Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am Margaret Petchell and have been painting for the past 13 years, 7 of those years commercially. I have also worked as a make up artist and stylist for TV commercials for 36 years, so I have a lot of background experience with paintbrushes on the the human canvas.
I started out doing large chalk pastel pictures of women, then progressed to painting really large portraits of women each painting took 6 months – so not very commercial!
I now mainly paint bird portraits on canvas using acrylic paint but have painted a lot of animal portraits, people and flowers. I think I gravitate towards painting birds because I am captivated by their intense expressive eyes.

What is your process for creating new work?

Travel, visiting art galleries and in particular seeing historical art with modern art is inspirational for me. My process for creating new work begins with a lot of online research or viewing pictures I have taken of artworks during my travels, and looking at the works of painters whom I admire. I then print out landscapes and pictures of birds I like and literally scrap book the two together with scissors and glue until I have a composition, scale and picture I am happy with.

What or who influences you most in your work?

I’m inspired by great artists in history like symbolist painters Gustav Klimt, Gustav Mareau and Maurice Denis and seeing their paintings in world famous galleries is very inspiring to me and my work. I have definitely been influenced by the symbolist exhibition I recently went to at Musee du Luxembourg in Paris. I also love watching movies about the lives of artists.
There was a strange concurrent influence while I was painting the yellow skies for my latest exhibition, that day the sky in Auckland became dark and yellow around 2.30 in the afternoon caused by the Australian bush fire smoke it had a very strange similarity to what I was painting. Also other images of trees with no leaves started to look like burned Australian bush such as in the background of the Huia and Trees painting.

Tell us about your upcoming show ‘Last Light’.

In the past I have been known for painting large pictures of birds against stark white backgrounds. In my latest series birds are shown in the forest at dusk, the light is golden, it is the “magic hour” when colours seem slightly surreal.My colour palate is restricted, using a lot of blues, greens  and blacks with golden yellow skies. The backgrounds of my mini series evolved more into a symbolist feel. I can never quite remember the moment I decide on a particular theme or direction before conceiving a new series, but it has been a long time coming finding a new direction.

What are you looking forward to most about your show?

People who see my new work can see a different side to what I can do as a painter, I’ve enjoyed being a bit freer and look forward to the viewers response to that, and of course  a few red stickers would be great!

In three words describe your upcoming show.

Atmospheric. Symbolic. Nature

The post Margaret Petchell Studio Visit appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist. Did you always want to be an artist?

I did always want to be an artist but the desire to have a “proper job” took me in the direction of graphic design which got me into working on a bungy jump, painting murals, graphic design in the heart of London, and finally animation. During that time I did the odd session of life drawing but really never picked up a paintbrush purely for pleasure! Once my youngest daughter was born, I started going to a local art class and remembered why I was so hooked as a school kid. Everything changed!

2. ‘Hyperbloom’ is your first solo show right? How do you feel about that, what are your expectations? 

Hyperbloom is my first solo Auckland show, but I’ve had the great good fortune to have two sell-out shows in Dunedin. I typically sell through galleries and have pieces in the occasional fundraiser and group show but once endemicworld opened up the front gallery space, I decided it was the time to get a show in there!
 

3. What is the idea behind your show ‘Hyperbloom’?

I knew I wanted to have a really vibrant, happy show, then one day when I was forced to lie still in a dark room for 30 minutes while a face mask set, the name came to me. I realise now that I need to get more facials done! I’m never really alone in silence so it was funny how my brain whirled and came up with all these ideas. I knew that I wanted to get a neon sign made to really fit with the theme, then that made me want to explore even more neon brights in my work. So It all links back to that facial!

4. What can people coming to the show expect to see?

More of what they want in a Stringleman original – lots of thick saturated oil paint applied with a palette knife and brayer but with the recent addition of my new favourite find, oil sticks! They are like lipstick made from pure oil pigment. The sketchy nature of oil sticks means I can work my lifetime of experience in life drawing and animation and graphic design back into some of these pieces.

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Goddess Rising
7th November – 17th November
Opening Night
Thursday 7th November, 6-8pm
62 Ponsonby Rd, Grey Lynn

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your art background? Did you always want to be an artist?

