2008 Finalist, Trust Waikato National Contemporary Art Award, Autumn Reflection, Acrylic on Canvas, 91 x 61 cm
This painting showcases the imagery of the reflections of the trees in the lake in autumn. I was mesmerized by how the beautiful colors were merging and dancing with the flow of water.
2008 Finalist, Wallace Art Award, Life the Universe and Everything Else, Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 60cm
The work I am doing now is about bridging perspectives the far and the close. This takes me to spaces where I exchange perspectives as often as i can, it is part of growing up. From the perspective of the planets in space, beginning with the closest to the furthest from the sun, there is an order that is unexchangable. From Earth near where I am standing right now, people can see their favorite heavenly body because the painting shows all nine planets as well as the Asteroid Belt as the Moon and the Sun. I painted it so that people wanting to space out can gaze at the planets that cannot be seen in real life other than by travelling in space. My motivation is to share these visions with others. I know I have lots to learn. That is why it is important to be mindful of the future and direction I want to take my work and choices to make at each intersection. The planets are on on different orbit at different speeds, so in 2012 the rare event of a planetary alignment will occur. Unlike galactic systems our life are changeable: I picture myself at that point in the future: Where am I? What am I doing?
2009 Finalist, National Youth Art Award, Real Reflection, Acrylic on Canvas on Corrugated Iron, 150 x 70 cm
The question is which is the autumn and which is the reflection ?
2011 Finalist, Eat Your Art Out Uxbridge Award, Sweet As M&M, Acrylic on Canvas, 38 x 76 cm
Eat Your Art Out featured food-inspired artworks by artists from around New Zealand which celebrate the important role food plays in our society. This piece of art titled Sweet As started off with M&M coloring. I projected the image on to plastic and used it to make a lampshade. The painting got whiter after many months as the ants ate the coloring and the sugar leaving the canvas blank. I wasn't expecting the ants to eat my art.
2011 Finalist, National Youth Art Award, Right Bright White Light Night, Acrylic on Canvas, 100 x 80 cm
The title has 5 rhyming words and it is very uncommon of artists to name their art in this manner. The word 'white' of the title is the only word that does not end with 'ight' and is placed in the middle of the title. I feel the word white, although rarely used to describe the night, fits well in this scenario as the brightness of the light emitted by the moon brings out the whiteness of the waves.
2014 - Yesterday Today Tomorrow Brunfelsia Grandiflora, Acrylic on canvas 76 x 76 cm
Brunfelsia Grandiflora is the only plant that I can think about that is named after time. This is a double colored painting with only purples and greens and I find this combination of colors visually pleasing and relaxing.