# artsmitten

> artwork for art lovers


## Posts

- [RIP Donald McIntyre](https://artsmitten.com/rip-donald-mcintyre/): The operatic bass baritone Donald McIntrye died this week after an extraordinary career. He specialised in singing Wagner and Strauss operas, but many more besides. In 2003 he took a Masterclass in Sydney where this sketch was made. The long time member of the NSW Wagner Society and estimed editor of their quarterly newsletter is MIchael Day. Here he is watching attentively.
- [Oranges in the Bowl Liz made](https://artsmitten.com/oranges-in-the-bowl-liz-made/): Liz is a ceramic artist who is currently working under difficult conditions as she cares full time for a dementia patient. Whenever she can she sneaks off for stolen moments in her garage, fashioning her hand built ceramic works. The other day she posted me a picture of her newest bowl, a work with industrial overtones saying “all it needs now is some fruit in it”. I read the message, stacked some oranges in a bowl in front of me and got out my watercolours to paint them. Here you see the bowl as well as the watercolour of the […]
- [Roses in a Cafe](https://artsmitten.com/roses-in-a-cafe/): Drawing in cafes is a singular pleasure. The barista in the tiny Mazagran Cafe in Dunedin looked over my shoulder as I drew their roses and commented “That painting looks as if the wind blew the petals onto the page.” See more cafe flowers here
- [Night Music](https://artsmitten.com/night-music/): Last night I woke about 3am and flicked the ‘on’ switch on the radio then found I just couldn’t turn it off. I had happened on the Sydney listener-funded classical music station 2MBS FM and an opera was playing, but not one I instantly recognised. An anguished woman sang and sang and I became more and more gripped by the music. Her anguish felt very real. Finally I got out of bed to get my glasses so I could look up the program. It was the Richard Strauss opera Salome. My Strauss revelation came in 2017 at the Strauss festival […]

## Pages

- [Nature and Still Life](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/nature-and-still-life/): Birds Fruit Flowers
- [Landscape](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/landscape/): Australia Sydney Opera HouseCars in Nighttime NewtownBronte Beach Europe Berlin StoryHamburg RissenMaribor, SloveniaSouthern EnglandSouthern FranceWinter snowZurich, Heidelberg and the Rhineland New Zealand AucklandMount RuapehuThe RangitikeiWellingtonSouth Island
- [People](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/people/): The Australian Chamber Orchestra Portraits and their stories
- [Painting tenor Simon O'Neill](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/portraits-and-their-stories/painting-tenor-simon-oneill/): I had long wanted to draw a portrait of Simon O’Neill, a tenor from my homeland New Zealand. Simon is one of those few singers who can sing the more difficult Wagnerian tenor roles with aplomb. My chance came in the winter of 2012 when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under Pietari Inkinen was preparing a concert version of Wagner’s opera Die Walkurie in Wellington. New Zealand. I attended rehearsals to sketch Simon singing and left with a folder full of sketches. The sketches of Simon and his colleagues are in the book The Painted Musician
- [Cafe flowers](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/cafe-flowers/): Painting in cafes is a singular pleasure. Here are some flowers in watercolour and ink painted in cafes in Germany, New Zealand, Australia and France. Sometimes the baristas or patrons of the cafe comment as they see the drawing emerge. At the tiny Mazagran Cafe in Dunedin, the barista looked over counter at ‘2189 Roses’ (below) and said it looked as if the wind had blown the rose petals onto the page. #cafe #flowers #mazagran #Dunedin #Paris #Neckargemuend #Altona #Rissen #Taihape #uminabeach #nespresson #modaks #soulfood
- [Fruit](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/fruit/): Fruit is a captivating subject, especially paired with objects that highlight the beauty of the fruit. Please email if you would like to buy or use any of these images or if you would like to print one on canvas. Watermelon on silverware Tomatoes, Peppers and Aubergines Lemons Nectarines and Passion-fruit Grapes Pears and Peaches
- [Mixed flowers in vases](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/mixed-flowers-in-vases/)
- [Portraits and their stories](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/portraits-and-their-stories/): I had long wanted to draw a portrait of Simon O’Neill, a tenor from my homeland New Zealand. Simon is one of those few singers who can sing the more difficult Wagnerian tenor roles with aplomb. My chance came in the winter of 2012 when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra under Pietari Inkinen was preparing a concert version of Wagner’s opera Die Walkurie in Wellington. New Zealand. I attended rehearsals to sketch Simon singing and left with a folder full of sketches. The sketches of Simon and his colleagues are in the book The Painted Musician ‘It was 2004 and […]
- [Hibiscus and Nasturtiums](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/hibiscus-and-nasturtiums/): Flowers from the garden
- [Lohengrin poppies](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/lohengrin-poppies/): These poppies are drawn in ink and feature the libretto (words) from the opera Lohengrin by Richard Wagner.
