ONE SIZE FITS ALL EXHIBITION & COMPETITION 2011

EXHIBITION now showing until ...
THE AWARDS EVENING;
5.30 p.m. Friday the 5th August 
THORNTON GALLERY
Barton Street,
HAMILTON C.B.D.
NEW ZEALAND.


Look forward to seeing you there. 

Jackson Pollock and his works of art are a great inspiration to me. Whenever I need to break loose from convention,

I use his techniques to express how I feel emotionally.

SPLASH TRIPTYCH
click on photo to see rest of album

CLICK ON PHOTO to see album of all 3 artworks,

even better visit the exhibition to see them up close

along with many other 10" x 10" masterpieces

by local New Zealand Artists.

20TH ANNUAL WALLACE ART AWARDS 2011

WARRIOR
MATENE TENGA

I'm currently finishing 'Warrior Matene TeNga' to enter into the   '20TH ANNUAL WALLACE ART AWARDS 2011'.


The winner receives a RESIDENCY at the INTERNATIONAL STUDIO and CURATORIAL PROGRAM in NEW YORK.

LET ENVY AND DISSENSION BE DISPELLED

Let Peace Reign.

Picasa Web Album Link to 'Let Peace Reign' (4 photos). This is a socio-political statement expressing my concerns about the division among fellow New Zealanders caused by over zealot politicians and leaders, who are using the Maori versus white skinned New Zealanders platform to further their own selfish interests and careers. 

In our National Anthem; 'God Defend New Zealand', the English translation of the Maori version voices the following; Verse 2. Let all people, Red skin, white skin, Mäori, Päkehä; Gather before you. May all our wrongs, we pray, be forgiven so that we might say long live Aotearoa. Verse 3 .. Let not strife, Nor dissension ensue, may it ever be great Aotearoa...  Verse 4. ...Let envy and dissension be dispelled, let peace reign over Aotearoa.

. 

FORESAKEN EXHIBITION OPENING

Maiden Solo Exhibition

Photo's of Formal Powhiri/Opening of my Maiden Solo Exhibition at SupaNova Art Gallery & Studio, Gordonton. Maori Television filmed event for Te karere (News). Over 100 people attended. 


'Forsaken Exhibition' later moved onto 'The Empire Gallery' in Cambridge, New Zealand and then to the Hukanui Marae in Gordonton, for King Tuheitia Paki's first Official Marae Hui (Meeting).

RESALE ROYALTY RIGHT for NZ VISUAL ARTISTS

In April 2007 the government released a discussion paper, seeking feedback on the possible establishment of a “resale royalty right” for visual artists.  A resale royalty right is also known as “droit de suite” or an “artist’s resale right”.  This means visual artists receive a royalty payment each time their original art work is resold on the secondary art market.  A resale right currently exists in around 50 countries, including the United Kingdom where it was introduced in February 2006.

The government examined international developments relating to a resale right, and the possible impact of applying such a right in New Zealand.  As part of this project, the Ministry prepared a discussion paper.  This discussion paper provided an overview of these international developments, and looked at a number of options that could form the basis of a resale right scheme in New Zealand. 

For more information refer to; http://www.mch.govt.nz/research-publications/publications/ministry-reports/resale-royalty-right-visual-artists-discussion-p

EXHIBITION at THORNTON GALLERY

'LET PEACE REIGN'
36 x 48 x 1.5"
mixed media on canvas
NZ$1,400

'LET PEACE REIGN',
Artist -Tepora Watene.
Amiorangi Exhibition,
Thornton Gallery, Barton St, Hamilton (NZ).
Ph: +64 7 839 1325.
Exhibition ends 18th of June.

Exhibition price is $1,400.
INVEST NOW, before the value increases. 

From the 30th June 2011,
 http://www.saatchionline.com/TeporaWatene 

or direct from the artist NZ$3,000.

THE ULTIMATE CREARTIVE EXPERIENCE

Take time out to give yourself a well earned break from your busy schedule; enjoy a one day creative workshop, cafe lunch with a visit to a local art gallery. Liberate your creative talents and in so doing, produce your very own masterpiece.
Date: Fourth Saturday of each month
Time: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Venue: Toi Toi Studios located in the foothills of Mt Pirongia
Location: 180 Rosborough Rd, Te Pahu
Call or Text: 027 503 8 503
Cost: $75 includes all refreshments, lunch and art supplies.
Book Now: Spaces are limited therefore a $30 non refundable reservation fee is required. For further enquiries and bookings call Deborah at the above number.

PROGRAMME:

9.30 a.m.   Welcome and introductions with morning tea.

10 a.m.      Begin your CreArtive experience.

Midday     Lunch in Pirongia followed by visit to local Art Gallery.

2 p.m.        Back to your Masterpiece

3 p.m.        Afternoon tea.

3.15 p.m.   Complete your Masterpiece.

4.30 p.m.   Comments and reviews with farewell refreshments.  

