The biennial Friends of Aratoi ‘Little Jewels’ exhibition opens this Friday. Be prepared for a scramble as people rush to buy the small affordable canvases, all of which will be by Wairarapa artists. They are hung anonymously so you won’t know who the work is by until you pay for it, part of what makes this show surprising. With the focus on local artists this week, I spoke to Jane Duncan and Sue Bates, both of whom are members of the Masterton Art Club, and showed their work in ‘Kaleidoscope' at Aratoi earlier this year. Jane also participated in September’s Big Wai Art Show in Carterton. She has been “painting seriously” for a year but has always done drawing, and used to teach art at secondary school level.
Jane: "I started out painting landscapes but the perfectionist in me got frustrated that it wasn't photo realistic enough. I wandered in to my favourite bookshop in Eastbourne one day and at the back were two still life oil paintings that were straight out of the Old Masters era and I fell in love! That was the turning point.
My first still life paintings are far ‘tighter' than this one, as I really tried to replicate closely what I saw. Then I read an art magazine article about focusing only on light and dark. I found a photo of garlic and did the painting almost in one sitting. I focused entirely on the dark and light using a big brush.
I painted it with the canvas and photo upside down, which helps me concentrate on the shapes and colour and stops me trying to replicate what my brain told me was garlic. When I turned it right way up and walked back from it, I was actually pretty pleased. Apart from a tiny amount of ‘fiddling’ (as my tutor Jane Sinclair calls it) it was finished pretty quickly after that.
Painting takes me out of my head. I much prefer to paint with other people around me, as I listen to the chatter and banter, join in and just potter on with what I am doing. It is a special time of the week for me. I am forever grateful I met Jane Sinclair and began my journey."
Sue: ‘Market with Dog’ is based on photos I took at the local Rotary car boot sale. Prior to this, I had been painting seascapes, which I enjoyed but I wanted to do something new. The most challenging aspect was trying to get the variety of colors of the scene but yet keep a focal point. I’m pleased with how I’ve captured the morning sunlight and the cool shadows. Painting people is an area that I need to practice more. I joined the club several years ago and have found that I have been painting more. It’s great being with others with more experience, and with an artist’s way of seeing things.
