The month of June will be a real doozy at the Thames Art Gallery, with two different artists on display.
At the northern end of the gallery, Judy Green-Philpott is set to kick off her first ever art exhibition. Judy, who has been part of the art gallery for around two years, began her art expression through cake decorating and “it was just by accident too”, she said.
Her sister was getting married and Judy said she would make the cake for her. “We came up with something that looked pretty good. So I ended up doing more and more and more of them.”
She called it her “creative outlet”, and carried on making cakes in her spare time or on weekends for around 12 years.
After she shifted from Hamilton to Cooks Beach, Judy shifted into painting as her creative outlet. She painted a gift for a friend’s birthday and received encouragement for it, which gave her a reason to try other things, she said.
“My paintings weren’t that flash at the beginning, but they’ve evolved somewhat. Now I do acrylic landscapes, some quite large, some quite small. And I really enjoy it.”
Judy also makes mixed-media collage and tile mosaics. The artist said the biggest lesson she learned through her creative outlet was to “just never give up” and “do what you enjoy”.
At the southern end of the gallery, Christina McTaggart will have her water colour paintings on display.
The thing Christina loves most about watercolours is the way the colours blend. Her specialty is flowers and abstract things, and she doesn’t have a particular method to her painting – whenever she was ready to paint, she said she just sits down and starts.
Christina, who is originally from Singapore, said she grew up in the Catholic Church and was educated by a nun who was also an artist.
“That’s how I got interested in art.”
Around 56 years ago is when Christina moved to New Zealand – a place she now calls home. The most fulfilling thing she said she has received from her art is being able to express her feelings and know she is accepted as an artist.
DETAILS: Judy and Christina’s art will be on display at Thames Art Gallery, 604 Tararu Rd, Thames, from May 1, 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on weekends.
By DAVIDDA HIKATANGATA
