Reclaiming life as an artist

Reclaiming life as an artist

 
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I originally studied art and learnt to paint with oils during my GCE A (Advanced) Level Art Painting course in England in the 1970’s.  I was tutored for several years by Yorkshire Landscape Artist, Peter Brook.  I had not painted since the late 1970’s until I took early retirement from a career in Information Technology, which gave me the time to start painting again – a gap of almost 40 years.

 

In early 2017, I attended my first painting class at the Estuary Art Centre in Orewa, re-awakening my love of painting, now with acrylic paints and mediums.  I have taken a range of classes at Art Centres in Auckland, Orewa, Kumeu and recently following a move north, I have joined a group of acrylic painters at Reyburn House in Whangarei. 

 

My paintings are predominantly inspired by nature and I enjoy capturing as much detail as I can to obtain a realistic life-like result.  I have exhibited at galleries across Auckland and Northland and have sold many artworks, including several commissions.  I held my first solo exhibition in June 2019, in which I presented a selection of paintings to show my love of nature’s amazing creatures.  Several pieces were sold through the exhibition, including three on the opening night.

 

I started tutoring the Creative Acrylics Painting Class (an advanced acrylic painting class for mature students) in May 2019, at the Estuary Arts Centre.  My classes encourage students to build on the basics of acrylic painting through the completion of a number of painting projects.  Each project was given a theme that provided students with the opportunity to use a variety of techniques and styles, while incorporating different colours, theories and composition concepts.  Students were encouraged to perform their own research to prepare their artwork subject prior to class and to think outside the box to create individual artistic effects.

My classes have been great fun, very well received and have regularly been over-subscribed.

 

In August 2018, I was awarded the Estuary Arts Centre Student Merit Award for my Garden Tui painting in acrylics.  In August 2019, I was awarded the People’s Choice Award (as voted by visitors to the exhibition) in the Estuary Arts 2019 Annual Awards Event.  I believe all Art Competitions, and especially the Parkin Drawing prize, give artists motivation to create; they give inspiration and challenge.  It is always interesting to view the work of others and to see how they have been judged.  Being given an award is an amazing feeling….the buzz will last for days!!

 
 
 
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