- [Mother's Flowers](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/mothers-flowers/): My mother was an avid gardener and built several stunning gardens in her lifetime. At 84 she moved into the small town near their farm, onto a block with no garden at all and there she created a haven. That garden still attracts admirers even now, ten years after her death. During the time when I was clearing her house, I painted flowers as therapy. The flowers were in such abundance that they often overwhelmed the pages in my drawing pad.
- [Flowers](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/): Cafe Flowers (and coffee pots) … Roses Ah Roses … My Mother’s Flowers … Hibiscus and Nasturtiums … Poppies with Lohengrin Libretto … Plums with flowers
- [German Women speak : audio](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/books/women-war-and-the-third-reich/german-women-speak-audio/): Deutsche Frauen sprechen (alle Tonbänder bis auf eines sind auf Deutsch) These are the audiotapes of the interviews (all but one in German) carried out in 1972/73 for the book Women, War and the Third Reich by Elizabeth Gordon-Werner. Herta T was born in 1909 and lived in Stettin (now Szczecin in Poland) and speaks about the war and its aftermath Marga S, born 1919, was a young woman in Frankfurt when the war started. (There are a couple of quiet seconds during the recording.) Luise G, born in 1918 and living in a small village near what is now […]
- [Women, War and the Third Reich](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/books/women-war-and-the-third-reich/): (A link to the audio files of these interviews is below) How did German women really view Hitler and his Nazi State? Twenty one German women answered that question in the 1970s when they volunteered to share their wartime experiences with a young New Zealander (the author) who was trying to adapt to living in Germany. The interviews were collected on tape in 1972 and 1973 then translated by the author. By the time the project was complete the author had started studying again and this material landed in the bottom drawer. Now they have emerged. These oral histories are […]
- [Nelson to Otago](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/nelson-to-otago/): The south island of New Zealand is even more picturesque than the north Island, if that is possible. Here are a selection of views you will see if you travel from north to south down the west coast. Nelson then Murchison If you travel from the north by Ferry you land in Picton, then it is a short drive to Nelson, city of art and music. Driving from Nelson to the West Coast you pass the village of Murchison where the quaint wooden church stands out against a backdrop of wooded hills. Down the West Coast then crossing the Alps […]
- [Auckland New Zealand](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/auckland-new-zealand/): Auckland, New Zealand, is the city of sails, with more sailors per capita than any other city. Mangere (just south of Auckland city) When you fly into Auckland you land at Mangere in South Auckland, then drive north over the Mangere Bridge to Auckland city center.
- [Mount Ruapehu](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/mount-ruapehu/): Mount Ruapehu, Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Tongariro are three mountains on the New Zealand North Island Central Plateau. You see Mount Ruapehu first as you approach from the south, then you drive up and over the beautiful Desert Road and get a spectacular view of all three mountains. It is picturesque at any time of the year but these watercolours were all painted in winter. Mount Ruapehu as you approach from the south The Desert Road More about : Mt Ruapehu Walks you can do in the Tongariro National Park
- [Wellington, New Zealand](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/wellington-new-zealand/): Wellington is the capital of New Zealand, the most southern capital in the world, and a very windy one. It is also a very beautiful place woth wooden houses dotted over the steep hills. Waikanae, just north of Wellington looking out to Kapiti Island, home of many native bird species.
