Humanity painters share work
Dancer by Anna Jepson.
Inventiveness comes second nature to the Humanity Painters, as they get ready to exhibit the fruits of the last 12 months of creativity.
Fertile Ground is the title for this year’s 10th exhibition held at Hastings Community Arts Centre.
Tutor and artist Helen Kerridge says when she curated her first exhibition 10 years ago, she didn’t think there would be a second one, let alone a 10th.
“Our show has grown in both size and reputation, almost doubling. What began with 40 exhibiting artists has now grown to more then 70. This year there will be close to 300 paintings on display.”
Napier artist Francie Bryant is one of the founding members of Humanity Painters and her image Ruahine is on the show’s poster. She first began painting with watercolours many years ago but rapidly changed to oils. Francie says she loves how vibrant the oil colours are and how they blend.
“It’s like painting with butter. I enjoy landscapes as well as still life. It is the process of painting, the battle and the passion over paint to depict an enjoyable scene — that’s what gives me a real buzz.”
Contemporary Hastings artist Anna Jepson is no stranger to creativity or hard work as she completes her latest paintings for their show, Helen says.
“Over the last two decades Anna has been painting while running a very successful local business. It was during the last few years that she decided to solely focus on her art.”
Along with weekly tuition from Helen, Anna also attends classical portraiture classes annually in an historic Florentine Atelier Studio in Florence, still in active use, dating back to the early19th century.
“No posh amenities there, studio temperatures up to 40 degrees during summer, the smell of turps and oil, as it has always been done,” Anna says.
Jean Dixon of Havelock North, a former teacher who loved sharing her passion of art with her primary school students, took the opportunity of joining Helen’s classes nine years ago.
“I enjoy the stimulation of experimenting with different art genres, the positive reinforcement and critical analysis Helen gives, and the friendship of my fellow class mates.”
Jean experiments with abstract, moody seascapes where she asks the viewer to interpret and discover something new in her paintings each time they look.
Napier artist Sonya Lethbridge has followed a lifelong path of creative pursuits.
Her most recent project, illustrating a book of children’s stories and poems by writer Nancy Patulski, will be published shortly.
Some of these illustrations will be on display at the Humanity Painters show.
Humanity Painter’s annual exhibition now attracts well over 200 people to its grand opening.
This year’s guest speaker is local artist and EIT tutor Michael Hawksworth.
■ Humanity Painters Fertile Ground exhibition, Hastings Community Arts Centre, 106 Russell St Sth, Hastings. Grand opening Tuesday, September 25, 5.30pm. Exhibition runs September 24 to October 6.