Month of May

Kia Ora to my readers of my monthly blog. This is a platform where I can reflect on my art practice of the previous month and let you know what is happening in the month ahead.

My art work at Recliner City at Mount Maunganui has now been replaced by another group of local artists. Thank you to Jo and all the team there who were so enthusiastic about all the art. Maybe we will be given the opportunity again in the future.

I’m often looking for frames that can be recycled to suit some of my smaller pieces of art work. This little wooden frame I got at a market in Akaroa and floated the painting inside it to give it a finished look. It really looks lovely sitting on my workbench.

Recently our wonderful neighbours moved back to Wellington. We were sorry to see them go but they took a little piece of Waihi Beach with them.

This wasn’t the first of my paintings they had as several years ago they had bought a seascape at a local art group exhibition. While working overseas my seascape reminded them of where they wanted to be. Eventually they moved back to New Zealand and bought the house next door. They later made the connection of the art and who the artist was! Now they follow my blog too. 🙏

I have recently been accepted into a program for artists wanting the experience of working with a mentor . I have felt the need for a mentor over many years. Somebody who can guide you, clarify your thoughts and challenge you in appropriate ways for the stage of artistic support you need. My mentor is Liz Cooper @ liz_cooperlondon . We had a great meeting where I came away feeling supported and quietly challenged. Although I am not at the start of my art career I am aware that sometimes I can put obstacles in my own path, like, “I’m too old” “I’ve already tried that” “I haven’t got the energy”. But Liz has made me aware that art has no age limit and to always be looking at your work with a critical eye, but a kind one as well and just because you have already done something it doesn’t mean you can’t do it again. I have 2 more sessions with Liz over the coming months ,and really looking forward to them.

Because I wanted to see what other artists were practicing, I studied a watercolour artist Shalanoor Mamun. His abstract technique of starting with dark shapes, adding dark colours and using Chinese white or white gouache to add highlights was totally opposite to how I use watercolour. I start with the lights and slowly work towards the darks. I do not use white paint, preferring to keep the white of the paper as the highlight. A difficult process of thinking backwards. So I came to the conclusion that Shalanoor was really an acrylic artist using watercolour paints. But I used his technique and really enjoyed the results.

The series of 4 paintings have all got the same colour palette and layers, dribbles and textural images incorporated. These are very different for me in that there is no obvious horizon line, no obvious image of water, the page is filled with colour, highlights are with white paint and layers from dark to light have been used, all areas and subjects different to my usual way of painting. It felt good to challenge myself.

This year I joined the Tauranga Society of Artists and am looking forward to meeting new artists in the Tauranga district and contributing to their community. The first opportunity will be on the 13th July when I take an abstract watercolour workshop.

In April I finally managed to join the Tauranga Urban Sketchers after being away so long. We met at the marina, ready to paint but it was raining!

I’m looking forward to our next excursion to Maclaren Falls where the autumn colours will provide inspiration.

Waihi Plein air painters will be back out in force again in May, so lots of outdoor painting to be done this month.

Thanks for following along.

Ka kite ano…………..Pamela.