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Beyond the Brushstrokes: Discovering Jane Reid's Artistic Evolution
Russley Events
I have exhibited with Arts Canterbury quite a few times over the past two years, but not at The Russley Village. I am really looking forward to the exhibition. I have been working on a few new pieces that will be shared publicly for the first time at The Russley Village, so it will be great to get some feedback.
I have painted and drawn as far back as I can remember but didn’t exhibit or really share what I was doing until 2021 when I finally felt brave enough to enter the Kaiapoi Art Expo. I won the People’s Choice at that event, which gave me a real boost in confidence. Since then, I have joined Arts Canterbury and exhibit regularly with this amazing community.
In the past two years, I have won a second People’s Choice and a Juror’s Award at further exhibitions and was a finalist in the Ashburton Zonta Female Art Awards 2023. I now work part time and paint much more often, creating the art I show at exhibitions and taking on private commissions. I am a self-taught artist and have worked in watercolours, acrylic and more recently (and most often now) in my favourite medium oil paints.
I probably paint mostly in a realistic style. I love finding and painting the secret little details and colour variations of a scene and tend to use fine brushes and careful paint layering to create something with depth. I sometimes get told certain paintings look like a photo, but that is not my aim and if you look closely the colours and brush marks become quite nicely abstract. I walk with my dog daily and always take my camera to photograph the wild grasses, yarrow and other ‘weeds' we see on our walks – despite looking a little odd on occasion, I’m sure! I am constantly inspired by the sort of ordinary beauty you come across while out and about and might find in items you have around the house. I also really enjoy the challenge of commission painting as it often means painting something I haven’t thought to paint before.
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to spend time doing something I adore. It is wonderful to belong to the supportive Arts Canterbury community and to have opportunities to exhibit somewhere like The Russley Village!
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