The annual Masterton Art Club exhibition is showing at Aratoi, and two of the artists showing their work are Paul Gadsby, who is also a landscape designer, and Dawn Macdonald.
Paul, what inspired you to paint ‘Born in the USA?’
I tend to work in themes of two to three paintings and this popped out of a piece that I am currently working on titled 'Chardonnay Cowboy'. Initially I looked for an image from the Marlboro cigarettes cowboy advert theme from my childhood and came across a photo of a cowboy that inspired this painting. The third piece that I am working on is a younger image of country singer Garth Brooks and then, once finished, that’s me done on cowboys for a while!
Are figures your favourite subjects, and if so why?
The majority of my paintings have been human figures, as they are challenging to paint, with complexities of form, colour, shade and style. Painting figures works with my loose style, using big brushes on large canvases, which tends limit the scope for complex details. I'm not a ‘details’ artist. Having said all that I am still learning and have yet to fix to a particular style or theme.
Were you inspired by an artist for this painting?
The famous artist Andy Warhol. I've always been fascinated by his compositions and how crisp they look with limited colours and the blends of colours he used.
What were you most pleased with in the finished piece?
The total composition and how the checked shirt catches the eye. I was fortunate to have advice from a few admirers which helped to influence the final composition, for example, I limited the amount of background colour and added the horses to provide a little bit of movement.
How long have you been painting?
I have only been painting since 2012 after a long hiatus going back as far as the mid 70s of my art classes at Mana College, Porirua. I was fortunate to be taught by Robyn Kahukiwa - the then art teacher. My second oil painting, a nude study called 'Melissa' (2013) took over 12 months to paint and sold for $1,000.
What do you like about being part of the Club?
My work has become more proficient and prolific. As a result of tuition from Jane Sinclair, The Club has great facilities and I enjoy being with like-minded artists.
Dawn Macdonald: ‘Pisces Pond’ was based on photos and a small watercolour I did. I enjoy my fishpond and wanted to paint the colourful fish. I’m most pleased with the movement the fish evoke and I learnt that goldfish have 'poppy' eyes! I have been painting for the last 10 years and going to the Art Club for three years.
Event: ‘Gallipoli – what went right, what went wrong’ – a floor talk about local men who went to the Front, with Neil Frances, Wairarapa Archive, Sat 2 Aug, 2-3pm. Opening this weekend: WW100: Wairarapa, 8 Aug – 7 Sept; Nicki Stewart: Remember to Remember, 8 Aug – 7 Sept. Currently showing: Kaleidoscope: Masterton Art Club, until 17 Aug; 607: Justine Fletcher, until 4 Aug; The Imaginative Life & Times of Graham Percy, until 10 Aug.
Wairarapa Museum of Art and History