I’ve wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. I used to spend hours and hours drawing when I was young. I took a quick 15-year detour past being a graphic designer and found my way back into painting about four years ago. I haven’t been able to stop painting since.

2. What are some of the ideas behind your show ‘Goddess Rising’?

I’ve painted a series of goddesses from a range of cultures. I’ve depicted them in contemporary colour and style, in the hope of bringing them into a context that people can relate to. I hope to bridge gaps of time and culture – encouraging viewers to awaken and empower their own feminine energies, inspired by these Goddesses and their stories.

There’s quite a Goddess movement showing up at the moment. Women are embracing their warrior strength, along with their kindness and compassion. For so long now, history and mythology have focused on the masculine archetype. The world has been operating from a predominantly masculine/yang energy, and some believe it is now shifting to a yin/feminine state – led by our collective consciousness. One by one as we embrace the yin, we contribute to a new balance.

3. What inspired you to create this show?

I’ve always loved depicting strong women in my portraits – I love how people tell me they feel inspired by looking at them. Over the last year or two, I’ve been learning a lot about energy and consciousness. Within that learning, there are often fascinating stories about gods and goddesses from all sorts of traditions. I was listening to an interview with Jane Houston about goddess archetypes, and how we can use them as inspiration to overcome difficulties or enrich our lives. It was like a lightning bolt went off in my head. I had to paint goddesses! I think that as a society we’ve lost a lot by forgetting their powerful stories, and I’d like to remind people.

4. How is this work different from your last show at endemicworld ‘A Life Exotic’?

‘Goddess Rising’ represents an evolved portrait style for me. The shapes that make up the portraits are more minimal, each with a more limited colour palette (but still bright and intense). I’ve also included more pattern. The subject matter has changed, offering more symbolism and a mythological feeling. This show is also entirely portraits and the female form – where ‘A Life Exotic’ also included some abstract work.

5. What can people expect to see at ‘Goddess Rising’?

My first set of new portraits in ages! I’ve painted a great selection of large and medium scale portraits and a set of six smaller, more minimal paintings. They’ll also see my Goddess Eyes! They’re small original artworks on laser cut perspex – perfect to hang on a wall or use on a shelfie. I’m also hoping they’ll learn a little about, and be inspired by the Goddesses I’ve painted.

Jen Sievers Artist Studio Visit from endemicworld on Vimeo.

The post Goddess Rising by Jen Sievers: Studio Visit appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

Merging faces is a two-week long solo exhibition held at Allpress Studios in Auckland. The show opens on Tuesday the 19th of March and runs until Friday the 29th of March.

It will feature around twelve large scale works and a light installation, this collection of work is based on various subject matter pulled from different environments and merged together through movement patterns such as twisting, colliding, shifting, intertwining etc. I am interested in both portraying movement through the works and literal movement through light animations.

2. Can you describe your making process and how this influences your style of work?

Each finished painting is the final product of a unique making process. A work will often start off as something quite simple, and through a process of manipulation it might develop into something really complex. This process could include transforming a static painting design into an animated video or gif and then turning it back into a static image again, each time it changes. Through this approach, it extends the work and creates interesting layers of movement.

2. What is the significance of the title?

“Merging faces” is all about taking different subjects and merging them together through lines and colour. These movement patterns have reflective elements around the movement of people and the merging of cultures in New Zealand and the world. Through compiling lots of subjects together in these works, I hope to create a sort of unraveling process as one spends time with the work, and for different things to emerge.

3. Where has inspiration come from for the works of this exhibition?

Often movements catch my eye and turn into inspiration for multiple works. I like how there can be multiple stories playing out in one work, and how each subject is connected and interacting with the subject next to it. This collection of work encompasses the quality of discovering hidden images.

5. Is this a new style of work we can expect to see more of from you at endemicworld?

My style is developing slowly and constantly as I change as a person. So it definitely won’t stay the same. Each piece will represent a static point in time. We will be releasing a limited edition print of one of the works from the show, this will be exclusive to and available for purchase through endemicworld.

5. What can people coming to the show expect to see?

Large works, lots of movement, lots of colour and some interesting light installations projections.

Merging Faces Exhibition Opening
Allpress Gallery
8 Drake Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland
Opening Night
Tuesday 19th March, 5.30pm

RSVP to [email protected] or go to the Facebook page event for more info.

