erika hüsselmann

  Exciting news! A group of local artists from the Kaipara district have just opened a delightful little gallery in my hometown, Maungaturoto. We launched on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025—and despite the rain, over 100 wonderful guests joined us to celebrate. Not bad for an idea that started with a simple “what if”! From the striking gilded frame at the entrance (thanks to Rudy van der Pol) to the very last piece on the kitchen wall (mine!), there was something for everyone—whether you’re a deep thinker, a dreamer, or just in the mood for a bit of fun. We were honoured to have the gallery officially opened and blessed by Alby Shelford, with a heartfelt prayer from our own village angel, Eileen Parsons. The space itself is special too—tucked beneath the Holy Trinity Anglican Church at 136 Hurndall Street. Huge thanks to everyone who gave their time, skills, and support to make this dream a reality. You know who you are. Now the fun really begins! Keep an eye on this gallery—there’s...

  the weaving by erika husselmann - 600x600x38 oil on canvas, 60mm floating frame Some might remember 'la rosa' from way back when - exhibited in a show 'People and Places' in Oxford Gallery yonks ago. Thick painting knife texture in oils on the roses, and colours that I still adore. Well, she has had a makeover, or a deconstruct, and then a reconstruct - combining her with another oil painting that was also a portrait of a woman, with a rare butterfly on her hand - never exhibited. The two paintings are literally woven together now, and secured in a black display frame - the canvas still stretched. I like this one, it speaks to me and it might be the humble beginnings of a body of work that will push the boundaries of my process, who knows. It's called "the weaving" and can be viewed through MGTO gallery (opening on 4 April, very excited!) and will be on display there for a few weeks. If you are interested in securing it, there is a buy now button below a...

family trees by erika husselmann - 600x600x38mm acrylic/graphite on canvas, framed This little work reminds me of time and place, hills and river inlets, farms, trees and dirt roads that lead to who knows where. And the one little red roof is where everything happens - family life.  I quite like the slightly darker atmosphere, the time of day that seems cool, quiet and calm. This painting is part of a current exhibition in the MGTO gallery in Maungaturoto and is viewable Thursday to Friday 11-4pm after the opening on 4 April 2025. Exciting times! Feel free to view at the gallery, and if you wish to aquire this here, the buy now button below is active now.  Thank you for popping in and as always, be happy. erika Powered by

Sunflowers is reflecting on my move to the countryside up North about 7 years ago, where wide open spaces greet one every morning. The air is fresh, the seasons easily noticeable in the verdant trees with their coats in different shades of green and yellow, this time of year. Sunflowers is such a special plant and valuable for all the right reasons. So I've done this one in simple yellows and mauves, with a nudge towards the Brynderwyn hills and a smidgeon of water that might be a river feeding the Kaipara Harbour. It's totally imaginary - as always with these works - and open to interpretation. So if it reminds you of somewhere you've been or love, then I'm happy. This is available through MGTOgallery for the next few weeks, else feel free to acquire through the paypal link below and I will send it off when the exhibition ends. sunflowers by erika husselmann - 600 x 600 x 38mm acrylic/graphite on linen Powered by

  Papageno  - 102x76x38cm, acrylic & oils by erika husselmann Meet 'Papageno' - the first finished one for 2025. I am happy with this, it consists of layers and layers of paint, done on a recycled linen canvas, stretched and ready to hang. The painting is framed with a black floating frame and ready to hang. Five is the number of the birds in this painting, and also an interesting number indicated by a V in Roman numerals, after I II III IIII which all made sense.  Google gives me this: 5 is the first congruent number, as well as the length of the hypotenuse of the smallest integer-sided right triangle, making part of the smallest Pythagorean triple (3, 4, 5). Five is the first prime, and the first good prime. And that's not all... 5 is also a Fermat prime, a Mersenne prime exponent, as well as a Fibonacci number. I didn't get all of that, did you? I do love Fibonacci though.. and then I found this: "The earliest counting systems in the world are thought to be ...

'hajulella' is about music among other things: making music, a simple melody, floating sounds like petals on water hajulella - acrylic on linen by erika hüsselmann This painting has all the elements that sing together at this time and in this space, composing form and shape harmony. There are elements that draw the eye, some texture and gold accents here and there. The gold is subtle and not visible without directional lighting. There is also something that suggests floating, but I'm damned if I can put a finger on it, a little bit of magic perhaps? It's one of the bigger canvases at 1020mm by 760mm by 33mm stretched. Ready to hang without framing. Available now at $3500 from the Gallery Helena Bay   my very favourite place to be.

phantasia - acrylic on linen by erika husselmann  When digging your heels into something fantastical, something that you love doing, it's easy to escape into a land of 'phantasia'... where colour is edible and may even suggest a fragrance or a feeling. It sounds like folly and totally doesn't make sense but strangely it may be the essence of that elusive thing that brings me back to painting time after time. So you dive into paints and brushes, and begin 'practising' on this luscious canvas, special, big, linen one. Many layers, as you chop and change and 'work' on building something. Over time it goes through an ugly duckling stage which results in a bit of hair-pulling, self-doubt and lots of unsavoury language which is better left untyped. But by my age I know that keeping going is all that counts. I've also learnt that there will come a moment where it feels just about right and then you quickly take a step back and plonk down the brush. 'Pha...

adagio by erika hüsselmann adagio - acrylic on canvas 750 x 1000 x 30mm - framed includes white floating frame - total measurements are 753 x 1003 x 33mm There is something to say for doing things slowly, like taking your time when cooking a flavoursome meal or stew. It takes time to develop the flavour and the leftovers oftentimes taste better the day after. When a piece of music needs to be played 'adagio', one usually takes one's time too. Slow is beautiful. So it was with this painting. It took a long time to age and mature, it seasoned slowly. I am happy with the outcome and realise that time is luxury to be savoured.  Here's  Adagio by Albinoni The painting is framed in a white floating frame, sealed and ready to hang, and available directly from me  $2325

elixer - acrylic on linen by erika husselmann elixer   is one in a series of paintings practicing expressive marks, pushing to paint as free as I can manage. The viewer has the ultimate freedom to interpret this in their own way, in their own time. For me this painting recalls something that soothes the soul, that calms the waters. The colours remind me of cherry blossoms (I am full of hope that the lonely cherry tree I own will one day surprise me with a spray of blossoms, come on little cherry tree, you can do this) This is a message of hope and encouragement, a soothing balm, even though there is black in everything closeup of elixer Acrylic on linen, 761mm x 1016mm x 33mm sealed, stretched, hanging wire installed and ready to hang $2325 - available now from the Gallery Helena Bay , my very favourite place to be