I’m an art lover. I buy art, and sell my own art. 

My wee cottage is small. Arguably too small to live and work in.  It has too few walls to display all the incredible art I’ve collected over the years. I hope to it do justice here by profiling the amazing artists with their work. I express my gratitude to the artists for bringing me joy through their art. Thankyou!

In this blog I write about other New Zealand Artists who have influenced me, their different styles and mediums, and why I purchased their painting, print or artwork.

Time allowing I’ll do my best to add an artist and artwork every few weeks.

Some of the art and artists I’ll profile in no particular order are;

Simon Raine  Tame Iti  Catherine Roberts
Darcy Nicolas  Robyn Kahukiwa  Bernard Winkels
Caroline Beaufort Nestor Opetaia Walter Churton
Julia Bromley Lee-Ann Dixon Peter Deckers
Helen Casey Solomon Daniel
 Bevan Taka

Disclaimer: Opinions are not facts.  What I write here is my own opinion born from my own experience.   IMO is an acronym for in my opinion.

How does Art Influence people?

Art isn’t necessarily just what I see or hear, although both are contributing factors … Art is what I feel, when the art connects with my senses.

Many people buy art because it reminds them, or their senses - of something. And the connection awakens within. 

Darcy Nicolas’s paintings are a good example of evoking my senses and feelings. 

Darcy was the first artist who helped me connect with and understand wairua. His 1980’s and early 90’s paintings had a beautiful dark depth in which ghost saints and shadow selves hauntingly revealed themselves.  His work described what I felt, as a person who walked with the dead all around me. No one else knew.  But I did. And Darcys paintings evoked an unusual sense of familiarity in me. My first epiphany art moment was when I saw a Darcy Nicolas painting in the flesh – not out of a borrowed library book.  Shout outs to my fellow Whitireia Art College classmate Nestor Opetaia.  Our eyes landed on the Darcy painting in unison and we both inhaled sharply.

Prints & Paintings

I’ll also address different types of mediums and paintings and some prints too. Artists often sell prints of their paintings as supplementary income.  Prints are essentially copies, mostly with large print runs - so they really don’t have any value.  There are some exceptions though.  Such as an AP (Artists Proof) or EV (Edition Variable) or a block print on genuine Tapa cloth.  I’ll add some more information about prints next to the artists’ profiles.  I’ve only ever purchased two prints, both by Robyn Kahukiwa, both second hand. But I also have a stunning Caroline Beaufort who also painted into her prints, and a Soloman Daniel Pacifica block print.

Artist Copyright

Please remember that even if you have purchased a painting or artwork - you do not own the copyright, the artist does. 

Māori Art

Many artists still culturally misappropriate Māori art, without the tikanga or understanding of what the Koru and patterns mean. Māori patterns tell stories of different tribal histories which have been passed down through many, many generations and hold deep spiritual and ancestral meaning for Māori. Please don’t do it, it’s considered tapu and a pretty shitty thing to do really.  Everybody has their own cultural identity. It’s up to us to do our own mahi around our whakapapa.

Also please don’t buy Māori art if it hasn’t been created by a Te Ao Māori artist. Māori have had too much stolen already, it’s not ok to steal their art too.  In buying fake Māori art –the buyer becomes an accessory after the fact. If you’re not sure, research the artist and artwork.  Ask about provenance and cultural significance before buying.

Art Buyers

I think you can tell a lot about a person through art in their homes. IMO those who don’t feel, don’t naturally make or buy art either. Often those who are considered sensitive or empathic have beautiful and well-connected art.  Whereas the super wealthy collect art to reflect quantity investment, but they don’t necessarily have any connection to art other than monetary value.  If you’re not naturally empathic but would like to purchase art, try reaching out to artists directly to form a connection. Tell them a budget and what you’d like and why.  Most artists act intuitively as a conduit between senses and creation.  Sometimes I am known to channel messages for people through my art, even though I don’t necessarily understand the why or what, I simply roll with what is happening on the canvas.

The first and most recent painting that influenced me;

Simon Raine – New Beginnings 2024. 

Oil painting, framed on box canvas 60cms x60cms $650.

I spotted this oil painting upstairs at the Art Loft Gallery in Taranaki and immediately fell in love with its ethereal beauty. It reminded me of the abstract beach sunset I’d photographed the evening before when light refracted over the volcanic black sand. Nothing quite like it really, simply breathtaking. Photos below, including a photo of me taking the photos. 