The post Holly Schroder ‘Merging Faces’ Exhibition appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

Rufus Marigold Opening Night
Thursday 28th February, 6:30-8:30pm
The Tuesday Club, 42 Airedale St, Auckland Central.

View Facebook event for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/337389540449378/

1. Tell us a bit about this ‘Rufus Marigold’ fellow.

Rufus is a chimpanzee who suffers from extreme social anxiety. He’s a budding artist but spends his days working in an office. As life becomes increasingly more of a struggle, Rufus yearns to be defined as something other than a complete nervous wreck. The character is loosely based on myself at a certain stage of my life. Making comics can be a really cost-effective mode of therapy!

2. It sounds surreal and quite heavy?

It is indeed a bit surreal but I promise you it’s actually a comedy! Albeit quite a dark one… One of the vital parts of coming to terms with my own anxiety was learning to laugh at myself and ‘Rufus Marigold’ is definitely me doing that.

3. What kind of work can we expect to see at the exhibition?

It will be quite a mix. There will be some limited edition screen prints, acrylic paintings on canvas, some pencil drawings and watercolour studies. Plus a bunch of one-off giclée prints, some of them large panels from the comic, others ‘deleted scenes’ which mostly involve Rufus coming to some grisly demise. I love Rufus but he’s also my anxiety personified so I also quite enjoy torturing him. In the nicest possible way.

4. Do you usually work in such a diverse range of mediums?

No – most of my work is created using digital tools but I wanted to mix it up a bit for this one. The whole aesthetic of screen printing has been a big influence on my art style so it’s been fun creating those. Drawing with pencil is something I used to do a lot of but nowadays don’t often get time to. In the book, Rufus paints with watercolours – I can’t claim to have any watercolour painting skills so I had to channel my inner monkey for those ones.

5. Finally, why all the horses and flowers?

Rufus is obsessed with drawing horses and flowers. So you’d be forgiven for thinking the show was a collection of Rufus’ artwork. However, I can completely assure you the work is all mine. If a nervous-looking chimpanzee tries to tell you otherwise, don’t believe him.

View Facebook event for more details: https://www.facebook.com/events/337389540449378/

The post ‘Rufus Marigold’ by Ross Murray: An Exhibition & Book Launch appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

Traverse Opening Night
Friday 12th October, 6-8pm
62 Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland
View Facebook event for more details >>

1. What is the idea behind your show ‘Traverse’?

The show is about travel and change. I had a very colourful year, and am often curious about how certain places and experiences leave traces behind.

2. Where and how did the idea behind the show come about?

I was in San Francisco a year ago doing touristy things, and looking down at my feet there was ‘Traverse’ carved onto the ground. It stood out. I had conversations with Endemic about a potential show before I left. And I let that simmer over my time away. Hoarding ideas, and refining what I wanted to do. I found a way to include all my various styles in this, while still having a cohesive theme and paying homage to some of my past work. 

3. What pushed you to have the show?

I think I like to take life in chapters and when I go through one which is saturated in inspiration and diverse visual stimulation it’s natural for me to find a reason to express and show that. I feel the need to get my ideas out and be free to move onto other things, or let the experience of having an exhibition guide me onto the next direction. 

4. How is this work different from your previous shows? 

I’m playing around with some new shapes and 3D objects, it’s really fun and has opened up so many possibilities. Also, the work is concentrated and on a much more smaller and detailed scale. It’s an entirely different discipline for me as I like to move around when I’m making things. Lots of patience and sitting still, but nice to develop another area of skill.

5. What can people coming to the show expect to see? 

Everything, all sorts. Portraits, paintings, photography, sculpture, black and white colour. A good time. 

The post Margarita Vovna Traverse Exhibition appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

10 years ago Endemicworld opened its doors. As a way to celebrate this milestone, we have put together this timeline of highlights from the past 10 years.
Thank you for supporting your local art gallery for 10 years.

The post Endemicworld 10th Birthday Timeline appeared first on NZ Art Prints & Originals Curated in New Zealand | endemicworld.com NZ ART blog.

1. What is the idea behind your upcoming show ‘Same Same’?

‘Same Same’ is the idea that there is a sameness that runs through us as a people. That underneath all our stories we are far more similar than different, but our preconceived judgments and stereotyping can stop us from seeing those similarities, and stop us from empathizing.