- [Roses, Ah Roses](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/flowers/roses-ah-roses/): Roses are the queen of flowers: beautiful, colourful and often with a sublime scent. Roses in Watercolour Please email if you are interested in buying or using any image. #roses #painting #art #watercolour #watercolor #acrylic
- [New Zealand](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/): These paintings and many more have been published in the book Aotearoa New Zealand Watercolour Journey. It is the ideal book to give visitors to New Zealand or to buy for yourself as a memento of your journey. Have a look at it here. North Island Auckland and Mangere … Mt Ruapehu and the Desert Road … The Rangitikei … Wellington and Waikanae … South Island Nelson to Otago …
- [The Rangitikei](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/new-zealand/the-rangitikei/): The Rangitikei District in the center of New Zealand’s North Island is named after the river that has cut deep furrows into the landscape. The Rangitikei River offers many swimming spots down its length and is a favorite with boaties who love to zoom down its rapids. The hills and backdrop of Ruahine Ranges make the Rangitikei a very picturesque setting. These are some of many paintings that are featured in the book Aotearoa New Zealand Watercolour Journey More about Taihape
- [Southern England](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/southern-england/): Bristol. looking over to the hills of Wales Frome and Tellisford
- [Europe/UK in Watercolour](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/): Berlin Story … Hamburg Rissen … Maribor, Slovenia … Southern France … Winter snow in Germany … Zurich, Heidelberg, Neckargemuend, Weisel … Southern England …
- [Sydney Australia](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/sydney-australia/): Sydney Opera House … Bronte Beach … Cars in night time Newtown … Sailing in Sydney …
- [Maribor, Slovenia](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/maribor-slovenia/): Maribor on the River Drava in Slovenia is a city to capture your heart. It is a vibrant city with its red rooves and wine-bars, ice-cream shops and fruit markets. The population loves music and holds a wonderful festival each year called the Maribor Music Festival. These are some of the many of these paintings of Maribor in the book: The Painted Musician, from Sydney to Dunedin, Hamburg to Maribor. Most are size 24 x 33 cm and many are still available for sale. More about Maribor More about Dornava mansion
- [Zurich, Heidelberg, and Rhineland villages](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/zurich-heidelberg-and-rhineland-villages/): Many of central Europe’s cities, including Zurich and Heidelberg, are built on waterways which eventually flow into the mighty Rhine River and many others like Cologne are built on the banks of the Rhine itself. My nephew lived in Zürich for some years and had frequent visitors. When I visited I slept on a blow up mattress behind the couch while two other guests slept on a double blow up mattress on the other side of the room. Somehow that seems so typical of Zürich which often wins the competition for the world’s most livable city. The transport system is […]
- [Berlin story](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/berlin-story/): I stayed at a backpackers in Berlin called the Helter Skelter, a hostel that failed to survive the pandemic. It was a party place, they said on their website, but although I didn’t fit the usual age of their clientele I really didn’t take much notice of the warning because Helter Skelter was also right in the middle of town and convenient to everything. From my communal room I could see right into the windows of the dressing rooms of the theater next door and watch the actors getting ready to perform. Later I could hear the crowds laughing and […]
- [Winter snow](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/winter-snow/): These postcard-sized works were painted while traveling through a snowy German landscape, from south to north, mostly by train. Beautiful, serene and white. The works below were not drawn from a moving train, but from a moving car. I was a passenger on the way to the Emil Nolde Museum near the border with Denmark
- [Bristol in England](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/southern-england/bristol-in-england/): Bristol is a bustling town with lovely views from the hill top behind Clifton where you look over the river to Wales
- [Frome: English market town](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/southern-england/frome-market-town-in-southern-england/): Frome (pronounced Froom) is a very picturesque market town in England built on steep hills. I house-sat in Frome for friends who were away a few days at a wedding. Before leaving, my artist friend showed me how to make monoprints (see below) in her studio and I discovered another fun way to make images. However, Frome is perfect for a watercolourist, so I spent most of my time wandering the streets with my watercolours, painting as I explored. My friends took me for a drive through the surrounding countryside and stopped by the river at Tellisford, watching the children […]
- [Southern France](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/southern-france/): Set amid the fields an hour or so north of Toulouse with its red brick buildings, is the very small rural village of Le Vert. Such a pretty place to spend a holiday.
