Jo Midgley
ABOVE: “Robin with Lichen” 120mmx120mm, oil painting A Life Inspired by Nature Jo Midgley has always been creative and drawn…
Bev Smith
Above: Autumn Leaves (June 2023) - Acrylic and Collage on Canvas (under tuition of Heather Matthews - Tindalls Bay). 400 x…
Virginia Watson
ABOVE: Golden Bay - Oil From Burnout to Backcountry: The Artistic Evolution of Virginia Watson For many, the dream of leaving…
Leda Daniel
Above: Detail: Lotus Goddess UNSPOILED SPONTANEITY Having completed her diploma in Arts at the University of Fine Arts, La Plata in…
Elise De Silva
DRAMATIC LIGHT Born in Australia, and having a talented mum as an artist, Elise De Silva reflects on her fondest memories…
Gwyn Hughes
NATURAL PROGRESSION Gwyn Hughes’ father and grandfather used to paint and it was a natural progression for him to become an…
Pam Mundell
BETTER BY THE DOZEN An evening with friends, a little wine and some chat. Sounds like a typical night, anywhere across…
Kristin Kay
CLAY GIRL
CLAY GIRLIn her childhood, Kristin Kay’s eldest sister Simone, eight years older than her and very creative herself, would often make games to use their imagination. “She would also make me and my other sister Ruth monthly magazines, hand drawn women's fashion pages, puzzle pages, baking recipes, facts about animals, anything.
A magical childhood was had by us girls. Unfortunately, just after her 19th birthday, when she had become a young adult down in Christchurch, her driver crashed the car at quite a speed. No one survived. But I always remember her instilling her creativity in me, her drawings, how she could make something out of nothing. It just stuck - she is still a big part of me.”
Daniel Carter
DESIRE FOR CREATION
The closest Daniel Carter came to formal art training would have been extension art classes and graphic design throughout intermediate and college years. “These classes were taken above my selected art classes, as the art teachers noticed I had an interest and above level ability for my age group. I left college at an early age to become a car painter, which ultimately led me towards the automotive artistry of airbrushing.”
The artist life started for Daniel at a very early age, “As a young child my parents encouraged my artistic abilities. By year two of primary school, my father Roger would sit with me for hours, teaching me how to draw realistic people, muscle cars, fighter planes, architectural buildings with two-point perspective etc. We didn’t have much but wherever I went I would have a small pad and pencil, taking inspiration from my surroundings, nature, birds, people, cars, buildings, that sort of thing.
Sonya Prchal
PAINTING WITH THREAD
Originally from Pukekohe and now based in Whangarei, Sonya Prchal has always loved art and has drawn and painted from a young age. “I started working with textiles in 2003 and first entered works in our National Quilt Symposium in Wellington in 2009. When four of my works sold, I was encouraged to create more and started teaching fabric painting and stitching at the next Quilt Symposium in Queenstown, at subsequent symposia and tutoring classes throughout New Zealand.”
Sonya has always managed to fit in daily practice in her studio, but has only recently been creating on a full time basis. “I love making works that draw in an audience and start a discussion. I enjoy commission work, and take great pleasure seeing joy on the faces of people when they receive their favourite pet replicated with thread.”