Presentation
By John Botton I’m not sure about you but I always feel a bit self-conscious when exposing myself to other people,…
Confessions of a Couch Photographer
10 WAYS TO GET YOUR FOJO WORKING By John Botton As I staggered to the summit of North Ridge on my…
Before you push the button
PRINTING BETTER LANDSCAPE IMAGES
Many photographers I print for often ask for tips on how best to prepare their landscape images for printing. In reality, good prints start before you even hit the shutter button. A solid landscape capture workflow is essential but, unlike the simplicity of good old film process, digital photography comprises a myriad of interdependent systems and settings to achieve the desired output.
Let’s begin with the origination - your digital camera (this may also apply to smart phone cameras in the future), go into the menu settings for the camera and find the reference to ‘colour space’. You should have at least two options here, sRGB and Adobe RGB. Make sure you have Adobe RGB selected.
Nina Cook
ARTISTIC COMMUNICATON
Nina Cook’s artistic intent is to communicate but unfortunately, the very character traits that enables her artistic self, makes the act of self-promotion extremely uncomfortable. “I never intended to show my work, but have received such kindness and encouragement from my beautiful husband, children, friends and gallery owners. For me, art is more a vocation from which I would be delighted to earn a living.” Nina tells her story.
I completed a Bachelor of Design at Christchurch Polytechnic School of Art and Design in 2006. The drawing classes at CPIT were to a particularly high standard and an incredibly valuable learning experience. Apart from that I am self-taught.
Serge Souslov
VIBRANT TALENT
Serge Souslov, born and raised in Irkusk, Russia, has had a passion for art since childhood. He trained at art college between the years of ‘76 - ‘85 and has brought his incredible talent to New Zealand, where we celebrate his contribution to our rich and vibrant art world.
Serge attended the Art College and The Institute of Culture in Russia where he learnt how to play the accordion, compose music and create art pieces. Thoroughly enjoying pushing the boundaries, Serge’s ideas and inspiration come from observing marine life and whimsical sea creatures, as well as from dreams and fantasies dating as far back as his childhood. He is currently a part-time artist but finds his ideas keep pushing him to create.
Caley Hall
HALL OF ART
With many trials overcome, and no formal training Caley Hall is finding that being a professional artist really suits him. “Working as an artist has changed me. I’m a caring, giving type of guy - take with one hand give with the other. I’m happy with my current situation, it’s always new and exciting each day.” Caley tells us his story.
I become an artist by starting a gallery and having an interest in other artists styles and way of life. I have painted with a few known NZ artists and honed my skills that way. My biggest motivating factor is the stress relief that painting as a professional full time artist gives me. This new life, of course, comes with a list of new stresses but they are mild in comparison to the life I lead before becoming an artist.
Jamie Larnach
MOVING FORWARD
At the age of 13, Jamie Larnach overheard his father talking about a guy he knew as a teenager, who had a gift for drawing but never did anything with his talent. He thought that was a travesty. “That’s stuck with me all my life. I try to make the most of my talents. I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by insanely creative and passionate people and they’ve always inspired me to keep moving forward and creating.
Inspired by New Zealand’s environment and the patterns that occur in nature, by geometry, coral, Arabic mosaics, and ancient architecture, I have been making artworks for 22 years, including music, jewellery, sculpture and festival dressing. In 1991, immediately after finishing high school I was pre-enrolled at Law school at Waikato University.
Mike Greenwood
CRIKEY! IT'S MIKE GREENWOOD
A larger than life, grumpy sweetheart with a brilliant sense of humour, Mike Greenwood started drawing and painting at the tender age of 12. In school, he was only ever interested in art and sport and has been actively pursuing these passions for 64 years.
Mike left school at 15 and played football until he retired aged 33, intending to be a full time artist. As all artists do, Mike found it hard to exist on the income from his art and decided to start his own domestic fencing business. In this business, he not only did fencing, but retaining walls, decking and landscaping, designing all jobs himself.
Jacob Barry
BEHIND THE FACE
Jacob Barry studied art in high school, but his talents were not appreciated, he failed. How many other great icons have failed at school, yet gone onto become well known success stories? There are many. One has to wonder what it is about these situations. Jacob shares with us here.
Jacob passed all other subjects, except art. Looking at what he is doing now, it seems crazy. He received much support from his teachers and parents, thankfully, and has gone on with his art regardless. “The response I got from each painting was the motivating factor.
Alan Collins
PLEIN-AIR PICQUE
What a smug and satisfied feeling one has (well I do) when you pull off a painting that you are really proud of, especially if it was painted outdoors on the spot without copying from photographs. Oh yeah?
As any ‘plein-air’ artist will know, there is not always a car to sit in and paint, the luxury of looking out of your studio window, or even a policeman in a city street when you desperately need one. You can make your own judgement of the weather, or if you can afford it, book a room with an incredible view in some of the worlds’ most beautiful places. That’s all very well, but gosh it’s dangerous out there.