By using the same portrait ‘template’ for each painting, and then adding different elements, narratives and backgrounds, I was hoping to convey that beneath the layers, the core of who we are is similar.

2. Where and how did this idea come about?

I was playing around with some simple stencil ‘head’ shapes and created a reverse print from a very wet screen print I had just pulled, and liked how both images were the same, but different. Even though I had started to add different hand-drawn elements to each there was still something similar running through them. I thought it might be interesting to create a series of different portraits from one original identical form.

3. What pushed you to turn the idea into an art exhibition?

Two things. I really wanted to step out of my artistic comfort zone and take on a different subject matter. If you know my work, you know that birds take centre stage.  Although I still approached these works with my familiar decorative style that is found in my ‘flora and fauna’ paintings I wanted to convey some personal thoughts, to exorcize a few conversations that I had been having in my head.

There also seemed to be this rising noise surrounding nationalistic xenophobic views from many places around the world. A real ‘us against them’ mentality, especially concerning immigration issues. I wanted to explore the story of similarity. How despite all our differences, the core of who we are is very similar. I am guilty of holding judgments and presumptions about life and people, so it was an interesting way to spend time with these thoughts.

4. Has the exhibition turned out the way you wanted it to?

I am really proud of these works and very excited to see how people react to them.  I don’t know if I can ever say that the final work is what I wanted it to be. I often want to do better. It often takes doing something, to then know what I wanted to be doing all along. Each body of work plants seeds though, germinating away for another show. With more time and more studio space, I definitely would have gone BIG!

5. Is this a new style of work we can expect to see more of from you at endemicworld?

I certainly think these paintings have got me excited about diving a little more deeply into the storytelling aspect of art, and to play with different techniques. It’s been really enjoyable to use the brushes more, and very meditative to use a lot more drawing. Often it’s the audience’s reaction to my work that dictates where I go to next.  It’s the fine line between playing your own tune and paying the piper. A girl’s gotta eat.

Same Same Exhibition Opening
Friday 10th August, 6pm
62 Ponsonby Road, Auckland
10th – 20th August

See event details here. >>

VIEW ALL HOLLY ROACH ART PRINTS HERE >>

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VIEW ALL OLIVIA BEZETT ART PRINTS >>

What do you do?
I’m a 20-year-old full-time artist from Auckland, NZ who uses colored pencils to create drawings of animals with quirky twists. I also cook, bake, create, and watch ‘The Emperors New Groove’ at least once a week. 

What did you have for breakfast?
Today I had porridge. It’s either that or overnight oats most mornings. I enjoy a good bowl of oats. 

What’s currently on your walls at home?
Some Marco Mazzoni, Georgie Malyon, Flox, Laura Blythman, Jen Sievers, Max Gimblett, Alice Berry, and I’m expecting a Dick Frizzell ‘Sleeping Woman’  in the next few months thanks to my dad’s connection with Dick having worked alongside him. I’ve been collecting art since I was 13 and only buy limited edition prints or originals. I definitely take after my parents!

If you weren’t making art/doing what you do what would you be doing?
I’d be a chef! Or a cake maker. Luckily my partner is a chef so he’s sort of living my other dream, and I still make cakes for friends and family every now and then. 

Current obsession?
I’ve been listening to Cat Stevens on repeat but that’s nothing new for me (thanks dad). I’ve been binge watching Black Mirror with my partner and enjoying hanging art all over the walls of our new home we’ve just moved into in Gulf Harbour. The best part of moving into a bigger house means more walls for more art! We also just got a new ragdoll kitten (only breed of cat that I’m not allergic to or animal for that matter) called Craig. He takes up a lot of my time now! 

Career highlight so far?
Probably my two solo exhibitions. I was so overwhelmed with the turnout! Also when I started talking on commission work I wasn’t sure how it would go, and within a week my waiting list got to 3.5 years and I had to cut it off. Still can’t believe that!!  I was also on TV once and forced my entire family to watch it. 

Dream project or collab or both?
I have always wanted to illustrate a children’s book… Which I’ll be doing in a couple months time! Very exciting! I really want to have a joint exhibition with my mum, Josephine Davis too. My mum is my best friend and her artwork is incredible, it would be such an honor and is a big dream of mine!! 

