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Painting in oils is a common enough practice, although before oils really became popular and were readily available, tempera was the painting medium of choice. Veronique Tatoue is passionate about this medium. She also does mosaic work when she finds the time.
Tempera is a method of painting with pigments typically dispersed in egg yolk. The method was used in Europe for fine painting, mainly on wood panels, from the 12th or early 13th centuries until the 15th, when it gave way to oils. Perhaps it is apt that the old European style attracted a young French painter, who now resides in Christchurch. Veronique has given herself a pseudonym ‘Chaveron’ after her grandfather, Charles, a painter himself. Painting with tempera has ties back to Europe, Byzantine art. “All my life I have painted, but I started to paint with tempera because I started painting Byzantine icons from 1990. A nun taught me for three months then after this I continued learning by myself. “My biggest motivation is my passion for what I am doing – it is different and tempera is an old technique, a very long process and you must be patient and take your time.” Byzantine icons are religious work sof art, deep in the culture of traditional churches, with subjects including Christ, the Virgin Mary, and various saints and angels. “I have painted 13 icons at ‘the cross station’ in the town of Sanary sur Mer, in France in 2000,” she says. She also uses gesso when preparing each canvas. This is a time-consuming practice.

See more about Veronique here.

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As a young child I would be mesmerised by my Grand Father (Val Blomfield) oil painting on the veranda in Pt Chev. I remember sitting with him at Western Springs for hours on end watching him sketch the ducks, trees and water. I always had a fascination with his skill.
Pop would always draw a cartoon on Birthday cards, Christmas cards, envelopes which he would send out to family and friends and this is where my interest in cartooning started. I remember growing up at my fathers signwriting shop (Colin Blomfield - Blomfield Signs) and I would spend as much time as I could watching my Father and Grand Father signwriting and in essence creating unique pieces of art with every skillful brushstroke. True artisan craftsmen experts in their own right. Some people laugh, some people at events ask me to add their dear old deceased dog – it is so much fun that I forget that this is now a job for me. The best job in the world really. To date the highlights have been illustrating new Sunglass range at a Dulce & Gabanna event, cartooning for a Sky City Breakers event, cartooning for Hospice West Auckland and helping such a great organisation and now, cartooning the awesome publishing crew for the cover of The New Zealand Artist Magazine. Commissioned pieces for Australia and South Africa were also great highlights as well as private functions and weddings around New Zealand and the many commissioned pieces I have done for people from all walks of life. I am humbled to be blessed with this skill and have no idea where this will go but it always comes back to creating in an artisan way. Something that can be so easily lost in this technological age.

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If you’re ever exploring the beauty of Northland and you hear opera music blaring across the countryside, you will have stumbled on artist Michelle Wright at work. Acrylics at the ready, the strains of each melody wind their way around her easel and aid in creating her next piece.

“There is nothing more I love than blasting my favourite opera songs from ‘Il Volo’ to my absolute favourite ‘Andrea Bocelli’, much to the enjoyment of my neighbours!” In short, it works. Michelle spends a lot of time outdoors and a lot of this inspires her work. Although it wasn’t always the case. As with many, painting proved to be a healer in many ways. “I have always been inspired by New Zealand scenery, the native bush, native birds and coastline. Growing up in Otaki and Kapiti Coast was always inspirational, even on a wet day! “Let’s just say like many others, my path in life has not always been smooth sailing. From health scares to, let’s be honest, some rock bottom moments. It’s been a struggle. With support from family around me I’ve managed to pull myself through with my art as a great distraction. “Now each day I enjoy multiple walks along the beach where I live, talking to and photographing the local bird life. My preferred subject would be the New Zealand coast and landscapes. I am drawn to the different times of day, the different light, the clouds, the reflections, dawn and dusk.” She also enjoys painting from photographs and has a myriad of them for this very purpose. “I usually always have my idea of what I would like to paint; I always refer to my huge library of photos that I have taken myself over the years, as well as ones sent from family and friends.”

If you would like to get in touch with Michelle, please email her here: Michelle Wright

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