwig and I preparing publicity shots, taken by his wife Chin for our up and coming exhibition in the Rotorua Public Library in April. 
He is preparing a video at the moment that I will post up here and on facebook as soon as its ready. 
You will be able to watch our progress as we journey together on an exhibition adventure. 


The theme of our exhibition is "our favourite images". 
Animals of all shapes and sizes have always been my favourites and so I am depicting them in a set of photographs and paintings. 

Watch this space as we embark on the exhibition journey. 
Wieland, his wife Chin and I are going to Paradise Valley Wildlife Park on Thursday to capture some more shots. 

All works in the exhibition will be for sale. 
Ten percent of the money raised by my works will be donated to the SPCA. 

Phone Janet Keen on 346-3435 or email jkeen@clear.net.nz if you would like to enroll in a painting or mosaic class depicting wild or domestic  animals. 
Classes Monday to Wednesday and Friday mornings for Adults and Home Schooled people. 
After school classes for gifted children from 3.30pm Monday to Wednesday 
Book your space now
Limited numbers 

Creative Quote of the day
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Photographic Animal Safari at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park and Springs, Rotorua New Zealand by Janet Keen


 
When we arrived the Keas were out of their enclosures walking around. 
They were hungry and friendly



 The Alpaca apparently is a good guard animal and people overseas put them in with sheep so they will protect them from wolves

 You should never leave these animals by themselves because they like to be with others. 
No-one seems lonely at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park.


Everyone is a friend at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park, especially if you have food.

Ashley and her hedgehog who is yet to be named. 
She is a school girl, weekend volunteer and so helpful

She found the hedgehog on her front lawn and hand reared it by feeding it with catfood. 
It survived then she brought it along to the park where it shares an enclosure with some rabbits.
I've never seen such a friendly hedgehog , which just goes to show that if you give any animal enough food and love they will become bonded to you.
A large part of the job of being a wild life park keeper is to shovel s--t.
There's plenty of it because they like to keep all the enclosures 
spotless

It's enjoyable woirk because they so love all the animals and want to make sure they are happy.

She makes a lovely model and I can just imagine her in a job dealing with animals in the future.


This is how you get as a young person experience in your chosen field.
Volunteering is a great way to pick up new skills and to have a test run to see if its the sort of work you would like.


This giant woolley angora goat had the sweetest face.

And the most insistent tongue

He/she really liked the feed that you can buy in the shop before you go out.

Maybe its a girl because it didn't smell like a boy.





He/she even wanted to eat the bag. 







They had the biggest stomachs I have ever seen on goats.
They just couldn't get enough to eat and were quite demanding, but also very gentle. 


We went early for the lion cubs, but they were very boisterous and hard to photograph.
Definitely impossible to get a shot close face to face because one swipe and I think you could have a serious scar.


This is the best one but the eyes aren't in focus so not an award winner unfortunately.
I will need to go back when they have a fresh new batch of lion clubs. 


 The Lions were sleeping in their enclosure. 
They seemed to perk up a bit when young children came near and sat at eye level to them.

The End


 I live on the way to the Wild Life park .
Classes are from Monday Wednesday  and  Friday mornings from 9.30am for adults and home schooled pupils. 
After school classes  Monday to Wednesday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm for one hour. 
Phone 07 346-3435 or email jkeen@clear.net.nz to book your space. 


Creative Quote of the Day 
 I love acting but it's much more fun taking kids to the zoo
Nicole Kidman