Simon was painting in situ at the Art Loft.  He said he intended to add significantly more to the painting and mentioned refractions. The sweet, synchronized serendipity just blew me away and I instantly connected to the work.  To me, the painting looked finished. I was stoked when Simon graciously allowed me to buy it as it was.   It sits above my desk at work, and brings me joy every day, thank you Simon!  

Taranaki has a magnificent and wonderfully unpretentious art scene. The art there is raw and real, and it’s done with love and so much community support, which is refreshing and comforting to see.  If you haven’t been to the Art Loft or done the arts trail and galleries in Taranaki - please do.  

I must also mention the outstanding eateries and restaurants – there’s top quality dining in New Plymouth.  It’s a great place for a romantic or family getaway, a surf, or rock climb… The waterfront, river, and many stunning walks and gardens are just beautiful. As a destination Taranaki punches so far above its weight. It would be rude of me to keep this enchanting place a secret.

Tame Iti – Untitled 2016.

Acrylic Painting on thick black bitumen drawing paper 30cms x 23cms $350 purchased second hand.

Tame is of Of Ngāi Tūhoe descent and I have been a huge fan of Tame Iti since I learnt of his (allegedly) wrongful arrest. Through friends, I know two of the other so called terrorists who were also arrested. Both are wonderful, kindhearted and peaceful people. They were arrested on ridiculous charges trussed up as terrorism. A total circus, all on the taxpayer’s purse. 

The racialized raids at Tūhoe were indefensible. Another stain on the level of freedoms of different peoples - afforded by small groups who pretend it’s not called racist subjugation, instead it is called the law.  Don’t get me wrong, we need laws, but they must be written by, and in representation of - all people. Rather than stale pale males. I mean the most incredible Māori women were completely written out of white New Zealand history. Take Waitohi, the eldest sister of Te Rauparaha, she was a distinguished leader of Ngāti Toa and Ngāti Raukawa tribes and mother of Te Rangihaeata.  Or the fact white coloniser men refused to allow leading female Tribal Chiefs to sign Ti Tiritu / The Treaty of Waitangi.

IMO New Zealand hasn’t become more racist; it’s always been racist. Racism is abuse. It can come in the form of harassment, humiliation, exploitation, mistreatment, violence and intimidating behaviour. For example, I was raised in an abusive and violent home. I learnt during therapy that abuse is all about dominance and control.  If I was submissive to the abusers - things would be ok. But as I grew up and developed independence and gained autonomy, I was no longer submissive. Thinking for myself was a threat to their dominance and control. During therapy I also learnt that abusers know exactly what they’re doing. Sound familiar? IMO New Zealand isn’t descending into racism; I think it’s emerging from it. Now that there’s enough of us who recognise abuse, we pose a real threat to abuser control.  So now is not the time to lose hope!  There are more of us emerging from submission. Together we are powerful. Some people will never get this because they haven’t done the mahi on themselves or don’t understand New Zealand’s abusive history toward Māori.  New Zealand history has been inaccurately recorded by colonist white men.

I support Te Tiriti. 

But back to Tame, well he went on the daft voyage the crown forcibly sent him on, which was prison. I love it that Tame is reported as a model prisoner. Of course he was. He’s a Māori man who advocates against racism and abuse through his art. Which has gone from strength to strength. Tame is an activist, an artist and a shithot filmmaker and I’m a huge fan. I look at his work and feel it in my soul.

Big ups Tame Iti!

Robyn Kahukiwa - Wahine Moko 2013 on left and Mana Wahine 2003 on right.

I purchased these two prints second hand, and I treasure them. Robyn is my hero; she’s a painter and illustrator who lives on the Kapiti Coast and of Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Ngāti Hau, Ngāti Konohi, Te Whānau-a-Ruataupare, and Te Whānau-a-Te Aotawarirangi descent.

The Wahine Moko Print is pictured on the left below. I love the simplicity and starkly strong portrait of the wahine / woman with two huia feathers in her hair.  

In pre-European times the huia bird was regarded by Māori as tapu / sacred, and the wearing of its feathers was reserved for people of high status or mana. In a culture without money, tribes occupying the North Island where the huia lived - sent the feathers as gifts or traded them with other tribes for taonga / treasures like greenstone / pounamu. 

The Huia bird feathers were prized by both Māori and Pākehā. Māori were the first to try and save the huia from extinction. Legislation was passed in 1892 to stop hunting the birds, but it was too late. Tail feathers became fashionable in Britain after the Duke of York was photographed wearing one during a 1901 visit to New Zealand. The last known sighting of the Huia birds was in December 1907. Huia feathers are now some of the most valuable in the world. 

For me this Wahine Moko print signifies the existential value of strong wahine / women.

