New paintings and Open Studio Saturday, 24 Jan 10am-2pm

Hi all,

I hope the year has started well for you. I enjoyed a very special five weeks with my parents, who came all the way from Germany to stay with us over Christmas. The last time they visited was seven years ago, so it truly has been precious.

I am super thrilled to be a finalist in the New Zealand Paint and Printmaking Awards this year. They are being held at the end of February in the Waikato area. Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to share the painting with you yet.

Other than that, I also had the Aspiring Art Awards to look forward to at the start of the year. This year more than ever, as I hand-delivered my latest painting due to its size, together with the lovely artworks of Rod Eales and Anne Baldock. My partner and I made a whole holiday out of it, going from cold, grey Dunedin into what felt like true summer (at least for that day).

Below is a photo of me with my entry, Silent Weavers, for the Aspiring Art Awards. You can view it, along with all the other artworks I currently have available, at my next open studio next Saturday, 24 January, from 10 am–2 pm at 61 Caldwell St. Just pop in if you have time.

“Set within the beech forests along the Otago Dam Track in Lawrence, Silent Weavers captures an immersive forest scene rich in intricate detail. A V-shaped composition, guided by subtle visual vectors, draws the viewer into the heart of the painting. Trees and spiders alike weave patterns of light, shadow, texture, and colour across the forest floor and sky. Reds and browns anchor the foreground, while a variety of greens and blues beckon toward the beyond. From afar, the scene reads as a cohesive whole; up close, it celebrates a dense network of nature’s chaotic order and invites slow exploration.”

At the end of last year I completed my latest commission: A painting depicting a scene from Hoopers Inlet. I like the strong triangle composition in this piece with the Hillman, rider and woman. I added some subtle light play to accentuate the woman a bit more as she is important for this piece.

If you haven’t already you can sign up to my newsletter below so you can stay informed what I am up to every month. That’s it from me for now. All the best and till next time.