Sunday, July 31, 2011

The art of New Zealand artist and portrait painter, Jonathan Parker.


Jonathan Parker is a New Zealand portrait  artist who moved from  photography to portrait painting in 2005.  Initially trained in graphic  design and  photography, his preferred medium is now oil on canvas.



I  found in painting what I’d been looking for in photography.    A  photograph comes from of a discrete event, a frozen moment, whereas  a painting  emerges from a hands-on, intensely personal process. It  lives beyond the  instant. ” 
As a portrait artist most of his paintings are  by commission and not sold through galleries or dealers.
His work ranges further than portrait painting  and he is  constantly experimenting with different ideas, genres and methods.  It  is likely more of his work will surface in  galleries and awards as he  progresses.


Work shown to date
Parklane Art Awards  2006 - finalist and highly commended
Adam Portrait awards  2006 - Finalist
Emerge Gallery 2006
Parklane Art Awards  2007 - Finalist
NZ Academy of Fine  Arts 2009, 2011
Michael Fowler Gallery  2011

Jonathan's new web site is Http://jonparkerarts.com
Portraits painted by commission vary according  to a client’s needs  and means?   The  brief can be for an oil sketch or a formal portrait,  executed from a live  sitting, a photograph, or a cyber-sitting.

Prices range from NZ$200 for an oil sketch on  canvas to NZ$5000 for a large formal portrait.
For portrait commissions, purchase of available  works or more information, contact the artist on: jon@jonparkerarts.com

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Siam Chiang Mai. The Rose of the North | Guest House

Siam Chiang Mai   
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by Grant Wills

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Siam Chiang Mai. The Rose of the North.

Chiang Mai is Thailand's 2nd largest city and the centre of culture and arts in Thailand. Chiang Mai celebrated its 700th year anniversary about 9 or 10 years ago.

Siam Chiang Mai is the Home of adventure Tourism in the far North of Thailand.

Chiang Mai was the capital of Siam for many years, being serviced from the south by river barge on the Mai Ping River. The large morning markets are still situated by the Mai Ping. All the main Consulates are still in Chiang Mai, with the British Consulate taking up a large block.

The British had considerable influence here in the 1800s and early 1900s, helping the Thai Government set up the mail, railway and transport infrastructure.

Thailand means FREELAND. Thailand was never colonized as they had a very astute King who did his schooling in Europe, When the British and French started encroaching on Thailand he summoned the respective consoles to his Palace and put forth the proposition that went something like this.

We have (the Kings personal army) 5000 battle trained elephants with full body armour, you have cannon. Your cannon will take out some of my elephants but the other 4000 will trample you to death, we also have a massive army of foot solders that will mop up any survivors.

To the British consul he said as a peace offering I will give you all the land on the other side of the mountains bordering Burma. As for Thailand at this time of history it was very hard to service (because of the mountain range).

To the French he said something along the same lines but offering them all the land on the other side of the Mekong river. Both Governments looked at the logistics of the situation and accepted the proposition.

Thailand has always maintained large armed forces as it was surrounded by hostile Countries who over the last 1000 years or so have each at one time or another ruled the whole Area. During the cold war America supported Thailand to the hilt with planes, tanks, equipment and training.

During the Vietnam War the Americans had many bases here, Airport bases at Uban Thani etc. Then came Air America (but that's a whole story on its own) with arms for drug deals, CIA backing of the Hill tribe Drug Lord Armies, as in the CIA's mind they were the bastion against Russian and Chinese communist forces.

Many of the treaties put in place in the cold war with the Shan people etc of Burma are still in place today and ratified by each incoming Prime Minister.

Thailand was the launching pad for the secret War in Laos, Cambodia and of course Vietnam.

That all said explains why the Thai's are such a happy care free people, they have never had there spirit broken and don't have the undercurrent of hate that you see in a lot of the old French and British colonies.

Thailand is a sub Tropical paradise, with plenty of lush rain forests, rivers and lakes. The mountains of the north run down to the flatlands and ocean.

Chiang Mai is 11 or so hours by train from Bangkok or 1 hour by plane, It has its own International Air port, so depending on were you are coming from you can fly straight into Chiang Mai. If you take the train from Bangkok the overnight sleeper is a good idea (book a bottom bunk) you get on the train, they serve dinner, make up the beds and you wake up in the morning for breakfast coming into Chiang Mai all for the price of dinner back home.

Thailand is a safe pace to travel; I have traveled back and forth from New Zealand for many years making 20 or more return trips with out ever having any thing stolen or the like.

Getting over 16,000,000 tourists a year, tourism is its no one $ earner surpassing the rice crop for export $'s.

