Colin Unkovich

This painting is one of a series of pieces I have been working on. I enjoy the lack of constraint that surrealism allows and it is always interesting to hear the different interpretations which people can find.

With this work I have chosen to highlight the dynamism of the natural world, but I have also given the viewer the opportunity to create their own interpretation.

The Far North is one of my favourite parts of the country and is where I have seen some of the best most flamboyant sunrises I have ever seen. That said, it is no less beautiful when seen under a brooding sky.

(345 x 195)
The title of this painting has 2 meanings, the first is literal, the second is spiritual.

This is the third painting in a series I have done using a figure in the same pose. I have used differing tones and backgrounds in order to manipulate the mood of the piece without loosing it’s intimacy.

Porpoise Bay at the South Eastern corner of the South Island is one of my favourite pieces of coast. It combines two of the elements that make our coast unique. It is simultaneously wild and rugged, yet also offers shelter and protection.

This view is looking down the course of the Fox Glacier and is one of a series of paintings of the central South Island

The title of this piece is a line taken from a Van Morrision song. The next line is ‘let your soul and spirit fly’ which pertains to this area in the context of it being the departure place of spirits.

Beautiful and unspoiled. The stuff that surfers’ dreams are made of.

This nude study marks the use of chiaroscuro in order to enhance the mood.

Dreams of a Young Magritte (910 x 910)
I have always admired the style and imaginations of the early surrealist painters and every now and again I paint a piece to show this, often using both the original artist and examples of their symbolism in the piece. The globe shaped objects are a type of European cowbell which were often included in the work of Rene Magritte.

This is one of those special places that has so far avoided coastal development. A beautiful day (a stunning place on a perfect day)

The eyes say it all. The incongruous background image is symbolic of the state of mind of the young boy. It represents things out of place and time: lost. His ethnicity is undetermined and begs the questions, who are these people? What relationship do they have to the boy? What do they represent? Past traditions or customs perhaps. Or then again, is he just part of the group involved in the portage of the boat?

Lake Tekapo to Two Thumb Range (455 x 1370)
This is a view looking across lake Tekapo towards the Two Thumb Range on a beautifully clear but cold morning. The snow is just starting to light up with the colour from the early sun.

Tauranga Harbour looking towards Mt Maunganui:- When choosing to paint a coastal landscape of this country. I feel a bit spoilt for choice. The variety and remarkable locations on offer can be almost overwhelming. I choose
to paint landscapes minus buildings or more obvious development as I see these as being more transitory when compared to the overall form of the land itself.

This painting is one of a series where I used different colour scales to contrast the various components of the painting and to also add an element of conflict.