Wildlife Guardian (statue sponsor): Naggie & Fathman
About the Artist: Frank has been a hard working artist, a painter, based in Dunedin for around 25 years. From Glasgow originally he has made `Dunedin home. He has a tendency towards painting people and birds, nature and landscapes. His love of vibrant colours, exaggerated features, whimsy and most importantly a story in every painting, captures the imagination. He has dabbled with murals and book illustrations and has won a couple of art awards and has been shortlisted for the Margaret Mahey prize for children’s book illustration over the years.
Frank’s vibrant works mesmerise with their bold use of colour, capturing the shifting moods of land, sea, animals, and people with whimsical illustration. Working primarily in acrylic and oil, Frank is inspired by the picture books of his childhood and his art tells vivid stories in every piece.
With exhibitions across Aotearoa and works held in private collections worldwide, Frank’s art has earned recognition for its ability to balance strength with sensitivity.
About the Art in Action Hoiho
When Carla first told me about the Yellow eyed penguin project I knew exactly how I wanted to paint it. I actually thought “what would the penguin want?” Fish of course! Probably the reason the penguin gets up in the morning and waddles in to the ocean. Fish. Lots of fish. For the next week I thought about painting fishes. What fish did the Hoiho eat? Better look that up. Better make sure I paint only the ones they eat. A big, swirling shoal of fish darting across the Hoiho’s body. But as I began painting I realised I didn’t really need to paint an accurate depiction of the diet of the yellow eyed penguin. This wasn’t National Geographic and Sir David Attenborough wasn’t looking over my shoulder. So I let loose and began painting colourful, made up fishes. The overall look was far more important. I wanted it to be eye catching, colourful, creating movement with lots to see on this penguin shaped 3D canvas. I loved this project and was very happy with the result. I hope it puts a smile on peoples’ faces. I think I managed to paint what I first saw in my minds eye and what the penguin would have wanted. I suppose then it could be called “what the Hoiho’s dreams are made of”.
Instagram: @frankgordonart