From Chiang Mai you can book and plan small excursions into the unknown ha (Burma, Laos and China) with return air tickets from as little as $50 - $150 or you can book on a over land cross river execution to Laos. Traveling up to Chiang Kong and then across the river to Laos. http://Siam-ChiangMai.com

While in Chiang Mai stay at Mai.s Home Stay Guest House

Chiang Mai's No. 1 quality Home Stay Guest House in Northern Thailand

We invite you to share our home and environment

Because we will only take one set of paying guests we are able to offer a fairly private and very relaxing environment , with pool, waterfalls ,and the sound of running water etc. almost your own private resort, up to 5 star Hotel standards.
Accomodation , 2 Adults , can add a mattress for a child in the same room, Also we have a spare room which could be made available for 3 children (at our discretion).    The room has 1 single bed and 1 set of bunks.
Exclusive use of main bedroom,(new 32inch  colour TV with english programs and movie channels, refrigerator, table and chairs,refrigerator. )with ensuite and balcony , and the extra bedroom if required.
Welcome to  shared use of main kitchen , lounge TV room. , computer room .
Unlimited use of pool and facilities .
We are located at Karn kanok 1 development , a gated community with 24/7 security and closed circuit cameras . It is made up of friendly Thai families , and several foreigners (farang) with Thai wives . The development boasts a clubhouse located within park like grounds , with a playground , gymnasium ,sauna, restaurant and swimming pool.
Things to do and see may include visits to the night market in the city ,a day in the city checking out the bars and eating places , a visit to the large temple complex on Suthep mountain overlooking Chiangmai city , a visit to a hill tribe village , Kings project and hot springs at San kampaeng
Mai and Bruce run a high quality operation with every thing you would expect from a top class operation. They only rent out 1 unit at a time 1500 THB / $50 usd a night (min 3 days).
You can visit the new site we (XanDreams.com) have just built for Mai's Unique Boutique Homestay at http://mais-ubh.com/index.html
They offer transport to all the local spots + have 2 motor bikes for rent
It is estimated that there are 15,000 expats living in Chiangmai , many of whom are retired . This is because they know they are in a safe , welcoming environment so come and stay on our Home. Unlimited use of pool and facilities.
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I Highly recomend staying at 

Mai's Unique Boutique Home stay

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mai's Guest House & Homestay : Chiang Mai : Thailand

Mai's Guest House & Home stay, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai's No. 1 quality Home Stay Guest House in Northern Thailand

We invite you to share our home and environment

Because we will only take one set of paying guests we are able to offer a fairly private and very relaxing environment , with pool, waterfalls ,and the sound of running water etc. almost your own private resort, up to 5 star Hotel standards.
Accomodation , 2 Adults , can add a mattress for a child in the same room, Also we have a spare room which could be made available for 3 children (at our discretion).    The room has 1 single bed and 1 set of bunks. 
Exclusive use of main bedroom,(new 32inch  colour TV with english programs and movie channels, refrigerator, table and chairs,refrigerator. )with ensuite and balcony , and the extra bedroom if required.
Welcome to  shared use of main kitchen , lounge TV room. , computer room .
Unlimited use of pool and facilities .

We are located at Karn kanok 1 development , a gated community with 24/7 security and closed circuit cameras . It is made up of friendly Thai families , and several foreigners (farang) with Thai wives . The development boasts a clubhouse located within park like grounds , with a playground , gymnasium ,sauna, restaurant and swimming pool

Things to do and see may include visits to the night market in the city ,a day in the city checking out the bars and eating places , a visit to the large temple complex on Suthep mountain overlooking Chiangmai city , a visit to a hill tribe village , Kings project and hot springs at San kampaeng

Mai and Bruce run a high quality operation with every thing you would expect from a top class operation.

They only rent out 1 unit at a time 1500 THB / $50 usd a night (min 3 days)

You can visit the new site we (XanDreams.com) have just built for Mai's Unique Boutique Homestay at http://mais-ubh.com/index.html
They offer transport to all the local spots + have 2 motor bikes for rent
It is estimated that there are 15,000 expats living in Chiangmai , many of whom are retired . This is because they know they are in a safe , welcoming environment so come and stay on our Home. Unlimited use of pool and facilities

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Mai's Unique Boutique Home stay



Mai's Unique Boutique Home stay

Chiang Mai's No. 1 quality Home Stay Guest House in Northern Thailand

We invite you to share our home and environment


Because we will only take one set of paying guests we are able to offer a fairly private and very relaxing environment , with pool, waterfalls ,

sound of running water etc. almost your own private resort, up to 5 star Hotel standards.


We are located at Karn kanok 1 development , a gated community with 24/7 security and closed circuit cameras . It is made up of friendly Thai families , and several foreigners (farang) with Thai wives . The development boasts a clubhouse located within park like grounds , with a playground , gymnasium ,sauna, restaurant and swimming pool
Things to do and see may include visits to the night market in the city ,a day in the city checking out the bars and eating places , a visit to the large temple complex on Suthep mountain overlooking Chiangmai city , a visit to a hill tribe village , Kings project and hot springs at San kampaeng


Mai and Bruce run a high quality operation with every thing you would expect from a top class operation.

They only rent out 1 room at a time 1500 THB / $50 usd a night (min 3 days)
You can visit the new site we (XanDreams.com) have just built for them at http://mais-ubh.com/index.html
They offer transport to all the local spots + have 2 motor bikes for rent