Plans for the future?
More exhibitions, to get through the 3.5 years of commissions, and travel, travel, travel. 

Build your dream concert, 3 acts you wanna see live. Living or dead.
Cat Stevens (who I just saw live in concert recently! Roy Orbison and Joe Cocker. In saying that, I absolutely love Flight of the Conchords and would love to see them live again. Jermaine Clement will always have my heart

VIEW ALL OLIVIA BEZETT ART PRINTS >>

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VIEW ALL JEN SIEVERS ORIGINAL ARTWORKS & ART PRINTS HERE >>


What do you do?

I paint joy. Well, I paint things that I hope bring people as much joy as possible. I aim to lift people’s spirits and make them feel good. Sometimes that comes out as portraits on Perspex, sometimes its tiny minimal abstracts on paper or silk scarves, sometimes I splash a lot of paint on a huge canvas. My work is varied but it all comes from the same joyful place. I also blog on joy https://www.jensievers.com/on-joy/ and am really interested in passing methods, such as mindfulness, onto as many people as possible. I’ve even written a (yet to be published) storybook about mindfulness for children.
I also have a day job – marketing for an incredible Early Childhood Education company, and an educational toys company – which brings me heaps of joy in my day job! AND I’m a mum, the greatest joy of all.

What did you have for breakfast? 

The same thing I have pretty much every morning – a bowl of oats with a little bit of homemade fig jam and cinnamon. On Friday mornings it’s homemade banana pancakes with my daughter.

What’s currently on your walls at home?

I’m starting to build a small collection of art. I currently have a beautiful Hannah Jensen laser engraving over my bed, a small Fleur Woods and a gorgeous little abstract landscape by Selena Kitchen. I also have two Pete Cromer resin budgies (my newest addition to the collection – I try to get art each Christmas). I have a huge aerial photo of the sea, one of my 4-year-old daughter’s paintings, a print of a Gordon Walters and a few of my own unsold works. I’m dying to get a wall hanging from Indi & Wild to go in my guest bedroom!

If you weren’t making art/doing what you do what would you be doing?

I would have to make something. And It would have to have paint involved. There have been times when I’ve stopped for a few years and it’s felt wrong –  I’ve always ended up finding reasons to put paint onto something – for a while I upcycled old furniture with colourful chalk paint, I also hand painted a lot of the decorations for my wedding. I’ve obviously got paintings in my hands that need to come out! 

Current obsession?

I obsessively listen to podcasts, usually about joy, understanding humanity, or the nature of being. I’m on a real seeking path at the moment – which probably reflects in my art too, because I’m trying a lot of new things and constantly trying to evolve. I’m also recently back into being obsessed with yoga and my crystals – yup, becoming a fully-fledged hippy and loving it.

  
Career highlight so far?

It has to be my solo show at Endemicworld last year. It was such an incredible buzz to see 4 months worth of intense work all in one room – and see people reacting to it!

Dream project or collab or both? 

Funny you should ask because I’m busy working on my dream collab right now! It’s not public yet, but it’s a collab with one of my absolute favourite homewares brands. Still absolutely pinching myself that it’s happening.

Plans for the future?

My main aim at the moment is to create work that feels authentic and feeds my soul – and the soul of the people who see it. I think if I get that right, the rest will come.

Build your dream concert, 3 acts you wanna see live. Living or dead.

Bon Iver, The National and Shovels and Rope. Probably in that order – start off quiet and end up on the dancefloor. Also, I would like it to be at Bethells Beach – they have small outdoor gigs there on Friday nights and they’re the absolute best.

VIEW ALL JEN SIEVERS ORIGINAL ARTWORKS & ART PRINTS HERE >>

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VIEW FISHING FOR LOVE & MORE OF COMPONENTS ART PRINTS HERE >>

VIEW FISHING FOR LOVE & MORE OF COMPONENTS ART PRINTS HERE >>

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VIEW ALL JENNI STRINGLEMAN ORIGINALS & ART PRINTS HERE >>

What do you do?

My life is pretty evenly split between being mum to two gorgeous daughters and furiously painting while they’re at school. Lately, I’ve shoe-horned some fairly average tennis into this heady mix.

