Natasha Courtney, The Rocky Shallows (ART, OBJECTS 2021)

I have worked with artist Rachel Olsen on a series of collaborative pieces. We have combined our work to create a non-conventional way to display paintings. Something with more dimension than the usual picture frame, and something with an element of function. This piece is inspired by our local Coromandel Peninsula coastline and in particular two neighbouring bays known as Stingray Bay and Gemstone Bay. I have used oak for the shelf and decorative kelp effect, which continues the image outside of the actual painting. I have used Black Maire for the small stingray figures floating amongst the kelp. The drawer is made with Black Maire and a small pebble for the drawer pull. The drawer is mitre jointed with splines, and the drawer box has simple hand cut dovetail joints. Keyhole slots are used to hang the piece. The painting is acrylic on board, framed with Black Maire.

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