Caitlin Johnston
SELF-TAUGHT BY THE SEA By Matt Mortimer It is said that if you make a job out of what you love,…
Kerry Lanauze
Nestled among historic lands of Ngai Tahu, in the colourful Central Otago district lives acrylic artist Kerry Lanauze. Residing in the small artsy town of Cromwell, Kerry has just taken up the mantle of fulltime artist, alongside those of caring mother and doting wife. A former student of Otago Polytechnic, Kerry has become an apprentice of abstract and realist art, devoting her time to creating vibrant works that capture the pristine beauty of the wild countryside around her, and those who inhabit it.
Perseverance is key, Kerry states, and it is definitely a prerequisite to success. From creating a life-sized papermâché cow, painted in bright colours for Misha Vineyards’ opening of The Tasting Room, to participating in the Edinburgh Art Awards in 2016 with her work selling within hours, Kerry’s perseverance has certainly paid off. “Don’t believe everything people tell you – rules were made to be broken when art is involved. Follow your passion and don’t ever doubt your ability to end up with something amazing at the end.” The Lanauze family are active participants in their community, and Kerry can usually be found lending her talents and skills to help create an even brighter environment for her young family and neighbours. “I am involved in my local Plunket Group as a committee member, and I’m currently in discussions with the local youth worker about getting involved in teaching art classes for the students. I’m also in the early stages of having the opportunity to paint a mural at the local Plunket centre, however there are a few more steps to go through before the process can begin. “Another project I have on the go is a portrait of a brother and sister standing on the beach. Capturing the features of the subjects faces’ has been a wonderful challenge so far, but I’m learning and suceeding and excelling, so once again, I’ll persevere.
See more about Kerry here.
Sally-Ann Davies
Sally-Ann Davies was born in Shropshire, England and resides in Taupo. She started her journey of becoming an artist as a toddler, drawing on the newly wallpapered walls of the farmhouse she grew up in. Her favourite subject at school without doubt was art. She vividly remembers that the primary school she attended would reward you if you finished your work early, with going and playing in the craft corner. She remembers how amazing creations developed with the simple materials such as egg cartons and toilet rolls.
Sally-Ann Davies was born in Shropshire, England and resides in Taupo. She started her journey of becoming an artist as a toddler, drawing on the newly wallpapered walls of the farmhouse she grew up in. Her favourite subject at school without doubt was art. She vividly remembers that the primary school she attended would reward you if you finished your work early, with going and playing in the craft corner. She remembers how amazing creations developed with the simple materials such as egg cartons and toilet rolls. Her journey to becoming the esteemed artist she is today did not come with ease. A the age of 12 she had a detached retina so ended up having quite a few months off school. This meant no active play, which she says was very frustrating when you grow up on a farm with her brothers. Sally-Ann is a triplet, so you can understand the frustration she must have had, because she and her brothers normally spent their time building dens, rafts and camping by the river.
Carla McKnight
Carla McKnight ‘s favourite subjects are equestrian and aviation (warbirds). She works mainly in acrylic but has been known to play around with other mediums. “I’ve learned what works and doesn’t work by giving it a go and taking risks.” She finds the use of a ‘white-light’ lamp essential and uses a variety of brushes, sponges, scrapers, an airbrush and a spraygun. Carla tells us about herself . . .
Carla McKnight ‘s favourite subjects are equestrian and aviation (warbirds). She works mainly in acrylic but has been known to play around with other mediums. “I’ve learned what works and doesn’t work by giving it a go and taking risks.” She finds the use of a ‘white-light’ lamp essential and uses a variety of brushes, sponges, scrapers, an airbrush and a spraygun. Carla tells us about herself . . .I was born in Holland and my family immigrated to New Zealand when I was nine years old. I’ve always loved seeing artwork of horses from a very early age. Around 14 years old I started trying to draw horses but found it frustrating as I didn’t like the results. I was always on my horse, Misty, with my best friend Leeanne on her horse, Kelly. We used to ride all over the place and on wet days we watched cowboy movies and tried our hand at art, and that’s where it all started. My parents were very creative, so I guess that gave me a boost, but they didn’t ride horses or make art.
Terry Fergusson
THE BUSHMANS SON ©
From a young age Terry Fergusson would sketch portraits and received an Art award at school. Then with everyday life and becoming a solo Dad he just never had time to pursue it further. Now, as an empty nester, he has felt the urge to pick up the brush and concentrate on painting people, their faces, their emotions. Terry tells us about his passion.
The results of picking up the brush again have been inspiring and well accepted. My passion has evolved beyond what I ever could have imagined. Creating a legacy of work that I can leave behind that speaks my name and my brand, along with the subject and the emotion shown was all inspiring to me. I want people to see what I see, remember what I remember and enjoy it long after I’m not here to paint anymore. Looks, emotions, stories and faces inspire me, and the ability to capture them through a mix of photography and acrylic excites me every time I start or have the idea to start a new piece.
