Emerald Bamboo

Sally Simpson
Sally was a late starter in the painting stakes, and is mostly self taught in the abstract field, so her work is all her own, hopefully unaffected by anyone else's ideas, rules or restrictions.

In the landscape area she has enjoyed wonderful tutoring from some very successful artists. Coming from a family of wonderful artists she has a tough act to follow.

Sally's paintings tend to zoom across the canvas in bright streaks of colour - nothing dull or boring here. She works mostly in the peace and quiet of her garden studio in Hawkes Bay, and occasionally in the studio at NZ Arts Schools in Lower Hutt. She also tutors, teaching beginners the basics of working in abstract.

Sally likes to experiment with many different materials to add a textured element to the abstract work. This often results in unexpected effects when the light changes, creating an interesting and everchanging look.

First and foremost, Sally paints for her own satisfaction and it is an added delightful bonus if someone else likes what she has created. Sally uses Resene primer as a basecoat on most of her paintings, both on canvas and board. It is especially important with painting on MDF board that the board is completely enclosed in paint to avoid the board in a steamy house swelling and dislodging the artistic paintwork.

Often Resene Lumbersider and sometimes Resene testpot paint form the first coat of colour on her paintings, both oil and acrylic, providing good coverage with a single coat to ensure that no annoying little bits of white canvas peep through finished works.

And as Sally says "Enjoy my paintings, laugh if they make you happy, walk away if they don't."

Artist: Sally Simpson