an artists notebook

an artists notebook outside herself

Wednesday, February 20, 2013



 Sketch book drawing.
In this series of paintings and drawings of people in jars and bottles I am exploring my own boundaries of trust.
The people I have chosen to paint within the jars and bottles are those which range from distant connections, to my most intimate. The people in the drawings are made-up characters.
The jars represent an allocation of time, placing a person at a safe distance until I know them better. Giving myself time to consider, time to measure, time to feel and time to trust.
   
On a more public note these images refer to a society, which hides behind glass - behind screens, behind the face of Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, neither here nor there. Trusting in untrustworthy governments, corporations and banking systems. As we look out our office windows and connect with the world through our work computers, travel home only to stare into our ipads, mobil phones and home laptops and TV's and occasionally out our windows to see a tree outside. We have become those ghosts driving this huge psychotic machine, which is disconnected from reality, relentless, unfeeling, untrustworthy and superficial. Having tremendous substance but at the same time no real substance at all. 
We have this illusion that we are safer behind our glass. Glass held up and precariously dangling from frigile strings, strings which stretch into the ether. Hoping we don't see ourselves for whom we really are and the predicament we have got ourselves in.
Now, I wonder what is on the horizon?



Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Nanette Cameron


Nanette Cameron was a work colleague of mine at Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts 
She owns the Nanette Cameron School of Interior Design
Acrylic on Canvas

The Mad Butcher


Peter (aka-The Mad Butcher) Leitch is known by all New Zealanders.
He own's a chain of Butcher shops throughout NZ
and is a great supporter for the Vodafone Warriors (The NZ Rugby League Team).
I met him through my husband.
Acrylic on canvas.

Makareta & Pairama


 Makareta and Piarama proud of their new Ta Moko (Tattoos)
Acrylic on Canvas

My Loves on the Line


A friend, and work colleague of mine. 
Acrylic on Canvas 

Dave & Eddie


Two people I know only through brief acquaintance.
I have met them but they do not know each other.
Dave (on the left) is an Electrician and worked on our house
and Eddie owned a liquor store we go to.
Acrylic on Canvas

Magazine girl in a jar


I decided to paint this image I found in a magazine of this girl and place her in a jar.
 She is unknown to me.  Acrylic on Canvas