Kristin Ivill
JOINING THE DOTS
Written and photographed by John Botton.
I first met Kristin Ivill when she breezed into my studio clutching a portfolio folder full of artworks she wanted to get copied and printed. While pouring over her work, it took me some time to realise that the exquisite images were made of thousands of dots, dots of all shapes, dots of all sizes, dots of all hues. My only point of reference was to imagine that the dots were like pixels in a photograph. I went along to Kristin’s studio to see if she was indeed going dotty.
JB: “Give me a little background to your beginnings in art and your training?”
“I’ve always loved art. My mother was arty and my grandmother was quite crafty. She spun wool. She dyed wool and wove fabrics. My grandmother would take me around the farm and we’d go hunting for birds and bugs and look at the trees and she would tell me all about the native fauna and flora. So that’s where my love of birds and nature stems from. I did art at school until year eleven when my art teacher told me to give it up. She said I had no talent. So I stopped doing it and focused on art history in year twelve which I loved. That’s where I was exposed to Seurat who did pointillism. But that was the end of that so I left art and got married and had children. When my daughter was born I did a bit of painting again because we needed some art to fill the walls. I got some canvases and paint and just started painting and it went from there.”
Catherine Dunn
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t make art. It has been with me from the beginning. One of my earliest memories of being given an opportunity to paint was on my first day at kindergarten. It was a momentous discovery at the time for me and I didn’t want to do anything else.
I don’t remember a time when I didn’t make art. It has been with me from the beginning. One of my earliest memories of being given an opportunity to paint was on my first day at kindergarten. It was a momentous discovery at the time for me and I didn’t want to do anything else.Art was always a favourite subject at school, which led me to study art fulltime in Australia. I attended Claremont School of Art in Perth, Western Australia in the early 90s and graduated after three years, majoring in Sculpture. It was a lifetime ago and a valuable experience, fraught with all the learning curves of youth of course, but definitely provided a solid base to build on, and great memories. After Art school in my 20s I meandered through the creative process a bit, mostly in a sleep deprived fog, due to the addition of a husband and children. I always tried to keep my hand in while running a busy household and raising a family and continued to exhibit in Australia and in New Zealand, but it is only now that two out of three of my children are out into the world and doing their own thing, and my husband has miraculously morphed into a fulltime Picture Framer, that I have the opportunity to really work as a fulltime artist.
Annette Straugheir
CREATIVE FREEDOM
CREATIVE FREEDOMWellington born of Dutch heritage, Annette Straigheir passed art in secondary school and has attended many art courses and workshops over the years. Still fully employed, she enjoys her painting as a secondary focus, although she thoroughly enjoys the freedom of creativity she finds in her art.
Finding time to paint has been her biggest obstacle, but she’s found the formula of making it a priority of her ‘at home’ time and she tries really hard not to procrastinate or get side tracked. Having deadlines helps to keep her focussed. Art is Annette’s passion and watercolour her favourite medium. She loves the transparency and looseness watercolour offers and says she does not find that as easy to achieve with other mediums. However, she is finding a lot of success with acrylic as well. “I enjoy the process of being immersed in creating a piece of artwork. The beauty of nature is my biggest inspiration, sunsets, sunrises, landscapes, flowers and people.”
Angela Mole
I was destined to become an artist - having drawn, painted, sewn and crafted constantly throughout my growing years. After gaining a History and English degree I became a primary school teacher, encouraging the children in artistic expression at every opportunity and displaying their art in every available space. I was commended for the ambience but warned that too many ‘hangings’ could pose a fire risk! Later I co-ordinated the installation of large permanent outdoor murals which met with approval. On retiring from teaching, once my family had grown, I was at last free to follow my own artistic journey.
I am largely self-taught but value the grounding and increased confidence attained by completing a diploma in painting in 2011. These days I feel compelled to create positive vibrant images. My brief as an artist is to “Focus on the beauty which is abundant in this world and thereby know peace” (Philippians 4:8-10, from the Holy Bible). One part of my inspiration is what I see as beauty, most often the smallest organic forms in nature - seeds, shells, eggs, petals and leaves, small beginnings from which greater things evolve. Equally important, is how I feel. I paint from the heart and am translating thoughts, words, poems and dreams into painted expression. I have an overwhelming desire to inject colour, truth and beauty into our environment, trying to counter the negative, dark influences pervading society. It’s about spreading a little happiness. Japanese style (the combination of minimalism and fine detail present in paper and silk design) influences my painting as do the swirling curves and clean lines from the Art Nouveau era.
Ashley McDonald
ARTISTIC NATURE I am a 16 year old that was born and raised in Hawera, a small town located in South…