The numbers 69/400 at the bottom of the image - mean that this is number 69 of a print run of 400 prints.  So, 400 prints were made in this print run.  It looks like a block print to me, because the paper is beautifully handmade, but could potentially be a screenprint or lithograph. The ’13 at the bottom right, means the print run was in 2013.  But there may have been many print runs. I do know this image was produced in 2003 – so there could have been 1000’s of prints made.

My understanding is Robyn prints everything by hand.

Mana Wahine pictured on the right was purchased second hand from Soul Sisters Kombucha, which used to be on Cuba Street. Best Kombucha in the world both healing and delicious rongoā māori.

Being a proud single parent myself - Mana Wahine is super symbolic for me, especially with wee boy and girl attached via umbilical cord. This print is 88/200, so number 88 of a print run of 200 – the ’03 means it was printed in 2003. It also looks like a block print to me, because the beautifully crafted paper is handmade, but also could be a screenprint, or lithograph.

I love looking at these two pieces of art every day.  They inspire me.

The first time I saw a Robyn Kahukiwa artwork I was a young girl.  I was instantly mesmerized by the simplicity of her work and it's deeply enriched symbolism. But my jaw dropped when my teacher told me Robyn was female – the first women artist I’d seen anywhere, ever.  An actual woman!

Say what you like, but it’s been a man’s world and women’s contribution have largely been written out of history.  Either that or a dude has taken credit. After the 1970’s some female artists only started to be given some of the recognition they deserve.  

It might have been 9 September 1893 when the governor Lord Glasgow signed a new Electoral Act into law, and women got the right vote, but the younger generation coming through don't really seem to comprehend wahine history. 

To me, Robyn’s art is a time stamp and accurately records history from wahine perspective.  

IMO NZ history is skewed because it’s mostly written by white men for white men. There’s not been equity.  Women have been excluded and even today remain unrepresented in all areas that matter.

It wasn’t until after 1974 New Zealand women could get bank loan or mortgage in their own right.  The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) of 1974 outlawed discrimination against loan applicants based on sex, marital status, or family status.  But even in the 1980s, single women were often denied mortgages or loans or only allowed them if a male relative guaranteed the loan. But women, and Māori in particular, were largely locked out of the New Zealand loan / housing market until the 1990s. 

It’s only 50 years ago since the Equal Pay Act was passed, yet today - women are still paid less than men for the same job. 

New Zealand’s got a long way to go to address its misogynism.  That said, any of the ‘isms’ are a societal issue, and we are all responsible. We can do better. Even though we have made amazing strides towards equity, our nation is not yet the egalitarian society it can be.

It’s no wonder de-centring of some men is occurring.  Hopefully those who should step up - do, rather than avoid their collective responsibility. Men should be happy women are only asking for equity, rather than revenge... lols.  I remain eternally optimistic. If you're like many victims of emotional, psychological, physical and sexual abuse, it may be hard to believe that there are good and healthy men out there – but here's the truth: good men really do exist. Quick, let’s chuck them in a petri dish and clone ‘em!

Next, I profile another wonderful man!

Bernard Winkels; www.berniewinkels.com

Bernie is my fav.  He is a hugely talented painter, potter, ceramic artist and craftsman. We’ve enjoyed a wonderful enduring friendship since Art College days. The first time I met Bernie; we were waiting in a lengthy and stationary queue. He made constructive use of the wait by laying down and stretching out on the ground. Unique in a long line of people, but he had a bad back from his drain laying days. 

Bernie is an exuberant, fun and super kind and caring tāne. I’ve always loved his art because of his unique perspective, the inner child nascent quality it has, and his ability to make me laugh out loud, proper snort chuckles.

Bernie’s long-time partner Maelyn is also a fabulous artist too.  I always remember the beautiful honeycomb heart painting Bernie did for Maelyn, during his bee keeping days. Or his exquisitely detailed meat and sausages oil paintings.  Was quite surprised to see the exact replica of Bernies artistic sausages appear on Thunderpants NZ underwear in 2016. My daughter and I instantly recognised Bernies distinctive artwork.

In the photograph above, image on far left is a quick draw McGraw painting I did of Bernie stretching in the mid 90’s. The middle photo shows a Stetson wearing youthful Bernie (but always waaay older than me) during his paper cup rustling days at art college. On the far right Bernies phenomenal big apple work.

I have many of Bernies pottery pieces and wall tiles, but in the photo below I’ve profiled his cute wee ceramic TV or television set complete with antennae, together with his pizza piece paintings on hardboard. I had those framed, as they weirdly reminded me of Mana Island, and I love all the cylindric and spikes in undulating forms.