The Artist
My life has been about the arts, about making art, teaching art and loving art, in all its forms.
I have been privileged enough to have learned from masters, Rosemary Mundin, (Watercolour), Paul Clifford (painting and Photoshop), and the late, great Dr Gail Haffern, who taught me that art is definitely a cerebral process.
My work is about finding my unique voice through the medium of the arts, and I have experimented with 2d and 3d media to find my unique expression. I have played with most media, some more dangerous and unique than others, and have finally settled mostly on Oils and Watercolour, though neither of these is exempt from challenges by me trying new things. This said, I chose to do my Masters degree in the medium of drawing, which is still and always will be, my first expression of my subject matter. Experimentation is part of my artistic journey and I love nothing more than to share the outcomes of this with my students.
My goal in my work is to find a way for the viewer to enter into my vision, by entering into the work. I seek to capture the essence of what I experience. This opens up exciting pathways that take me to the most amazing places and my philosophy of life gives the direction that my vision takes. I make work about what I love, nature, the land, the sea, my garden and the flowers that I grow. The desire to paint was inflamed anew by the beauty of coming to live in New Zealand, which has always felt like my true home, and a fantastic place to live.
I have studied the techniques and skills of the old masters and a few new ones. I find that these skills underpin my work, yet do not contain them. I must have spontaneity before I seek to control with skills. So my work starts with an idea, demands experimentation and choices of palette and media, then refers back to the skills that offer mastery.
Creativity is my greatest gift.