What did you have for breakfast?

Today I had The Collective Greek yoghurt topped with the crumbs from the bottom of a weetbix box and some melon. I’m saving my coffee for later when I’ll be at Vauxhall Cafe where Bruno makes it super strong and soy for me.

What’s currently on your walls at home?

Last year I went on an art-buying frenzy with small pieces directly from artists I love including Felicia Forte and Martin Campos from the US and a thickly painted round mini from John Badcock (NZ) I also have a couple of my own which I’m saving for my daughters.

If you weren’t making art/doing what you do what would you be doing?

I used to be an animator and I loved it and miss it. But secretly I wish I was a trauma surgeon though sadly the old brain is too tired to succeed in that dream! I toyed with the idea of training as an ambulance driver but I didn’t like the uniform.

Current obsession?

My current obsession is tennis which I’m learning locally and playing with friends. I’m obsessed with watching it, talking about it and buying the clothes for it

Career highlight so far?

So I’ve been painting professionally for three or four years and the first highlight was seeing my first piece in the window at endemicworld which made me smile so much. Then I had this really fun, sell-out show in Gallery De Novo in Dunedin and heaps of my friends and family came. Someone even bought me flowers. I felt like the queen!

Dream project or collab or both?

I wouldn’t mind working with a kiwi designer I love like Kate Sylvester, or Ruby, on a textile or campaign. The thought of doing a Component or Cinzah and painting on a big wall is in the back of my mind. If I could do ANYTHING with my art hero Andrew Salgado (UK) I would!!

Plans for the future?

I’d love to show at Beers in London. Just dreaming small dreams But before that, I want to continue exploring my new work with the nude figure and nail down my true “thing”

Build your dream concert, 3 acts you wanna see live. Living or dead.

David Bowie. Faithless. Pink Floyd. all at the Powerstation 

VIEW ALL JENNI STRINGLEMAN ORIGINALS & ART PRINTS HERE >>

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VIEW ALL GEORGIE MALYON ART PRINTS HERE >>

What do you do?
I have been a florist for 17 years and I have been working on my floral art for about eight years. I always had ideas about the different ways to use and see flowers, so that’s where my art started really. As much as I love making beautiful bouquets, posies and traditional arrangements, I felt I wanted to push what I could do with flowers a little more. I had been collecting religious statues for years and so I started incorporating these and taxidermy into the traditional flower arrangements I was creating and photographing it. After that I started making flat lay arrangements with handmade skulls, spray painted flowers and hand-painted backdrops.
From there my work has evolved and grown. I’ve taken it in a different direction, creating floral dreamscapes with the illusion of smoke and light floating botanicals. I love working with flowers, full stop. 

What did you have for breakfast?  
For breakfast, I had Vogel’s twice toasted with thinly sliced tomatoes from my garden with salt and pepper and a good cup of tea, with a dash of milk and no sugar thanks. My partner Tim makes the best cups of tea, he reckons I say that to everyone – I don’t.

What’s currently on your walls at home?
Taxidermy, a stack of vintage ship prints and paintings, religious and floral prints, velvet paintings of animals, anatomical human skull oil paintings, and in between all these the walls are dotted with friend’s art prints and a couple of mine.  Also, a stack of Polaroid photos of friends at party times. My walls are covered. I’m the absolute opposite of a minimalist, but hopefully a little less than a hoarder.

If you weren’t making art/doing what you do, what would you be doing? 
I have always loved dress up, costumes and makeup. So, when it’s Halloween that’s when you can pull the sewing machine out, hot glue gun, liquid latex and face paint and whip up some Halloween delights! Christmas for some weird reason, I’m not particularly fond of Christmas but for the past seven years, I have been making my long-suffering partner Tim make Christmas cards. Black metal, glitzy glamour, Krampus themed Christmas cards. I even used to post them, like really post, not just to Facebook! So, to translate that into a job, I guess I would have loved to work in film or theatre making costumes and or working in makeup making prosthetics for B grade horror films. Or I would love to make jewelry, I had the opportunity last year with friend and jeweler Chris Sheehan to make some and learn about lost casting also about wax carving. I absolutely love making jewelry and thinking about the design and researching the history and cultural symbolism that jewelry plays in the lives of people it’s fascinating to me.

