Artists

ARTISTS

Harley betts

About Harley Betts

Harley is a self-taught outdoor photographer whose work is inspired by the diverse and spectacular New Zealand landscape. Over several years he has collected thousands of images from all over New Zealand, and has become increasingly recognised for the high calibre of his landscape photography.

He has contributed his work to numerous New Zealand calendars, books and postcards, and his first New Zealand coastal calendar was launched in 2004. His move into medium format photography in the late 1990s helped him to expand on his ability to capture images of the highest detail, and this became the basis for his decision in 2003 to start working with large, high-quality prints of his work.

As well as having an extensive collection of New Zealand outdoor photography, he has photographed scenes from parts of the Southern Ocean, Tasmania, South America and the Ross Sea region in Antarctica, and has given public talks to numerous clubs and organisations about these places.

What originally began as a casual hobby for Harley has now become an irreversible lifetime passion:

Beth McGill

Artist profile

What I paint reflects the many views and visions that come into my mind inspired from nature. New Zealand iconic forms from flora and fauna, decorative patterning and moody and suggestive scenes that convey something more beyond that which is shown. Bright vibrant colours to lighter softer tones.It covers the many different facets of nature and what it has to offer for all to enjoy.Born in Palmerston North I have spent much of my life here as a child and now as an adult with a family of my own. I have completed my Diploma with Honors in Art and Creativity in September 2007. My first exhibition was in 2004 with a friend and since then I have had a contract with Te Papa for a children’s interactive, had two solo exhibitions and have also been part of numerous displays and group exhibitions, including the 2008 Affordable Art Show, of which l made a sale, as well as attracting commissions from New Zealand and Australia.My approach to art is both planned and intuitive; I express my ideas over a range of materials. Acrylic and oil paint, Indian ink, soft pastel, mixed media and sculpture in Oamaru stone.I welcome commissions.

Lisa Taylor

Biography:
Born in Timaru and raised in the Manawatu. Lisa is a self-taught artist and although she has never had any professional training, has a natural creative ability along with an eye for colour and style.
In 2004 Lisa decided to focus her energy on painting, and discovered a new and exciting way to express her love of colour, texture and form. Her use of these components express well her passion for life and the love of beautiful things.
Lisas work is contemporary in style. She enjoys using acrylics with the aid of texturing compound in her abstract pieces. She has a variation of artistic styles which depend on her mood and are painted to capture the moment.
Lisa aims to create pieces that stimulate and inspire the viewer, whilst being easy on the eye and enhancing the atmosphere of the room in which they are displayed.
She has work displayed in private and corporate collections around New Zealand. Sold through galleries and via the Internet, they can be viewed at King & Teppett Interior Design in Palmerston North, as well as the Living Channel, TVNZ Channel 8.


	Media:	Painting
	Region:	Manawatu
	Born:	1968
	Commissions:	yes

Mary Taylor:

Biography:

Mary Taylor is a New Zealand artist, born in Devonport. Educated at Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland University and Massey University, she was formerly a teacher. She has worked as a professional, full-time artist since 1983.

Mary exhibits and sells her work throughout New Zealand. Her work is held in collections in New Zealand and other countries.

She produces limited edition, hand-coloured etchings and relief block images.

She paints in oils, acrylics and water-colours. Her picture book Old Blue: The Rarest Bird in the World won a national non-fiction award.

Mary lives and works on Auckland’s west coast in a wilderness area of exceptional beauty, of lush forest and rugged coastline. Mary’s work draws inspiration and subject matter from New Zealand’s urban life, from its unique native flora and fauna, landscape, seascape and pristine wilderness. Her work is featured in New Zealand’s Favourite Artists (ed Denis Robinson, 2006). The Etching Process

The design is drawn through a dark varnish on to prepared zinc plate. Metal needles are used for the drawing. When the first lines are ready, the plate is immersed in a solution of nitric acid and the acid bites away (etches) the exposed parts of the plate. This process is repeated many times.

Some etchings include aquatint. This involves showering the prepared plate with finely-powdered resin, baking it so that it fuses with the metal, then immersing the plate in acid. Areas that require gradation may be scraped back and burnished.

A fine quality acid-free paper is soaked in water. The metal plate is carefully inked with special printing ink. When ready the plate is placed on the bed of the etching press and the damp paper laid on top. Then the two are rolled through together. An impression is transferred from the plate to the paper. Each time a print is pulled, the plate must be inked afresh. The paper is pressed flat as it slowly dries over a number of days. Each etching may then be hand-coloured by the artist. The process is time-consuming and manual. Each etching will vary from others in the edition and is an original work of art. Relief Blocks When a block is carved only the raised part, which is left in relief, transfers the image.

Mary Taylor’s relief blocks are printed from carved linoleum. Each image is individually printed and then hand-painted. Mary favours the use of a strong, dark key block, influenced by both Japanese woodblock tradition and stained-glass art.