- [Cars in Night-time Newtown](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/sydney-australia/cars-in-nighttime-newtown/): Cars queue along King Street, the vibrant center of Sydney’s artistically inclined Newtown. On dark wet nights the lights glow off the bitumen as the cars creep along, looking for parking or just wanting to get to the next suburb.
- [Sydney Opera House](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/sydney-australia/sydney-opera-house/): ‘I have spent many hours of the forecourt of Sydney Opera House painting this magnificent building and imbibing the special energy of the area. (The artist) Sydney opera House at Night Look across the water and there is the Sydney Harbour Bridge.‘ (The artist) Etchings of Sydney Opera House
- [About Us](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/about-us/): Artsmitten is the website of artist Elizabeth Gordon-Werner. Elizabeth lives near Sydney, Australia after extended periods living and working in Europe and New Zealand. She works with diverse mediums across a range of subject matter, but with a particular interest in portraiture. Music is an abiding inspiration Most paintings on this site were painted ‘en plein air’, that is painted on-site, in concerts or rehearsals, from the decks of boats, in cafes or the beach. This direct contact with the subject matter imparts a freshness and vibrancy to the paintings. Three homelands All work on this site is copyright of […]
- [Australian Chamber Orchestra](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/australian-chamber-orchestra/): Painting while watching musicians at work is one of my favorite pastimes, and members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra have frequently been my subjects. My many sketches have resulted larger works submitted for portrait prizes. The sketches and paintings are gathered together in the new book The Painted Orchestra. Proceeds of these works are being donated to the ACO education program.
- [Bronte Beach](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/sydney-australia/bronte-beach/): Bronte beach is one of Sydney’s favourite beaches. The sea is blue, there are trees with shade and the walkway down the coast leads straight through the historic cemetery. More about Bronte
- [Sailing](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/sailing/): Most of these watercolour paintings of sailboats were painted in Sydney, Australia, often from the deck of a boat. Yachting evokes a very special feeling which is captured by these paintings: the thrill of rough seas and high winds, the pleasure of dropping anchor at one of Sydney’s peaceful anchorages. The red sailed yachts on the inland water of Saaler Bodden were painted in north-eastern Germany. Some are still available for sale if you are interested.
- [Birds](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/birds/): Watercolour paintings of Australian and New Zealand birds. In early 2020 when we were all suddenly locked down due to the pandemic, I joined an online watercolour sketch group. The group decided to paint an animal a day, from A to Z, for the next month. So for the next twenty six days we all painted animals, showing each other each evening what we had produced. I painted Australian and New Zealand birds as I thought there would be a selection to choose from in almost every letter of the alphabet. Once the month was done, the group went on […]
- [Ring Cycle Etchings](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/wagner-inspired-grane-brunhildes-horse/ring-cycle-etchings/): Intaglio Etchings, hand coloured, featuring people and places from Wagner’s Ring Cycle Operas. These etchings are 21 x 15 cm and suitable for a 30×40 cm frame. They can be provided framed or unframed.
