Be Kind Circle Art Print By Jodi McCauley

Be Kind Series

I wanted to undertake a series commemorating Covid 20/21 particularly mask wearing as it has been tough on so many.

I wanted this first one to be New Zealand themed, so I painted a woman who is of Māori/Pasifika descent, wearing Huia feather inspired earrings, Mānuka flowers on her tee shirt, and also the motto “Be Kind” which New Zealand’s government used as a tagline for the pandemic.

As I knew her mask was going to be front and centre I wanted a certain pattern but couldn’t find one to settle on. One Saturday morning I was enjoying a cheeky cup of tea and cameo crème biscuit in bed and suddenly took notice for the first time of the pattern on the chocolate biscuit that I’d eaten since I was a child – a sort of floral engraving. And just like that I had the mask design! It’s funny where inspiration can come from.

Original is watercolour, gouache and ink on paper.