A collection of limited edition fine art prints of New Zealand's lakes and harbours. Expertly created with accurate bathymetric details and adorned with colourful Gouache watercolour illustrations of local bird, insect and plant life. Place names are handwritten in the artist's own calligraphic style. The perfect piece for that lake bach, avid fisherman or collector of Kiwiana. Each print is signed and numbered by the artist.
Tony Hadlow is the proprietor and Creative Director of fineline design agency, a renown Rotorua creative studio covering many different design pursuits. He is a skilled illustrator able to turn his hand to everything from cartoons and caricatures to line illustration to Gouache watercolour landscapes.
Tony brings his considerable artistic skills as a calligrapher and illustrator producing a series of topographic illustration of some of New Zealand's iconic landmarks. He began with the Lake series (Lake Rotorua, Lake Tarawera, Lake Rotoiti and Lake Okareka) and has expanded the collection to include Tauranga and Wellington Harbours as well as Waiheke Island. Each painting is created from accurate bathymetric data and is adorned with wildlife peculiar to each environment. Wildlife and placenames are annotated in Tony's own calligraphic style using a classic dip pen and Indian ink.
The series is a limited edition and will not be reprinted. Each print is numbered and signed by the artist.
Many hours are spent in the creation of each piece of art.
The first step is sourcing reference of the landscape. I usually purchase reliable bathymetric maps from good sources to ensure the map is the most accurate particularly in terms of water depth and place names.
The next step in my research is to work out the specific birds, fish and/or insects who make the landscape their home. Getting accurate colour reference as well as biological details is important.
After taking receipt of the bathymetric map, I spread pencil lead over the back of the map. Then tape the map to my media and trace all the details. The layer of pencil lead transfers the details to the media.
The wildlife is sketch by hand from online reference photos.
The lettering is also laid out by pencil in a similar calligraphy style to the finished item.
I use Gouache watercolour which is a medium that allows a degree of opacity and layering.
The water areas are tackled first, then the land mass then wildlife. I use a degree of watercolour 'staining' to give the painting a unique look for both the water and land.
Wildlife receive a great degree of attention due to their subtle patterns and colours.
To finish each art piece, I use a classic steel nib dip pen and Indian ink to trace a contour around lake edges and coastlines.
Then the all-important detail describing the wildlife. Whilst I have a rough guide, this process allows me a more free-form approach.
And lastly...the name of the art emblazoned in classical Roman letters.
For more information or to commission your own piece of art please contact us. You are welcome to visit the studio in Rotorua but please phone ahead on 021 899 100.
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