Acrylic on Rimu | Vintage metal frame | Resin finish

Perched with quiet purpose atop a weathered post, this kotare (sacred kingfisher) surveys its surroundings—alert, poised, and radiant in hues of blue and white. Painted in acrylic on warm native Rimu and set within an ornate vintage metal frame, this piece merges classic elegance with the spirit of New Zealand’s native birdlife.

A fine resin coat brings depth and gloss, accentuating the bird’s vivid plumage and the natural wood grain beneath. Watcher on the Wire is part of my continuing exploration of storytelling through native species, reclaimed materials, and symbolic threads that connect land, creature, and memory.