Joanne riding high after return to art
Nelson artist Joanne McClelland is getting back into painting after a four year break.
Energised by a motor bike trip through South Africa, McClelland said she had fully recharged.
McClelland has been an artist for 24 years with a permanent stall at the Saturday Market, before deciding to spend the next four years doing something else.
‘‘It was just such a commitment every Saturday, I described it like my internal paint pot was empty and I just so needed a break.
‘‘In that break I did some nursing papers but I realised that working full time, on a schedule, wasn’t me. I’m such a freelance person.’’
McClelland said after motor biking trips through New Zealand, the two-wheeled adventures were taken to the next level with a month-long trip through South Africa.
‘‘A group of us motor biked from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Some of these paintings I’ve done are actually inspired by South Africa.’’
She also had paintings inspired by her New Zealand travels, including ones of Fiordland, Abel Tasman and the Marlborough Sounds - ’’I’ve done a lot of different areas.’’
She said after her break she now finally felt the ‘‘urge’’ to paint has come back.
‘‘It was a big thing to walk away from that permanent stall after 24 years.’’
McClelland said she mostly paints the oil landscapes from her ‘‘mind’s eye’’.
‘‘I don’t do them out of photos, it’s amazing how they evolve. I am known for this style, it’s me.
‘‘It’s sort of in a way your vision through your motor bike helmet, I see my motor bike helmet as a view finder.’’
McClelland said she was concentrating on art shows around the country and had just completed the Wellington and Christchurch ones.
‘‘Then we’ve got the Nelson one coming up at Trafalgar Centre in August, and the Dunedin art show in September.’’
She said the highlight of her previous 24 year artistic career was ‘‘finding your own individual style and believing in it’’.
‘‘That’s a rewarding thing about being a successful artist, my paintings hang all over the world, from [selling on] the Nelson market.’’