Taking Flight Exhibition November 2006

Wairau river swim


This was my first proper commercial exhibtion. Up until this time my paintings have been shown one or two at a time alongside other artists' paintings.

Taking Flight was so named because it was the launch of my professional painting career and also because the major theme was that of birds flying over Marlborough landscapes.

Out of a total of 28 paintings, 21 sold on opening night, and another four sold in the subsequent couple of weeks. The very last to sell was the biggest one, the above painting, Wairau river swim. This surprised me as I considered it my best painting ever. I love braided rivers on a hot day, hobbling over the warm round rocks, stripping off and wallowing in the fast moving currents. The braidedness of braided rivers used to fascinate me as a kid. Driving over bridges and seeing all those channels used to fill me with a sense of limitless choice. I would imagine myself on a rubber tube, paddling down, getting to a junction and thinking "mmm, will I go this way or that way? That way I think." I have no idea why this was such a positive thing for me.


Caspian Tern in outer Queen Charlotte Sound
An example of my seabird paintings. A theme I repeat is the two islands. they are Motuara on the left and Long island on the right. The little bump on the right hand end of Motuara island is called Hippa island, and was a little pa of last resort. There is a fantastic written history of this area by one of James Cook's officers, maybe it was Joseph Banks, I can't quite recall.

As an Outward Bound instructor for 12 years, I spent many great days out on Queen Charlotte Sound, following the students as they rowed or sailed their cutter. Nice calm days like the one above meant we would have time to go diving for seafood. Motuara was great for paua and butterfish. I made it a rule to "go minimalist" on these excursions, meaning nothing but mask, snorkel, spear and a pair of undies. In winter this gave me an effective hunt time of about 10 minutes before I went blue. Paua had to be grabbed with bare hands before they sucked on hard. Butterfish were hard to find and impossible to chase without fins.

Vera on a cushion

There were also one or two little domestic scenes like this one. I was particularly sorry to see this one go, as I doubt I will ever be able to capture Vera's personality again quite so well. My dear mother-in-law, Gloria, said she would have bought it if it wasn't for the power point.