Art Collection

It would be a strange artist that didn't enjoy and collect art!

I treasure every piece I have collected. The value I place on the pieces I have is different to anything else I own or have purchased. They are in a class of their own and I love every artwork. 

I initially planned to collect purely watercolours, as its the medium I am dedicated to, and have always loved, both to look at and to work with. This has expanded to collecting works on paper....but I have an oil based artist I am keeping a close eye on, among several watercolorists of course.  

One of the first works I purchased was by Alvaro Castagnet, an incredible watercolourist, and a very entertaining tutor. I attended a workshop with him in Auckland several years ago, and watched him paint the piece en plein air. Towards the middle of the painting it looked to me as if it was all going wrong, and I felt worried for the artist. However, with a few strokes he pulled it all together, and produced something utterly fabulous. I think he sold all the pieces he produced during the weekend, and numerous he brought along with him.

I always like it when students buy work at the end of one of my classes, there is something really special about owning a piece of art you have seen being created. 

I attended another of his workshops recently, this time in Melbourne, and spent a thoroughly enjoyable and inspirational 3 days painting with Alvaro. 

I first saw the work of Lorene Taurerewa (a kiwi artist living in NYC) in the Pah Homestead / Wallace Collection, and it left a huge impression on me. Monumental charcoal works like nothing I had ever seen before. After a bit of research I discovered she also did watercolours, and that led to my first online art purchase. When it arrived it was very exciting to see the piece I had bought, and it is so much better than its photo. I was thrilled to bits ( ; 

Last year I bought a gorgeous piece by a local printmaker Esther Hansen, and just this weekend we both attended an art class together at Whitecliffe College and Arts and Design.

At the Franklin Arts Festival I bought an intriguing watercolour by Lizzie Crosbie, a local artist and current Whitecliffe student. It's exciting to see watercolours being used in new and exciting ways.

A few months later I attended Haiku poet Norah Johnsons first art exhibition opening, and selected this piece called 'family'. The gallery was filled with these works, but I kept going back to this one over and over again. At a show a couple of years ago one work really made an impact on me. I went home to think about it, and when I returned the next day it had sold. That was a lesson learnt, as that one painting is still firmly etched in my mind, and I still want it!

I'm looking forwards to adding something to my collection this year as I love every piece collected so far. Post a pic of your latest art acquisition if you feel like sharing, it would be lovely to see what has caught your eye and come to live with you!