12 months of painting with intent pays off
WITH almost all her works sold as the exhibition she is part of opens, Oamaru artist Gemma Campbell says the first showing of her work is ‘‘really special’’.
Campbell is one of three artists with works in Between Realms, at The Artist’s Room in Dowling St, part of Arts Festival Dunedin.
Campbell studied graphic design in Christchurch and has worked as a freelance illustrator and graphic designer.
She returned to Oamaru in
2012 to look after her sick mother, who has since died.
Her oil and acrylic paintings, and etchings, were produced in the past 12 months, during which her second daughter was born. ‘‘It’s been a crazy 12 months.’’ Campbell said she had intentions behind all her works.
‘‘It’s a way of me moving through grief, and it’s a way of processing major life events.’’
That came through in an almost subliminal way.
‘‘It makes sense after.
‘‘I do things that feel good.
‘‘I always put something a little bit different and fun in my paintings because they can be quite heavy.’’
That included things her daughters became interested in, included flamingoes, one of which ended up in a painting, part of a theme of women with birds and animals that runs through Campbell’s work.
‘‘They are ridiculous, and I don’t know why I like doing them, but I like doing people and I love animals.
‘‘I feel that I’m the result of a lot of people putting a lot of time and effort in, and I like to respect that and be grateful for everything.’’
Gillian Buckley and Jane Crisp are also showing works at the exhibition.
❛ I feel that I’m the result of a lot of people putting a lot of time and effort in, and I like to respect that and be grateful for everything