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A series of paintings that have appeared on a cul-de-sac in Mangawhai Heads have delighted children and families on walks during lockdown.
Artist Nicola Everett has been putting up paintings of bears that are based on local characters and happenings on Jack Boyd Drive and beyond.
Her first designs were based on children living on the street including a young girl who drives a pink toy convertible and a boy with a quad bike.
There’s also a ukulele playing bear based on talented local players, as well as the town’s own Senior Constable Rob Cato who has been immortalised in furry form.
Nicola was inspired by households that had been putting soft toy bears in their window for children to spot on walks.
“I don’t have any bears or any windows, so I decided to make paintings and put them out on the street where everyone could see them,” she says.
Nicola has painted 15 bears and her intention is to fill the whole fence before the end of lockdown.
Tomorrow she will put out a painting of a bear wearing a poppy for Anzac Day.
“I am an artist, although this is not my usual work.”
In lieu of canvases, Nicola has painted the bears on fine linen sheets that were destined for screen printing, which she had received from a neighbour before the lockdown.
“Well, I wasn’t about to make curtains out of them. They have worked nicely with a staple gun straight onto the fence.”
Nicola has noticed an increase in families walking by to see the paintings and even a few cars that seem to have gotten lost on their way to the supermarket.
She has already had requests to buy the paintings.
Usually the Mangawhai Artists space would fundraise at this time of year for its workshop so Nicola is considering auctioning a bear after the lockdown.
However, the remainder will be given to children living on the street with some even being able to have their very own bear version of themselves.
