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| Anna-Marie Kingsley - Artist Biography |
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Anna-Marie has been painting since 2005. Working exclusively in acrylics her main focus for the first two years was ‘kitchen art’. She also loved painting nudes and farmers; although not necessarily farmers in the nude.
Since mid 2007 Anna-Marie changed her focus and expanded into what she defines as ‘bloke art’.
Anna-Marie’s first ‘bloke art’ painting of a container of empty Tui and Export Gold bottles left over from a BBQ, is now hanging in the office of the Managing Director of Dominon Breweries.
(This painting is featured in Anna-Marie's artist profile in Denis Robinson's latest book "New Zealand's Favourite Artists 2".)
“I often feel like I should be apologising that I don’t paint from my soul or that I’m not constantly filled with dark tortured artistic angst, but I think that if you are determined to have a successful career in art then considering your potential buyers is definitely going to help.”
She is privileged to have access to a fantastic supply of ‘bloke art’ subjects via her father-in-laws sheds on the family farm. These are early 1900’s real bloke sheds, with one small grimy window, and a dim light bulb that does nothing for illumination, just adds depth to the shadows. There is a thick layer of black encrusted greasy dust over the benches and every available space is crammed with ancient nail boxes filled with antique tools, bolts, old chain, and taps. Even the huge spider webs have character. Anna-Marie sources her next painting subject armed with a torch and a big stick.
“I look at every possible subject and often think that would make a really cool painting because of the texture and colour combination, but I have to keep going back to the fundamental questions ‘Is this subject going to mean something to the potential buyer?’ More specifically ‘Is the painting going to invoke memories of being beside Dad or Grandad in the shed doing real bloke stuff?’”
In conjunction with fellow artists, Jane Giles and Paulette Harris, Anna-Marie runs the expanding Wai Art Group, and is a founder and trustee on the Wai Art Trust board.
Anna-Marie resides in rural Carterton on 60 acres with her very supportive husband Malcolm Batchelor, and their son Allen (born in 2003). When she is not painting, Anna-Marie is busy planting native trees.
Anna-Marie's next exhibition is being held at Aratoi in Masterton, opening October 2009.
Exhibition Awards:
- 2010 First - Duxton ArtAwards and Exhibition (Tapestry Series 3)
- 2009 Highly Commended - Wairarapa Review VI (Tapestry series 1)
- 2009 Merit - Rotary Paraparaumu Art Show - Still Life section (Tapp Twinns)
- 2009 First - Macalister Award (Golden Wedding)
- 2009 First - Wai Art Awards (Grandad's Shed series 16)
- 2009 Second - Peters Doig Marlborough Art Awards (Grandad's Shed series 9)
- 2009 Highly Commended - Wai Art Portrait Awards (Him Outdoors)
- 2009 Selected - New Zealand Painting and Printmaking Awards (Grandad's Shed series 3)
- 2008 Finalist (1 of 5) - McAlister Art Awards (Speights Old Dark)
- 2007 Highly Commended - Wai Art Awards (Taps)
- 2007 Highly Commended - Wai Art Awards (Wood Planes)
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