Figures Archives - Page 4 of 9

Drew Hill

1 July 2016
Abstract, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Figures, Mixed Media, Photography, Printing

CONTEMPORARY VIEWPOINT

'Meat on Meat'

Using his camera to tell the stories of those who fall through the cracks, Drew Hill ventures to highlight political, social and cultural injustices and issues. He has been passionate about art from an early age and began by using painting as a medium to express his world view.

Drew loves art history and the biographies on artists - how they lived and worked. In 1999 he graduated from Ilam School of Fine Arts, Canterbury and now draws inspiration from current issues, producing thought provoking images through his recently favoured medium, photography, “...because a picture tells a thousand words and it enables you to capture the perfect moment in time that will never be seen again.”

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Tony Clarke

1 July 2016
Acrylic, Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Birdlife, Charcoal, Drawing, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Figures, Landscape, Nature, Oils, Painting, Portraits, Realism, Symbolism, Watercolour

CORNERSTONE SKILL

With luscious, almost glowing colour pouring out from the canvas, Tony Clarke’s work emits a sense of vibrancy making his art feel alive. The intricate texture conveys the feeling that you could reach out and touch the feather or fur.

Tony’s father was a very accomplished hobby painter and encouraged him from an early age. “He gave me a book at age 13 of Raymond Ching’s book of British Birds and took me out drawing over the weekends. I copied paintings from that book and studied originals at the International Art Centre.”

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Andrew Swarbrick

1 July 2016
Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Contemporary Art, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Figures, Oils, Painting, Portraits, Surrealism, Symbolism, Tattoo

THE HUMAN CONDITION

With very supportive parents constantly supplying him with art materials and encouragement, Andrew Swarbrick has overcome his physical disabilities to emerge as a very talented artist. Lucky enough to be using his talent every day as a tattoo artist, Andrew tells us his story.

I have been interested in art from a young age, and have been drawing for as long as I can remember. At age 12, I had a large operation to help alleviate some of the physical disabilities I was born with, which resulted in me being wheelchair bound for just over a year. As there wasn’t much to do in hospital in those days, my folks were constantly bringing me comic books to read. I promptly copied all of my favourite pictures from them and then pursued other artists books, which I also feverishly copied from, learning all the time. I didn’t fare well with art at school and am largely self taught. After school, I worked in various factories over the next six years or so, while trying to build a portfolio to go to university as an adult student. That portfolio landed me an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist.

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Ben Woollcombe

1 May 2016
Artists, Featured Artists, Figures, Landscape, Nature, Painting, Street Scenes, Watercolour

DISTILLED INSPIRATION

After almost four years of studying Industrial design at the Wellington School of Design in the early ‘70’s, Ben Woollcombe realised industry was not such an inviting option when the alternative was that he could create things of his own fancy and have people appreciate them, even buy them. The motivation to become an artist came from being able to make his own decisions and “enjoy living by my own wit rather than swapping my time for a pittance, while manifesting someone else’s dream.” He loves being able to use his time as he pleases - fishing, entertaining friends, sailing, painting or digging the garden.

Ben always enjoyed the Geography & Biology sets during his early education through correspondence school, as they usually involved illustration of some sort. A high mark in art was his main reason for gaining school certificate.

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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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