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Anna Filimonova’s artistic career unexpectedly blasted off in 2017. In her first year as a professional artist, she won five awards and obtained gallery representation. This year she has been working hard preparing for her first solo exhibition in May.
When asked why she is an artist, Anna says “I paint to express myself. In each of my paintings I feel that a piece of my mind and heart flows into the scene. Every day I observe the world and then these experiences enter me and then emerge in my work.” In her ‘White Rooms’ series, each painting has various elements from her experience and imagination. “On a hot day in January I swam in peaceful Lake Pukaki. I loved the spot and got some great photos capturing the intense beauty and calmness of the lake. This moment just had to be captured in one of my paintings, so I put the photo in a room and contrasted the landscape with surreal imaginings and flying birds. I had such a feeling of freedom, and the notion that time stopped in this moment. “I believe that moments such as this create something worthwhile and beautiful for all of us. If I can capture the deepness of my emotions in the moment I think that others can recognise these feelings in themselves and understand what I am expressing.”
Anna Filimonova

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Having always had an artistic streak, I spent so much of my childhood onwards making or designing all manner of crafts. I entered the NZ Smokefree Fashion Awards and became a finalist not long after arriving back from Europe. Afterwards I produced my own brand of clothing from home for a time but found I was developing an interest in painting. I said to my husband that I might start painting when the three children leave home; he suggested that might be some time given our youngest was one year old and maybe I should start now and see what I think!
In 2004, I turned my tiny kitchen into a painting area where I was subsequently to be found for most of the day, every day. My first work was on canvas and a copy of ‘Virgin and Child’ by Jean Fouquet, 1480. I was besotted with the image, which came from an art history book I was reading at the time. This was one of only two canvas works, with all my other work being on board. In 2005, I produced a series of works based on Roman-Greek structures, followed by a series of erotica and surrealism. More recently I have focused on early New Zealand history. I am and have always been a very creative, artistic person. I haven’t looked at it as a career as such; I’m being who I am, doing what I love and painting what I want to paint. I am fortunate that my husband has encouraged me to paint full time and live my passion.
Rhonye McIlroy

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Apart from taking art at Intermediate and high school, I haven’t had any formal art training; I did however study and pass University Entrance in Art History. The first portraits I painted at the age of 16 were of The Beatles; after that I followed other paths and never continued painting as persuing an art career in those days was not an option for me. However, looking back I wish I had gone on with it. It wasn’t until I saw the movie ‘Dancing with Wolves’, 17 years later, that I decided to buy some painting gear. The movie was about the American West during the times of the persecution of the Native Americans, and I wanted to try and paint some images of these incredible people.
I started painting Native Americans on horseback, hunting, in battles and in every day life with portraits of men, women and children. All were pretty average but I just kept at it, learning from books and the odd art demo video. American western artists Frank C. McCarthy, Howard Terpning and Martin Grelle kept me inspired with their realistic paintings that oozed action and feeling.
My brother-in-law Barry Stevens was also a gifted artist who exhibited with success, and painted a brilliant mural in the Copthorne Hotel in Omapere, Hokianga. He encouraged me to paint different subject matter and to start using oils. I was a bit wary of using oil paints but I grew to appreciate the versatility of them – especially as they are easy to blend and there is plenty of time to make adjustments – although I will admit, waiting for the oils to dry can be a bit frustrating at times. I’m not a personal fan of thinning the oils with turps and prefer to use linseed oil to produce a better flow. The oil paints I mainly use are Windsor and Newton, and Daler Rowney – I’m not a connoisseur of oil paints but I do find these do the job.
Sometimes I start a portrait laying down a dark background, and without even a preliminary sketch, I start on the face; bringing the shapes and proportions on to the canvas. It is exciting to see a face gradually emerging. This is usually done as an underpainting in white and tones of grey. I find the underpainting helps me immensely with the finished result.

