Rural scenes inspire artist in residence
Art depicting rolling fields, woolsheds, cattle and rural scenes is on display in Mangaweka.
Graham Christensen has an exhibition of 25 paintings at the Yellow Church Gallery and will be its artist in residence tomorrow, Sunday and Monday.
The exhibition opened in March last year, but closed after aweek when the country went into alert level 4. It reopened in October and Christensen was able to add a bunch of paintings he completed during lockdown.
‘‘It gives me a chance to spend three days up there and paint and get people to come in and see what I do.’’
He has been painting for about nine years, finding the passion in his 60s when he needed something to do in his retirement.
Christensen was living in the Gold Coast at the time and went to some lessons, joining the local painting society.
‘‘I became passionate and obsessed, because I love it somuch.’’
He moved back to the Manawatu¯ four years ago and has developed an interest in painting its rural scenes. Born in Marton and raised in Feilding, he spent his childhood on a farm, and enjoys painting scenes he is familiar with.
Christensen now spends his time in a converted haybarn on 12 hectares of land at his home in Ashhurst.
‘‘It started with a blank canvas and ended up with something someone wants to buy and hang on their wall. It’s encouraging.’’
Visitors can find him at the gallery between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, Sunday or Monday.