history
Takaka, Golden Bay was my place of birth. I was fortunate to spend the first 14 years of my life there. Golden Bay was a wonderful and intriguing place to grow up in. My home was set in the small inlet/seaside dwelling of Para Para where there were many places to explore as a child. The old gold mining sites from the end of the 19th century were of particular interest and I enjoyed the freedom to fossick along the shoreline.
The beach and river were utilised almost daily for swimming during the warmer months. On our 10-acre patch of land we had numerous animals. Many were pets including bantams, cats, ducks and goats. We were quite self sufficient in many ways. It seemed an ideal childhood.
It was at Para Para I began my artistic creations, not with a paint brush or pencil but with clay. My father (a potter) at the time used the 'old fashioned' potter's kick wheel while I moulded animals out of the clay. It was especially exciting when my father fired up the old diesel kiln (big enough for me to stand up in at the time) and the end results were always better than you had imagined. I was still doing clay sculptures up until the end of my senior schooling and to this day I still have a desire to return to sculpture of some sort.
After the completion of schooling in Nelson I had a four-month stint travelling in Europe and art galleries were usually at the top of the list. When I stayed for a month in the city of Verona (Italy) I spent many hours with sketch book in hand capturing various places of interest around the area. The locals were extremely friendly and not at all shy coming forward and asking questions. It was a wonderful experience to soak up the local atmosphere and culture.
After this adventure I trained at Christchurch Polytechnic for three years as a graphic artist/illustrator with the inclusion of three-dimensional studies and it was as a graphic designer I started in the work force. Following this I have been a structural (carton) designer and also done freelance illustrative work for TVNZ's Chatterbox children's show.
Now my time is divided between my art and also running our signwriting business at West Melton (Christchurch). I also manage to squeeze in gardening (ever expanding) and keep all animals in check on our small lifestyle block.
Over the past four years I have been locally involved with 'Arts Heart' Selwyn Central Arts Council (Incorporated). As a founding member of the committee, we have been involved in the promotion of the arts in the region. As a result we have held very successful workshops, exhibitions and concerts. For more information please view Arts Heart website.
art
working sketches for 'late summer drought' |
One does not always have to venture far to be stimulated for ideas for the next art project. Whether armed with camera, sketch book or storing it in the memory, there are always opportunities to casually source material.
Social interaction has long been a topic of inspiration for my sketch pad or canvas. I delight in capturing people's expressions and/or stance and this has been reflected in my 'café club' series. Here, people gather for a social drink or chat. I've caught some with an air of importance and there's often a hint of 'tongue in cheek'. The subject of society or people I find intriguing and will always be woven through my art.
late summer drought - detail
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The 'café club' paintings have all been a glimpse of socialising centred in a richly textured 'frame'. These textures are a result of my continued fascination of textiles i.e. fabrics. This is becoming more apparent in my recent work. Their shape, structure and repeated pattern are so diverse. Within this there is even more scope for creating interest. I like the use of contrasts for these 'patterns' - flat/raised, ancient/modern and organic/geometric. Works by such artists as Klimt, Hundertwasser and Matisse have also ignited further experimentation with these concepts. An interest in native art of Africa and Australia too has been a catalyst for ideas. It is endless. This adds a real richness to my work.
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Living in an environment where there is a great resource of inspiration for my art, I see the land around as a large 'patchwork quilt'. This is evident within my own property, locally and further a field. It is forever changing, either through man's activities or natural environmental changes. Man - ploughing, harvesting and the ever-increasing subdivision or the environment - weathering of rocks, seasonal and tidal change. It is always active. This essence of this 'patchwork quilt' landscape can be seen my 'the lie of the land' artwork. And beyond the landscape one can delve into aquatic life of rock pools or the depths of a pond as seen in my 'aquatic' series.
Previously I have enjoyed the medium of oil and watercolour. Recently I have found acrylic to my liking and its qualities sympathetic for use with mixed media and in particular the use of much textural embellishment. This gives my work a wonderful 'tactile' quality.
outlets for my work:
- Bryce Gallery. Christchurch.
- Gallery Lavaud, Akaroa.
- Emerge Gallery, Wellington.
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