Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Photographic Animal Safari at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park and Springs, Rotorua New Zealand by Janet Keen


 
When we arrived the Keas were out of their enclosures walking around. 
They were hungry and friendly
I wore this Zebra ring because I wanted to pretend I  was going on a  real safari, so I dressed in an animal print with accessories. 



 The Alpaca apparently is a good guard animal and people overseas put them in with sheep so they will protect them from wolves

 You should never leave these animals by themselves because they like to be with others. 
No-one seems lonely at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park.


Everyone is a friend at Paradise Valley Wildlife Park, especially if you have food.

Ashley and her hedgehog who is yet to be named. 
She is a school girl, weekend volunteer and so helpful

She found the hedgehog on her front lawn and hand reared it by feeding it with catfood. 
It survived then she brought it along to the park where it shares an enclosure with some rabbits.
I've never seen such a friendly hedgehog , which just goes to show that if you give any animal enough food and love they will become bonded to you.
A large part of the job of being a wild life park keeper is to shovel s--t.
There's plenty of it because they like to keep all the enclosures 
spotless

Everyone who works there gets to do it, it is a very egalitarian set up.
It's enjoyable woirk because they so love all the animals and want to make sure they are happy.

She makes a lovely model and I can just imagine her in a job dealing with animals in the future.


This is how you get as a young person experience in your chosen field.
Volunteering is a great way to pick up new skills and to have a test run to see if its the sort of work you would like.


This giant woolley angora goat had the sweetest face.

And the most insistent tongue

He/she really liked the feed that you can buy in the shop before you go out.

Maybe its a girl because it didn't smell like a boy.





He/she even wanted to eat the bag. 
These two goats were originally pets of Sharons.



They had the biggest stomachs I have ever seen on goats.
They just couldn't get enough to eat and were quite demanding, but also very gentle. 


We went early for the lion cubs, but they were very boisterous and hard to photograph.
Definitely impossible to get a shot close face to face because one swipe and I think you could have a serious scar.


This is the best one but the eyes aren't in focus so not an award winner unfortunately.
I will need to go back when they have a fresh new batch of lion clubs. 


 The Lions were sleeping in their enclosure. 
They seemed to perk up a bit when young children came near and sat at eye level to them.

The End


 Join me in my studio to make some wild life artwork, either in mosaic or paint. 
 I live on the way to the Wild Life park .
. 
Classes are from Monday Wednesday  and  Friday mornings from 9.30am for adults and home schooled pupils. 
After school classes  Monday to Wednesday from 3.30pm to 5.30pm for one hour. 
Phone 07 346-3435 or email jkeen@clear.net.nz to book your space. 


Creative Quote of the Day 
 I love acting but it's much more fun taking kids to the zoo
Nicole Kidman 






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Monday, March 10, 2014

Kids Birthday Party Photographs, Rotorua, New Zealand, Janet Keen

I went to the most creative birthday party I've ever been to in my life. 
It was so much fun. 
The theme was African Safari. 
The cake was an incredible work of art and looked so yummy with all the amazing lollipops and animals surrounding it. 
Just look at the icing, it was all just too good to eat.  
 




A lovely collection of African animals decorated the tables. 
I wanted a collection like this so much. 
They are quite hard to find now. 
I used to have a big collection ages ago when I lived in Kawaha Point but I must have lost them when I sold my house. 

 Treasure hunt all over the section and house. The advantage of being invited by the person whose birthday party is is that you can be one of the kids and you have way more fun. 
It's a chance to get right into their world and let your hair down.
 I loved it.
Everyone was a winner in this game because the prize which was a huge bag of lollies was shared out amongst everyone 
Kids were allowed to draw on wondows with special removable glass felts. 
What a neat thing to do, isnt it every kids dream to write and draw  on windows? 


 What a great way to be expressive


Lots of presents were received.  
Heaps of arty ones.
 The pinniata game was so much fun.
I had never seen this before except in Mexican programmes. 
People all line up for a turn. They are blindfolded and given a stick
 

Then they wack it and eventually all the lollies fall out on the ground. The lollies are all put in a pile and shared out because we don't encouarge fighting over lolly scrambles. This is fair I think. 
As a kid I always missed out on lolly scrambles as other kids were faster. 
 
The food was delicious.
 It was Nanchos with mince and sauce and cheerio's (mini savaloys) salad and sparkling grape juice. 
It was pretty nice tasting and the kids loved it. 
 I sat at the table with them and had some cool conversations. 
All of the kids were so welcoming and friendly

 
It was a gorgeous summers evening with a nice view over a Rotorua tree clad suburb


 Lots of candles to blow out. 




Blowing out the cake





Look at the gorgeous cake and those fruit and marshmelow fish kebabs were pretty clever and tasty. 
They also had home made jelly and  some strawberry icecream.




 The cocktail umbrellas were a nice sophisticated touch.









There were costumes for dressing up which were fun.


Pets were also present and they loved interacting with the children 
 
Then some of the children went for a ride in a stretch limosene into a cafe in town for hot chocolate.

I was very lucky to be invited. It was a great photo opportunity and a really cool time. 
I hope some of my other art students will invite me to their parties. 
I have already been invited to my friends twin boys party at Playtopia in a couple of weeks so it will be fun taking the shots for that as well.


Kids Creative Birthday Parties at Janet Keen Mosaic and Painting School
374 Clayton Road., Rotorua
Come along and make a mosaic  or a painting.
Minimum number 4 maximum 12.
$25.00 per hour per student
Phone 07 346-3435
Email jkeen@clear.net.nz



 Creative Quote of the Week 
 The way I see it, you should live every day as though it's your birthday, Paris Hilton.
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Friday, March 7, 2014

Community Art Projects for the Rotorua by Community Mosaic and Painting Mural By Artist Janet Keen

Using Resene Test pots in a beautiful range of vibrant colours  I am available to organise a community composite mural  depicitng animals, plants, flowers, faces and insects for your school or community organisation. 
It will only take a couple of days to complete and I will organise everything for you apart from the installation. 
 All you need to do is raise the money and organise the fifty percent deposit for materials. 
Have a fun creative and enjoyable time together and have a long lasting celebratory memory of your childs involvement in your school. 

 Creative kids are healthy kids.

 So if you would like a quote 
Ring me on (07)346-3435
or email jkeen@clear.net.nz
or arrange an appointment in my studio at 374 Clayton Road, Rotorua. 

There is a possibility that you can receive creative community or civic arts funding for these projects. 
I can direct you where you need to go. 



I look forward to your response today. 
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