Featured Artist: Julie Whyman

Julie Whyman is an established artist based in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

Julie enjoys working with a variety of tools, mediums and techniques, in particular acrylic and pastel. She first picked up a paintbrush after giving up her corporate career to start a family, and through practice and exploration discovered her natural ability for painting. She is attracted to vibrant colours and forms found in nature, and sources inspiration from her natural surroundings and the interrelationship between people and nature.

Julie's work is held in private collections throughout New Zealand, America and Germany, and she participates regularly in exhibitions and art shows around the country.

Julie tells us about her paintings, her techniques and where she finds inspiration. She says:

"My paintings are a combination of real life, images I capture and my imagination. I enjoy experimenting with texture, colour and paint, learning new techniques and producing work that is varied and surprising. I work with acrylics, and a variety of grounds and mediums to add interest and depth. While the brush features, I enjoy using a variety of tools. My style is constantly evolving and changing as new ideas emerge.

I enjoy exploring the interrelationship of nature, spirituality and people. Painting gives me the satisfaction of creating balance and vibrancy, colour and form. I am fascinated by birds, trees and the changing light of seasons and often an idea is presented to me by nature, leading to a series of paintings exploring this theme. While I find inspiration in the rolling green and treed Waikato landscape, I am also inspired by the Coromandel Peninsula where I spend most of my weekends and holidays.

I also paint portraits, mainly by commission. These paintings give me the opportunity to directly copy what me eye sees, refining a different set of skills."

We love having Julie's work in the gallery as she generates intriguing moods and her signature palette of colours create a calming atmosphere. Her level of technical skill is evident particularly her portraiture works and add a unique dimension to our exhibitions. Make sure you visit The Little Gallery to check out our new feature wall which is displaying a number of Julie's works!

 

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