Current obsession? 
I’m always at the markets and watching the second-hand auctions. You will find me at the Avondale or Browns Bay markets most Sundays and trawling second-hand shops and Trade Me. Shells, pink neon lights, vintage and new jewelry, skulls, smoke machines, plaster-of-Paris, cats, cream donuts from Tart Bakery in Grey Lynn and fresh bags of coffee from Mr. Millers on Cross Street – obsessed? Yes! These modest brown paper coffee bags which are simply branded with a stamp, well I’d even hang them around my house and car as air fresheners when I’m not drinking it of course. Hamilton Botanical Gardens totally worth a day trip. Crystals and beaded fabric. Cheese and crackers, vintage vases, Mexico, other floral artists/florists. Long pointy fingernails with glitter finishes, black dresses and black hats. Velvet curtains, peacock chairs, singer-songwriter Marlon Williams, the iconic band Pentagram and Coven. The list goes on but I will stop. Oh, that’s right number one obsession – flowers, but don’t ask which flower, just all of them.

Career highlight so far?
To be honest it was taking that first step in putting my work out there as an exhibition. The support from friends and family really blew me away. I had been working away quietly on my flower and skull series and been getting ready to share them with friends when I happened to walk past a sign at 62 Ponsonby Road that said ‘art prints’. So, from the front window I followed it past the vintage clothing store, down the hallway of contemporary furniture, and down the stairs to a room filled with prints where I nabbed a business card. Got my artwork together, emailed Elliot at Endemicworld, and after a few emails back and forth, he agreed to meet and take my work on. After that meeting I remember the drive back home, I was so happy. From there it has grown. My work has evolved, and I have taken some exciting new directions with my work. 

Not sure about a big highlight but there has been lots of small victories that I am proud of. I guess a highlight for me is when someone chooses my work, when I get invited to be in a group show when I get a work into a styled shoot or interviewed about my work, it all makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. I put so much time and energy into making my work. I put my heart on my sleeve. I work hard to keep making art, even when it feels really challenging, to be honest, there’s no other option for me. I’ve always been persistent at being creative in whatever form it takes.

Plans for the future? 
I have always been so lucky and felt fortunate to have a home studio, but I have always wanted to have my own space that includes flowers, plants and collectibles and art studio.
I have finally got the opportunity to have this with my partner Tim Castelow, we have set up my floral art studio and collectables, Tim has set up a barber shop out the back and we have called it Greenpoint, after we spent a few weeks in New York in Greenpoint with one of my dearest friends Rose Hardy. We loved it, with a village of its small family business and it’s a little rough around the edges vibe reminded us of our little group of shops in Grey Lynn, which has a real sense of community and old-fashioned edge but with lots of potential.  It’s based in Grey Lynn 566 New North Rd Grey Lynn, it used to be an old junk shop, two dollar shop and everything in between, we have even been told it was originally the police station, there still the old holding cells/drunk tank with bars on the windows out the back. So Tim and I have been bringing this little old shop back to life as best as possible; just showing it little love. No doubt in time it will be pulled down to make way for apartments, but until then, I can make flowers, sell vintage vases and curios and play shop and Tim can continue to cut hair out the back. As for a future-plan, making more art and trying different ideas is always in the future.

Build your dream concert, three acts you want to see live. Living or dead.
Honestly, this question had me thinking for quite a while, I was supposed to hand this interview in last year, but I kept changing my mind, as I could have picked 100 different bands for a thousand different reasons, but….

At the Power Station I would like to see Nirvana, Pentagram and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  I think the first ever music video that really stuck or made an impression on me was Nirvana, that moment you sit on the floor a metre away from the TV, going what the hell is this! It was a definite favourite growing up, so yeah, I would love to see Nirvana.
Pentagram would be at this dream concert, I have seen them already but would want to see them again. Tim and I saw them in Chicago, but it would be cool to see Pentagram with a big group of friends. Then the Yeah Yeah Yeahs for fun.

At the Civic something dreamy like Marlon Williams, Nick Cave and Florence with red wine on tap and all dressed in black.

At Western Springs with a hip flask of something strong, tasseled jacket and black denim with AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Fleetwood Mac all in their prime.

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