"Amiorangi" Matariki Exhibition

MATARIKI

On the Application Form; 'Amiorangi' is interpreted, "As a contextual vessel Amiorangi transmits its knowledge from information gathered back to earth so that man can navigate into the future." unquote

The THEME quote "This year artists look ahead and into the face of the changing world. A collaborative exhibition that reflects on the social change and perhaps the necessities to move with change. It is a cultural explorative journey of identity, challenge and conversation, a glimpse of where Aotearoa is now moving forward." unquote. Upon visiting Thornton Gallery's website I discover a further definition of the theme as being, quote; "So in a sense it is a kaupapa where we can look at our culture globally with the new technologies available, on line chatting, Facebook all these things, I.P the 21st century concerns with our culture." unquote. Adding this definition to the one described on the Application opens up a wider range of topics to choose from. 

MY STUDIO WORKSPACES

MY MAIN STUDIO

Alcove where I paint smaller art works. (above)

 Central area where I paint larger art-work 

(My 'apprentice' Bella sleeping on the armchair)

View looking out from my south facing window.

Daily I express my gratitude for our home and spectacular location. I have two studio spaces, the first has large windows all around with oodles of sun and daylight making it an ideal place to paint and photograph my work. (see photos above). My smaller studio serves as a storage room for the bulk of my art supplies, work in progress and completed art work waiting to be sold or to be exhibited.  With covered wide decks on the South and North sides, I am able to lay down super large canvases so I can literally throw paint around.

If you're a fellow artist, I'd love to hear about your own work-space and studio. 

INFERNO work in progress: day 3

Husband Ralph & I were looking at how it looks now .. he suggested I title it 'INFERNO' (was previously;Fire), said it looked like looking down into a volcano etc. So I am hereby giving him credit for the name.

'Shades of Pirongia' Exhibition (W.I.P.) - using Golden Open Acrylics

This series of works requires all the patience I can muster. I prefer to work on large canvases, my style being;  loose, liberated with large brush strokes, splashes, lots of paint and heavily textured. Echoing in my mind are my art tutor Pam  (Watson, Hamilton) words; 'open up... remember ... circles and sausages' and I chuckle as I write. Destiny served me well, causing my first tutor to be Pam, her teachings allowed my natural style to flow; I'm sure had I first attended a fine arts teaching institute my natural gift would have been 'stiffled' and possibly not even given birth. Back to the subject at hand;

Each piece from this series is on average 10 x 10 inches in size, portraying scenes from my local village, Pirongia. Being detailed and of the realism genre, I'm using brush sizes in the small range. As I'm quite short-sighted and prefer not to wear glasses when I paint, whilst I started this series with gusto and passion ... eventually my enthusiasm wore off as the work requires a lot of attention, is time consuming, intensive and thus stressful, mentally and physically. I get so focused as I sit with a table easel, that I tend to forget to take regular breaks, resulting in tension head-aches, eye-strain, neck and back ache. (getting old .. LOL). Initially I used Golden Heavy Body Acrylics, using the Golden Flow Medium to thin the paint. I considered using the Golden Fluid Acrylics but the Golden Open Acrylic range was released. The Open range, in tubes, is of a much thiner viscosity than the Heavy Body and the biggest benefit is they dry much slower, allowing easier blending. This is 'Alexander Tavern' as it looked last year. Check this post for updates,

INFERNO work in progress: day 2

2-3 hours work ... stroke by stroke, layer by layer the image on canvas develops like an embryo in the uterus.

INFERNO work in progress

Being an artist who's unafraid to share the creation process. Shapshot of how it looked at the end of the day Sunday 17th April.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS - paint & sketching

Over the years; many have asked me to run workshops. Being a full-time artist I value my time not to mention the solitude required to focus on my own work. Finally after much deliberation, I've made the decision to hold 'CREATIVE WORKSHOPS' with the focus being on the fun side of creating art. The workshops will be held on week and weekend days. For those who do not have their own art supplies; these will be provided  at an affordable cost. Weather permitting there will be excursions to sketch, paint and photograph on location as well as visits to local galleries, cafe's and of course the local tavern; The Alexander Tavern in Pirongia. (Food and refreshments at your own cost).For those who come to the two day workshops, there is a variety of local accommodation available. The size of the workshops is limited to a maximum of 3 thus you'll need to book in advance. Dates and cost of the workshops will be posted soon. Please post your interest or email me at; mckenziedeborahnz@gmail.com. regards Deborah McKenzie

Blending and layers with Atelier Interactive and Golden Open Acrylic Paints.

I find it easier blending with these slower drying acrylics compared to standard acrylics. The only one downside is sometimes the paint seems to dry 'too slow'. As yet I haven't decided which of the two I prefer working with. Recently I used the Atelier range for 3 'practice' portraits done to better my blending skills. I was able to 'rework' a previous dried layer merely by brushing on a little water. When this was not what I wanted I learned to ensure the next layer was not 'watery'. When working in layers with Atelier Interactive paints I needed to apply each layer carefully and 'gently', to avoid re-activating the previous layer.

Blogspot for fellow-artists

I'm waiting for paint to dry .... listening to Van Morrison .... thinking to myself ... wonder what other artists like myself do when waiting for the paint to dry ... ???

Making the decision to be an artist.

Early in my career I was asked, 'how did you become an artist?' to which I replied 'I began sketching and painting'. When I go out I always take an A5 visual diary so I can sketch at my leisure, often times when in waiting rooms. I select someone close by and 'doodle' sketching them to pass time. One of the main comments people make when they notice what I'm doing is 'I wish I could do that'. I always reply 'anyone can  for it is simply the act of creating'. More often than not, their response is a negative one.