Featured Artist - Kimbra Taylor
Kimbra was born in Campbells Bay, Auckland. She attended Campbells Bay School, which she remembers had a magnificent view of the ocean and Rangitoto Island.
”I remember loving the big fat crayons and doing plenty of art” - explains Kimbra
Her earliest art memory is when she was only four years old, and her parents bought Kimbra a set of oil pastels and sat her down at the coffee table with a book open at a beautiful Van Gogh painting.
“They told me to copy it. I went into a right hemispheric state of bliss that I have never forgotten and it gave me a passion and love for drawing and painting that is still with me.” - Kimbra shares
Education
Kimbra has a Diploma in Visual Communications from the Wellington School of Design and a teacher's certificate.
“I worked in an advertising agency as an illustrator and visualiser, The Evening Post as an illustrator and then became a freelance illustrator. I worked with Thomas Nelson publishing firm and illustrated many children's books. One of the paintings from a book I illustrated was given to the author for her birthday. I felt very honoured and delighted to be able to share this with her as a gift.” Kimbra shares
Supporters
Kimbra was fortunate to have very encouraging parents who gave her the materials and opportunities to draw and paint.
”They were very supportive of my decision to be a commercial artist. Several artists supported and inspired me, and I have had the privilege of drawing and painting with artists over the years. Alfred Memelink at Artspace Petone always shows and supports my work, as does Maude at Artel. I am very grateful for this.” - Kimbra explains.
Small sample of Kimbra’s Artwork
Current Projects
“Currently I am drawing outside with an artist friend using graphite pencils. This is a great pleasure and there really is nothing like sitting outside drawing trees, grass and sky as they move in the breeze, not to mention cows who don't stand still. I have to use my visual memory to draw them very quickly!”
“I am formulating a direction forward with bird paintings and coloured backgrounds merging into them when we are settled in our new home.” Kimbra shares
Marketing her Business
Kimbra is based in Whitby but will move back to Paraparaumu in August. In terms of marketing, Kimbra mainly uses Facebook and Instagram to market her business"..
Kimbra is also a member of the Content Collective here in New Zealand. You can find out more about the collective at https://www.contentcollective.live/
Tips for Aspiring Artists
“Don't give up! Set an intention and keep working towards it, no matter what. A work ethic and art practice come from showing up to the drawing board and putting in the hours. Connect with other artists as much as possible and do workshops and courses to hone your craft.” - Advises Kimbra.
Find more of her work and Contact Kimbra via her website artworks.kiwi
Interview and Article by Tony Cutting
For Aotearoa Today
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Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.