Title Artwork 1: Cheetah
Medium: Scratch board and gouache paint
Dimensions: W 31 cm x L 38 cm
I consider myself a pencil, pastel and scratch board artist although I dabble in photography and paint as well and for the most part a self taught artist originally from a small town called Wairoa in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. I was always painting and drawing in my spare time since I was very young. However through study in college I studied Visual arts, art history and graphics. I was working as a cleaner for a local vet clinic at this time as well as doing some basic sign writing at a supermarket also. I had completed multiple art works for people in my beginning years as an artist. Including a pastel of a house, a school and several pet portraits. I had some of my photographic work printed in the local paper, as well as a 4th and 3rd placing in a couple small competitions.
I moved to Wellington in 2007 to complete a four year part time course at the Learning Connexion Art School. During the first couple years at this art school I was able to participate in school held group exhibitions with some success. I had work exhibited in the Arts for Art Sake gallery for a time as well. I began entering into the New Zealand Art Show held in Wellington TSB Arena and had some successful sales there. I also had two group exhibitions with my Illustration class held at St James Theatre. In the last couple years at the art school I took on a large project studying human anatomy in pencil. This study advanced my drawing skills greatly. It was a subject I found deeply interesting, and drew influence from artist such as Leonardo Da Vinci. This study resulted in a sale at the NZAS, as well as my first solo art exhibition in 2011 with work sold. Numerous commissions had been completed in this time varying from pet portraits, human portraits, murals, surreal art, tattoo design and landscapes. I began experimenting with the medium scraper board of which I now have a keen interest in. I completed the art course in 2011 with a NZQA Level 6 Stage 2 Diploma in Art and Creativity Certificate. Now finished with my art studies I decided to indulge in my other main passion, animals. I studied a 12 month course through Stotts Cengage Education to gain a certificate in Pet Care in 2012. Shortly following this I gained a job as a manager of a cattery at Tasman st Vet Clinic. I worked in the cattery for four years before taking a job at Homelands Kennel and Cattery in 2016, as a kennel/cattery manager for a year. I am currently about to start my final year of study at Massey University doing a Bachelor in AgriCommerce, majoring in rural property valuation.
My subjects are mostly focused on nature and animals, but I do have an ongoing human anatomical series done in pencil. Currently however, I have been mainly working with scratch board as I am not a full time artist and have a tight time frame due to other commitments. In a world ever concerned with our impact on nature and the environment my most recent scratch board works have expressed wildlife portraits as well as smaller critters found in our very own backyards. The scratch board allows flexibility while still retaining certain refinement in my work and I can complete them in a shorter time frame than my pencil and pastel work. I find this medium ideal for capturing the patterns and textures found within an animal’s body, fur or feathering. I add colour using gouache paint to add to the personality of the creature, bringing it to life. The composition of each piece is kept simple but with the intention to provoke curiosity from the viewer in the animal and its character.