Figures Archives - Page 4 of 8

Fran Gould

1 March 2016
Animals, Artists, Drawing, Featured Artists, Figures, Oils, Painting, Pencil, Portraits, Realism, Stylized

GRAPPLING WITH GRAPHITE

My love of being an artist started with a Folk Art course at Waimea College in Richmond. Gradually art became more important in my life. After hearing the enthusiasm from several members of the art group I had joined, regarding courses with The Correspondence School in Wellington, I decided to enrol. I met my tutor in Wellington and he was happy for me to pursue figurative work, which was and still is, my passion as an art form.

My partner had a massive heart attack and several operations later, recuperative time, along with the process of ‘just being there’ as he got his strength back had a huge effect on me physiologically. After a while I started my second year at the correspondence school. My partner by this time was well enough to model for me, so I photographed him for my work and the ideas came fast and furious. My painting fitted into my studies “the human condition”. It all turned out to be very cathartic and the finished article, at the end of the year, achieved NZCA excellence. The whole project transformed me, mainly from the stress of the previous year.

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Natasha Bethune

1 January 2016
Abstract, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Ball Point Pen, Contemporary Art, Drawing, Emerging Artists, Expressionism, Figures, Symbolism, Youth Art

THE ART OF INNER HEALING

At the age of 18, Natasha Bethune tells us of her hardships and how she is devoted to her art and the healing she receives from creating.

Drawing is all that I’ve ever known - as a kid it’s all that I remember doing. My heart aches thinking about pursuing anything other than art. I love being alone in nature. Any place of solitude, that forces me to think and feel whilst listening to deep emotional music that conjures memories and beautiful desires of ‘what if’s and I wishes’.

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Nina Cook

1 January 2016
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Birdlife, Drawing, Expressionism, Figures, Nature, Oils, Realism, Seascape, Symbolism

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.

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Jacob Barry

1 January 2016
Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Drawing, Featured Artists, Figures, Oils, Portraits, Realism

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.

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Simon Lundqvist

1 November 2015
Abstract, Acrylic, Artists, Emerging Artists, Figures, Mixed Media, Painting, Portraits, Youth Art

PATIENCE, PERSERVERANCE AND TALENT

One of Simon Lundqvist’s obstacles was to overcome spending some time in a wheelchair after an accident and having to relearn how to walk. “It was a really horrible experience, but I got through it, and in retrospect the whole thing taught me a lot of patience and perseverance. Now the only thing I have left from that ordeal is a very characteristic gait, and a different outlook on life really.”

This left Simon Lundqvist experiencing difficulty with concentration and a lot of free time on his hands. He became obsessed with drawing and sketching, finding he could focus on this and it made him feel better. “I think that single-mindedness really helped me to learn and develop. Ever since childhood I have been infatuated the idea of being an artist and this has grown stronger over time. I’m just really in love with the process of painting and I can think of nothing better than spending my days making art.”

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The Foundry- Jonathan-Campbell-aotearoa-artist

Jonathan Campbell’s Foundry

1 November 2015
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Birdlife, Featured Artists, Figures, Installation, Iron Work, Metallurgy, Realism, Still-life

LOST AND FOUND

Jonathan Campbell has had sketch books since he was a youngster, constantly sketching compositions and ideas, generally ending up in one theme that leads to another. When he starts to make sculptures, he experiences further changes. “I don’t over-think, once I start doing a piece of work, it seems to take off.”

Having studied at the Foundation of Fine Arts in Whitirea, Jonathan had just picked up his skills when a French wool buying company approached him to produce about 200 castings, to celebrate their centenary. “They had seen my work in a group show and had tracked me down. It was complete luck and it enabled me to set up with decent equipment right away.”

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Simon Kerr

1 November 2015
Abstract, Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Contemporary Art, Emerging Artists, Figures, Painting, Street Scenes, Stylized, Symbolism

SIMON KERR

One-time member of the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall gang, prison escapee and activist, Simon Kerr has turned his remarkable talents to painting, creating a body of work which is both narrative and allegorical, the story of his life and redemption and a commentary on the place of human beings in the world. These works are often autobiographical in nature, exploring Kerr’s controversial history and his Devonport upbringing.

Simon Kerr gained notoriety in the 1980s when he set up the Hole in the Wall Gang (complete with t-shirts!). He also made headlines throughout the 1980s for numerous escapes from custody, including from Mt Eden and Paremoremo prisons. He stowed away on a cargo ship to Australia after escaping from Mt Eden in 1987. In 1994 he mounted a 13-day rooftop turret protest against remand conditions in Mt Eden that ended with the Armed Offenders’ Squad forcibly bringing him down.

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Ron Jackson

1 November 2015
Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Featured Artists, Figures, Painting, Realism, Vehicles, Watercolour

RAISING STEAM

With no formal training at an Art College, Yorkshire-born, New Zealand railway artist Ron Jackson honed his skills at night classes at Waiuku College and painting workshops for about ten years.

I started sketching during my holidays then progressed to painting. I had some very good tutors at the art classes workshops that I attended. Further to this I was impressed by the abilities and techniques of amateur artists on a UK Television program ‘Watercolour Challenge’.

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Donna Lee

1 November 2015
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Featured Artists, Figures, Jewellery, Landscape, Oils, Painting, Palette Knife, Realism

INNER CREATIVE DESIRE

I’ve always dabbled with art whether it being sewing, painting, jewellery and so on but it stepped up a gear when my mother, Janice Corbishley, purchased the Red Peach Gallery in Ahuriri, Napier. I began creating jewellery from fine bone china and created a brand ‘China Horse’ which I sell in there. After meeting Brent Redding through the gallery I took up painting lessons and started to put in the long hours of practice behind the scenes while still selling the jewellery. Then in 2013 I held my first solo exhibition and since then have focused on painting.

I paint and create because of a great inner desire to do so. When I paint I feel happy, free and connected! It allows me to choose a lifestyle of freedom, expression, travel and happiness which I cherish above all. The motivation comes from many avenues but is mainly an internal drive to achieve the very best I can be and to attain this lifestyle I have created for myself.

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Dawn Brown Meehan

1 November 2015
Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Figures, Impressionism, Oils, Painting, Palette Knife, Still-life, Symbolism

ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION

Drawing was the only thing I enjoyed but from the perspective of my parents, heading into the arts was ‘fickle with no security’ - as opposed to a ‘good government department job’ where I inevitably ended up.

It wasn’t until I was older with a young family, that I took up painting seriously. I began in watercolour and painted scene after scene - ‘stiffies’ I called them, painting exactly what I saw, with little fluidity or deviation from what lay in front of me.

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