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In 1998, Vaughn Wykes took his wife aside to discuss what would be the start of a great adventure – to move to Qatar in the Middle East to live and work. Nervous yet excited, Janice agreed; over the next few months the house was a flurry of activity as they prepared their three children for the long journey and sorted everything in their native New Zealand to jet-set across the world and begin their new life.
With Vaughn earning more than enough to live on with his new job, and the three kids at school, Janice finally had the leisure to pursue her artistic passions. “Opportunity was the greatest motivating factor to becoming an artist. My husband was offered a position working in the Middle East and we took the very brave step of moving there with our three children. I was very fortunate that I had the opportunity while we were there to be able to follow my passion and devote much of my time to painting in those early years of my career. I always found oil paintings fascinating.
“A very dear Aunty, who happened to paint, suggested that I give it a go myself and so I did. I was lucky enough to devote myself to learning and experimenting with pencils and oils full time after the move. In those early years I always loved the old romantic masters such as Rembrandt; his play of rich, dark shadows and warm, glowing highlights has always captured my attention. As I developed through the years, my use of colour has become stronger and I use a lot of contrast, shadows and light – although I will admit the first 10 years were hard and sometimes very frustrating as I tried to capture what I wanted to portray.
Janice Clifton Wykes

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A devoted family woman and enthusiastic grandmother, Tauranga-based Debbie Clarke balances helping to run a family business with creative expression through beautiful paintings of nature. “In October 2015 I attended a watercolour demonstration by friend and wonderful artist Jenny Coker in Tauranga. I was surprised to find that she intended us to ‘have a go’, rather than just watch her – we painted a fuchsia bud. It totally ignited a passion in me and I completed my first painting in January 2016.”
Previously, Debbie had enjoyed a busy life; gardening, floral art, sewing and being involved in new home and interior design in their family business where her creative energy was focussed. Now an award-winning painter, Debbie Clarke shares with us her journey.
“After seeing Jenny’s demonstration, I ‘googled’ large flower paintings and eventually came across Birgit O’Connor of California, USA, and her online workshops.
Off I went, starting with her White Flowers online workshop. Later, I bought some of Tauranga artist Susan Harrison Tustain’s DVD’s, and learnt so much about watercolour painting and how to achieve the colours I wanted such as in leaves and skin tones. I watched many more training sessions by Birgit and others on You Tube throughout the nearly two years I have been painting. It is such a great way to learn – just like having a private tutor.
Debbie Clarke

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Unlike many painters, Carolyn Judge has always identified as an artist, and has been developing and honing her talent ever since she was a small child. From working on quilts and tapestries in her youth to designing and creating pottery, glazes and glass sculptures, she has finally found her true calling and favourite medium. A woman filled with an abundance of patience and staunch determination, Carolyn shares her journey to understanding watercolour and her road to success.
Hailing from Norwich, England, Carolyn emigrated to New Zealand in the late 80s and settled in the suburbs of Auckland. Creativity and crafts were her greatest friends as a child, and this soon transformed itself into a true passion in later life.
“I’m motivated by the massive challenge that painting with watercolour provides. When I worked in IT, I earned good money on an hourly rate, but that money doesn’t compare with the buzz of selling a painting, winning an award, or being asked by a shop or publisher to represent me – those are huge satisfying achievements that feed the soul. I just didn’t want to paint in any other medium.”

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Mark Adams is a painter of beautiful scenes of wide, sweeping landscapes and pristine locations hidden within the landscape of New Zealand. He shares with us his journey through harder years, as well as the defining influences that have lead him to his current passion.

A chance encounter with a friend started Mark on his journey towards a sucessful future as an accomplished artist. “One day a friend of mine came over and told me to come outside to check something out. So I went out to the front drive to see he’d airbrushed a picture of DC Comicbook villian The Joker on the bonnet of his car. Until then I hadn’t even considered painting on anything other than paper or canvas.
“I decided I’d like to learn how to use an airbrush so down to the book shop I went. It wasn’t long before I was doing the odd painting for all sorts of people; from truck murals to shop walls - this artistic outlet gave me a feeling of pride to know that I could do something most people believed they couldn’t. The encouragement It gave me more confidence and determination to do better with my art.
“Since then I have moved onto painting on canvas. New Zealand landscape is my greatest inspiration and topic – plus living so close to the mountains (near Oxford) does the soul good. I aim to portray and master the amazing landscape so people feel like they are standing in the scene.”
Mark Adams

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