Tisha Tejaya

Here's a picture of my first time visiting the Territory Wildlife Park as a lil five year old - and 22 years later, commemorating the end of my artist residency at the Park.

It's been rad getting to go behind the scenes, and make some unforgettable memories (and drawings!) in this Territory institution.

Thanks or the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park in 2023🐊

We're offering free gift wrapping on all Pocketbook orders until the end of the year!

Express shipping also available to ensure that gifts make it by Christmas - order by Tues 19 Dec to make it in time 😊

Books can be ordered here: https://tejaya.com.au/portfolio/pocketbook/

Glossy ibis. You might bump into this one feeding on frogs, snails, aquatic insects and spiders in swamps and wetlands around Australia.

I'm not the most confident with using the full spectrum of colour, but when I saw this iridescent beauty, I knew I had to give it a shot ...

Thanks for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Striking colour brought out by the first rains of the season

Feeding time at the Aquarium. One of my favourite things to watch, as it's pretty spectacularly hands on!

Thanks for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Aren't Fiddler Crabs the coolest thing ever? Can't believe we have such brightly coloured jewels running around in our backyard. Darwin is home to at least 9 different species of Fiddler Crab alone, and lately I've been spelunking in our mangroves trying to find each to draw. Here's the first of the collection!

Meet Declan, an awesome keeper at the Nocturnal House, and Eucy the Agile Wallaby joey - you can probably guess what iconic tree her name is short for!).

I recently found out that the majority of Wallabies at the Park are rescued wildlife that have been saved and often handreared by staff. They become a bit too friendly to release to the wild, and come to "retire" at the Park. In my next lifetime I wouldn't mind being reincarnated here!

Thanks for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Rare visitors - these gorgeous brolgas at Knuckey's 😍

Watching these graceful cranes is much needed respite in this sweltering buildup!

Callie is a very cheeky Agile Wallaby joey. But she does adore her Mumma , who has patiently handraised her through tantrums and diabolical nighttime feeding schedules!

Thanks for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Oh, Bow ... can't stay away from drawing this lovely carpet python for long! Here she is with the gorgeous .s__ .

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

The Atlas Moth Plant (Pittosporum moluccanum) is so named because it is an important host plant for the Atlas Moth. It's also a gorgeous native plant in itself - something Jo the Horticulturalist appreciates!

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Detail of the jackfruit from the Rapid Creek wall.

4.7m x 5.4m - my biggest individual piece yet!

DARWIN STREET ART FESTIVAL 2023 - It's been a dream. 37 metres of iconic Rapid Creek Market wall in 8 days!

Thanks to the team for having faith in me in tackling this massive wall. And for the crew that helped me out -

killa straight lines and for making this all possible
and .art for laying out the foundations of the piece!
that fuzzy melon and wombok are yours!
eggplant queen
thank you for the mangosteen!

DARWIN STREET ART FESTIVAL 2023

Honestly one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of. Who knew my humble little eggplants could ever make it this big?!

Big shout out to legends and .art for sweating in the sun with me, and the og Darwin Street Art Festival having me in the lineup!

Catch me between 2pm and 7pm in the coming days if you'd like to see this bad boy come together 💥

April & Roy.

(Or Bayley(?) Hard for me to tell these buffaloes apart, but not for the keepers!)

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Supermoon season = uber low tides and the perfect time to go searching for elusive marine life! Expect some crab art sometime soon 🦀

Graham is an excellent park ranger AND also a very talented saltwater crocodile.

You can find him giving reptile talks at Territory Wildlife Park's Main Station, and also chilling out at the Aquarium.

(Just kidding. There was a very confusing period of time when I didn't know there was a croc Graham as well as a separate human Graham - you can imagine the misunderstandings that ensued! Names are hard😅)

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

The enigmatic freshwater whipray is only found in Northern Australia waters. It was first caught by scientists in 1989, and only properly described in 2008(!)

These beguiling creatures can be found in the Aquarium and Oolloo Sandbar. If you're patient, one might even swim on top of you and reveal the gorgeous patterns on its underside ...

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year 🐊

Quick sketch of Sarah and Angel, two favourites at the Flight Deck.

Thanks for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year🐊

Bow, Carpet Python.

Hard to capture, but right after she sloughs, Bow has the most mesmerising iridescence. One of these days I'll get it down pat ...

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year 🐊

A closer look at treasures from the markets this morning 😋

My first time seeing what I suspect is yellow jaboticaba (Myrciaria glazioviana). A bit like a grape, but with a startlingly sour layer of juice that encases a delicate floral sweet jelly on the inside. Careful of the seed/s though!

Great to be back in the studio, thanks Amber and Sajarn! ABC Darwin

Meet Bow, resident Carpet Python at Territory Wildlife Park 🐍

Catch this gal at the Main Station - if you come at the right time (check with a friendly guide), you might be lucky enough to pick her up!😌

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year 🐊

Time for me to unveil some secret artwork I've been compiling! In the coming days, keep an eye out for mischief I've managed this past year with paint, zookeepers, crocs, and raptors.

Thanks Territory Wildlife Park for the amazing opportunity to be one of the Artists in the Park this year 🐊

Happy dry season! Here's a new dragonfly hidden somewhere in Darwin city. My first mural 🙉

Big shoutout to Dave and Jo from Proper Creative, and Kuya James, for the material and tech to make this real ✨️

Stoked to announce that I have been chosen for the 2023 Artist in the Park residency at the Territory Wildlife Park. Gonna be a hoot of an experience, can't wait to swoop in and create some owl-timate masterpieces!

Happy Lunar New Year! May your year be prosperous and full of good food.

Here's a piece just completed for NT Farmers Association. In line with the water theme this year, I had fun sneaking in a couple of things... How many water herbs and veggies can you spot?

Happy Lunar New Year Eve!

What's at the markets this weekend (L to R): breadfruit, santol, nian gao cake, and pink guava. Yum!

It's been a pleasure talking to you James on ABC Darwin Saturday mornings! Merry Christmas and catch you in the afternoons next year!

If you're free tomorrow, come along to the Rural Potters Fair at Arnhem Nursery ! There will be plenty of beautiful handcrafted local pottery, and I will be there with books and posters 😊🌿