(Listen to this interview.)
Artist Niels Meyer-Westfeld’s new book, Feathers of Aotearoa, is filled with exquisite drawings and intriguing facts.
Where did the idea for Feathers of Aotearoa come from?
I started drawing birds in about 2008 and had my first book, Land of Birds, published in 2014. After that I continued drawing birds, and the idea for another book grew. Feathers were the common denominator.
Describe the process of bringing the book together.
I had all these pictures, but I also had big gaps. Once my publisher Robbie Burton was happy with the feather idea, I established a list of pictures I needed to do. The first ones were easy because I had those feathers, but I ended up skipping a few birds because I couldn’t find enough material to include them.
Where did the feathers come from?
I casually picked up the feathers over time as a colour reference. I mainly work from photographs, so the feathers help me fill in the gaps and the detail that photos can’t always provide. They’re a good reference for the size of a bird and the colouring and texture.
You’ve drawn one particularly significant feather: a huia feather.
The huia feather belongs to a friend of mine who moved to Dubai and asked me to look after it while he was away. It had belonged to his late mother and was given to her by a friend who used it as a bookmark! It may have been found near here [Wellington], since one of the last known huia sightings was in the Gollan Valley.
All of your drawings are in coloured pencil. What are the advantages of working in this medium?
My use of coloured pencils wasn’t intentional, but it turned out that the pencils come in defined colours that are very close to those of the birds. It is easier than mixing colours every time, as with water colours or oil paints. Also, starting or stopping doesn’t affect the work.
You say walking is an important part of your process. Why is that?
When I stare at a blank piece of paper at home and it just stares back at me, I think to myself, it’s time for another walk. In just a short time I can come up with ideas; it really helps to kick off a process. And maybe I’ll find something like a feather that could be useful for drawing. Walking is essential to what I do.
How do you intend for people to use the book?
I hope that people who see it get as much joy as I do from nature. These days, with phones and the quick succession of clips, it’s hard to focus on something slow moving, such as the things around you in a forest walk. I would like to think that looking at this book might inspire someone to go out and have a look around, pick up a leaf or a feather and slow down and have a think about life and the things that are often overlooked.
Is there anything else you would like to share about Feathers of Aotearoa?
I’ve really got attached to birds and I feel strongly about their conservation. I see the whole environment through their eyes. There are many parts of New Zealand where we could do better – do some native planting or don’t cut the grass as much, little things that can help birds’ fight for survival. See what you can do in your backyard, everyone: a small thing could be huge for a bird.
– Buy Feathers of Aotearoa: an illustrated journal. Subscribers get a 10% discount.
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