b'doing itResene Eighth Black WhiteResene Brown DerbywindsReseneRed Berryof change ReseneMulberryReseneStromboliThe duo behind Whirlwind Designs may have moved Resene Smashingfrom windy Wellington, Resene but their popular whirligigLuciferResene decorated sculpturesTime WarpResene will continue. WhiteMastercraft Kitchen M ost people would call Michelle Fyson and Nickand Resene Lucifer, along with Resene Mulberry mixedAbove top left: Michelle Fyson works with her Blake artists, but they arent keen on the term.with Resene FX Paint Effects medium. So, greens andpartner Nick Blake to Were makers, says Michelle. Wereblues, but also purple as a wash," says Michelle. Nickcreate whirligigs that generalists. Were not ceramicists or woodworkers orthen finishes each bird\'s details and creates the standshave had customers inmetalworkers, but we do all those things.and mechanics.a spin for more thanMichelle and Nick have combined their skills intoOften the pukeko is the favourite, but some weeks20 years.Whirlwind Designs for many years, with the resultingwe might get orders for five kereru, says Michelle.Above right: The pukeko sum, they say, better than their individual talents. ForThats good because Resene Lucifer (a hypnoticis one of Whirlwind eight years, the couplepartners in business and lifepeacock blue) is one of Michelles favourite colours.Designs\' most popularran a Wellington shop in the heart of arty Miramar,When Michelle met Nick 20 years ago and startedwind sculptures. The pukeko is painted in a packed with cool, quaint and colourful delights, nearlypainting the birds, the choice of paint was obvious.basecoat of Resene Black all designed and/or made by the pair, including theirShes been a massive fan of Resene paints since shewith layers of Resene FX extremely popular whirligigs.and a friend started a decorative effects-paintingMetallic Time Warp for At the end of last year, they closed the shop,business in Whangarei back in the 90s. the feathers. The beak packed up and moved north to calm and warmAs untrained painters, she says Resene paints wereand feet are Resene Red Mangawhai. But the move from windy Wellingtonextremely easy and forgiving to use, and, as theyBerry with a colourwash of Resene FX Paint Effects doesnt mean theyve run out of the puff needed toafforded such great coverage, the pair might have tomedium mixed with make their whirligigs, the colourful garden winddo only two coats on a wall instead of four. DecorativeResene Dynamite.sculptures Nick carefully shapes from pine board readyeffects-painting is very physical work, but it was greatAbove left: To create the for Michelle to finish them in Resene paints.training in what can be done with paints. And Resenetu , Michelle and Nick Each bird, all New Zealand natives, begins withhas such a huge range of colours. paint a basecoat of Resene Quick Dry primer before being given a basecoatResene paints are so long-lasting that Michelle saysResene Lucifer before of Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Black oryou can still find some of her murals she painted inapplying Resene FX Pearl Resene White, depending on the bird (the kiwi beginsWhangarei 30 years on. Shimmer, a pearlescent with Resene Brown Derby). Then bird-appropriateNow happily domiciled in Mangawhai, Michelleglaze, followed by Resene colours are applied, such as Resene Smashing andand Nick are turning their attention to making an oldWhite for the throat tufts and feather accents.Resene Time Warp for the pukeko or Resene Strombolidouble garage into a small but special new home. The and Resene Pioneer Red for the kereru, with someproject will certainly involve a lot of Resene paint.top tipResene FX Paint Effects medium (a tintable acrylicTo see more of their designs, visit Help bright colours keep medium that allows you to create unique paint effectswww.whirlwinddesigns.com.their colour for longer in easily) added for sheen.the harsh sun with Resene FX Metallic products are then applied withwords Lee-Anne Duncan Resene Clearcoat UVS. It a dry brush and rubbed with a cloth to mimic theimages Michelle Fyson provides an extra clear iridescence of feathers. For the kereru, for example, Ilayer of protection to ReseneReseneResenehelp your project stay use two different metallics, Resene Time WarpPioneer Red Dynamite Black bright and beautiful.65'