Artists brush up on watercolour skills
Watercolour Magic was the title of a workshop held at Tararua REAP by South Island artist Jan Thomson.
Ten Tararua artists and one from Whanganui took part in the two-day workshop which was open to both beginners and those in need of a refresher course.
Thomson, who is from St Arnaud in Nelson Lakes National Park, was in the North Island visiting family in Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa and scheduled in a workshop in Dannevirke. It was the only class she was conducting this trip.
She took the group of artists back to watercolour basics, creating a colour chart, using various tools, techniques, materials and colour mixing.
“On the first day of the workshop I teach the four elements of creating a picture. They are colour, value, shape and edge. On the second day the students put it all together. The first day is like learning the ingredients and methods of a recipe. The second day we make the chocolate cake, so to speak.”
Youngest member of the group was 16-year-old Shantelle Lusby who says she is passionate about art which she is studying at Dannevirke High School.
Thomson said over the two days the painters had made excellent progress.
“I want these artists to paint how they want to paint, not how I want to paint.”
She said this workshop was special because of the timing.
“It’s good to do something that makes you feel good like painting does, particularly now when we are all worried about coronavirus.”
Taking part in the workshop was Diane Spence who said the course was great.
“Jan is a very good teacher and covers every aspect from the basics right through to doing your own painting.”
Spence said the workshop helped her to understand painting with watercolours.
“It’s very different from other types of painting. It’s a lot softer sort of painting and because it’s done using water the paint reacts in different ways.”
Korimako is the studio/gallery Thomson has established. It’s situated by Lake Rotoiti, just over the Wairau pass. She paints mainly New Zealand landscapes on both oil and watercolour.
Thomson holds regular solo exhibitions as well as exhibiting with the Suter Art Society and is represented at the Van Helden Gallery in Days Bay, Wellington, and Wall to Wall Art in Nelson. She has work held in private collections both in New Zealand and overseas.
“I love to get out and paint in both watercolour and oils, capturing light and mood and getting people to notice places and things we often take for granted.
“I enjoy creating paintings that capture the way I see the world.
“I’m also a gardener, making a garden from scratch over the past couple of years. Sometimes painting and gardening overlap.”
When at home Thomson holds workshops for small groups of painters in her studio which allows her to give everyone plenty of tuition time. She says she is also happy to do one-on-one tutoring and conduct workshops with a special emphasis such as plein air which is painting outdoors.