Julie Duncan spends plenty of time encouraging other artists to have confidence in their work, so it was a lovely surprise when the SIT Gore campus Art for Leisure facilitator received some significant recognition of her own.
The Gore artist won the First Prize Overall at the 48th Wānaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition for her painting Regal Tūī. The exhibition, held at the Lake Wānaka Centre, is the cornerstone annual event for Wānaka Arts and attracted more than 80 artists this year.
Julie estimated there were about 150 entries in the exhibition, with artists able to submit multiple works. She entered three fine-art still-life paintings, designed as a cohesive group featuring silver bowls, flowers and birds. The winning work, Regal Tūī, features a tūī perched on a silver filigree bowl.
Julie, who is an artist in her own right as well as facilitating the thriving Art for Leisure class at SIT Gore campus, said the recognition meant more than the $3,000 prize. “It’s just the kudos more than the money.”
“The judges had some lovely comments on it: perfect composition, skilful paint work, a well-balanced painting and eye-catching subject, which I felt was good because it vali-dates that I knew what I was painting.”
The prize money will inevitably find its way back into her work. “It always goes back into art. It always does. That’s what I do with my life…”
Julie said the three works took around two to three months to develop, with the detailed paintings built up in layers and regularly put aside before she returned to them with fresh eyes. “If you smile, it’s finished; you’ll know. If you’re not smiling, you know it’s not ready.”
That knowledge and experience is something Julie brings directly to the artists she works alongside at SIT Gore campus, particularly around composition and the structure of a painting.
But just as important to her is creating an environment where people at different stages of their artistic journey feel comfortable making art together.
“We all feed off each other when you’ve got a group of people together,” she said describing the fellowship amongst the group. “… being like-minded, everybody valuing the creative side of things, seeing what’s new and sharing information.”
The dedicated studio environment also gives class members the chance to leave everyday distractions behind and concentrate completely on their work.
“If you’re painting in an atmosphere like this, you’re not at home where you’ve got to get up and wash the dishes. You can totally focus on your art.”
The welcoming approach of the class is summed up simply by Julie: “Everybody’s perfect in their own way. Everybody is talented in their own way.”
That welcoming philosophy was also on display recently when SIT Gore campus opened its doors as part of the Murihiku Arts Trail.
Julie said the response had been “absolutely wonderful”, with an estimated 80 to 100 people visiting the Gore campus (31st October – 1st November) to view and purchase art works.
“We had so many people through our studios and through SIT here. It was just fabulous, and hopefully a few more people enrol, so that’s lovely.”
She said opening the campus allowed people to see first-hand what happens within the art class and the wider creative community surrounding it.
“If I’m working here, I will always open it up for people to see what we’re doing. It’s wonderful.”
That connection to people is an important part of what art is all about, Julie says.
“It doesn’t always have to be teaching people. The classes here could be just being amongst like-minded people.”