Artist’s pastel piece sits pretty at top
After being inspired by her father’s drawings, Wendy Butcher has always had an artistic bent.
Butcher said she remembered getting in trouble for doodling in class and drawing whenever she had the chance.
Today, the Paremata artist still fills her life with art and was recently picked as one of the best at a national pastel exhibition.
Her artwork, Reflections, won the Pastel Association of New Zealand exhibition that is on at Pataka until June 7.
She entered two pieces in the exhibition.
The winner was of a photo she took on her daily walk along Camborne Walkway.
This was her first time exhibiting an artwork using pastels and when asked if she thought she would win, Butcher said, ‘‘Not at all.’’
‘‘I was like a possum caught in the headlights.
‘‘I didn’t expect to win, not on the first time entering,’’ Butcher said.
She had been striving to take her art to a more professional level and was thrilled to be recognised.
Both her pieces were demanding, but Butcher said she was pleased with how they turned out.
‘‘I love the freedom involved in the process. With pastel you work from dark to light and you have to go in delicately to get the best out- come.’’
Butcher travels New Zealand with her husband picking up ideas for her next artwork and is plan- ning a trip to the South Island.
Purely Pastel is an annual exhibition aimed at promoting New Zealand pastel artists.