- [Ring Cycle and Parsifal Jewelry](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/wagner-inspired-grane-brunhildes-horse/ring-cycle-jewelry/): Ring Cycle Jewelry in copper and gold to wear, or to decorate your decanter Rheingold Walkurie Parsifal
- [Paintings](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/): This website is AI free. All works were painted by hand. No part of this website may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. The Australian Chamber Orchestra … Birds of Australia and New Zealand … Europe/UK in Watercolour … Flowers … Fruit … New Zealand … Portraits and their stories … Sailing … Sydney Australia … Wagner’s Ring Cycle Operas …
- [Grane, Brunhilde's horse](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/wagner-inspired-grane-brunhildes-horse/grane-brunhildes-horse/): These collaged intaglio etchings were inspired by Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle. They feature Grane, Brunhilde’s horse, Brunhilde, Wagner’s music and profile. Each etching is 20x29cm in size and suitable for a 30x40cm frame (can be supplied). These many layered and complex images tell the story of Brunhilde and her much loved horse Grane
- [Wagner Inspired](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/wagner-inspired-grane-brunhildes-horse/): Etchings,decorative items and paintings inspired by the music of Richard Wagner Grane, Brunhilde’s horse … Copper/Gold jewelry to decorate yourself or your decanter … Ring Cycle Etchings … Lohengrin Poppies
- [The Painted Musician](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/books/the-painted-musician/): The Painted Musician: Sydney to Dunedin, Hamburg to Maribor is the companion book to The Painted Orchestra . This book tells the story about how the artist began painting musicians, became hooked and started traveling the world to draw world class musicians while they played. The trips sometimes lead to adventures, like being on a train full of refugees escaping across closed borders, but mostly the stories tell of the excitement of the concert hall and the rigors of painting live subjects all day. When exhaustion threatened, the artist migrated to cafes and painted the scenery from there. The book […]
- [Hamburg Rissen](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/europe-in-watercolour/hamburg-rissen/): Rissen is a small picturesque village to the west of Hamburg, with a station direct to the city. The one way street through town is lined with cafes, bakeries, fruiterers, shoe shops etc with several thatched roofed buildings and bicycle stands dotted between them. It is a wonderful place to live as it combines country and city living, is flat enough to bicycle everywhere and has everything you need within its boundaries. I remember my time there with fondness. (Please email if you are interested in buying or using any image.) The village of Rissen is surrounded by farmland and […]
- [The Painted Orchestra](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/books/the-painted-orchestra/): This book features sketches and paintings of musicians who play or played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) together with notes from the artist. Preparatory sketches for the finished portraits are included as they offer insights both into the lives of this group of inspiring musicians as well as the artist’s practice and inspirations. In 2020 when the pandemic closed borders the musical sketches provided a fertile resource for orchestral paintings. The paintings and sketches in this book are available for purchase (sizes and prices are below) and all funds go to ACO education initiatives one of which supports musical […]
- [artsmitten blog](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten-blog/)
- [Plums with Flowers](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/paintings/still-life-paintings/plums/): Large dark red plums are both delicious and fun to paint. Here they are paired with vases of azaleas, nodding violets and roses.
- [Contact Us](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/contact-us/): Contact the artist/author at elizabeth@artsmitten.com
- [Books](https://artsmitten.com/artsmitten/books/): No part of these books may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. The Painted Orchestra This book features sketches and paintings of musicians who play or played with the Australian Chamber Orchestra together with notes from the artist who painted them. Preparatory sketches for the finished portraits are included as they offer insights both into the lives of this group of inspiring musicians as well as the artist’s practice and inspirations. More about The Painted Orchestra here. ….. The Painted Musician: Sydney to Dunedin, Hamburg to Maribor is the […]
- [artsmitten](https://artsmitten.com/): Welcome to the website of contemporary artist E Gordon Werner based in Sydney Australia, known for portraits of musicians, flowers and nature. PORTFOLIO ABOUT CONTACT BLOG Two YouTube videos (click on the picture) : … Painted musicians! The Painted Orchestra features paintings and sketches of Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO) musicians. They are for sale in support of the ACO music education program. Read more about it here. Available in hardcover or paperback from your local bookstore or through Amazon. #paintedorchestra The Painted Musician is the companion book to The Painted Orchestra. It tells the story about how the artist began […]


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