SALLY BLYTHArtist’s Statement

Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, I am a self-taught artist living in Auckland. I call myself a Creativationist – my self-coined term for those who embrace creativity, inspiration, innovation, motivation and intuition … those who love to explore beyond the known to create the exceptional …

Throughout life, I have explored many forms of art and craft, from calligraphy to decoupage to glass painting, mask-design and more. Years spent living, working and travelling across the world have given me immense inspiration and I am constantly exploring new creative avenues. I love sourcing ideas and materials for my artworks, and devising innovative ways of interpreting and using them.

After investing many years in creative pursuits, it wasn’t until January 2003 that I first seriously put brush to canvas. I sold my first two paintings within 24 hours of painting them … and with elation, I haven’t stopped painting since! It was basically as a hobby until May 2006, at which time I left employment to pursue my Creativation on a more serious level, and to combine it with my Facilitation work.

This has been a successful and rewarding move. I held my first solo exhibition in December 2007 and have participated in numerous group exhibitions, as well as enjoying recent success in various art awards (see below).

When I create, I enjoy playing with colour and texture, and exploring the effects of light and movement. I use acrylic, oils and mixed media on both canvas and board … and sometimes other more unusual backgrounds, including kwila panels where I incorporate using wood stains. I particularly like using metallic and interference paints, to give a hint of iridescence and glow. Including the odd subtle touch and embellishment here and there adds a touch of mystique … I like people to look beyond their first glance of the artwork.

My painting style is, by design, very diverse. I started off painting sea, sky and nature, which remain predominant themes. I like to incorporate familiar New Zealand and Pacific flavours and my aim with these paintings is to induce the myriad of feelings that being near the coast or the mountains brings. The rich blue and turquoise colours of the ocean provide the basis for much of my earlier work. I also enjoy using tonal browns, sepias, creams and reds.

I particularly enjoy painting abstract works and had a wonderful time exploring this style further during an art course in France in Sept 2006. Abstract has since become a strong focus as it offers such huge scope for creative play. Painting “nothing at all” is great fun! Combining sgraffito effect with words and texture, and sometimes a hint of realism, within an abstract context, is what I am currently exploring.

Additionally, I love using inks in monochrome, with a trace of colour and adore the sense of play and freedom that this medium allows. I find it hard to drag myself away from my inks table, and no doubt this love affair with inks can be linked back to my passion for calligraphy.

When the mood takes me, and I find the right subject, I paint portraits and people, in both realistic and quirky styles.

In tandem with my painting, I love to create unique one-off masks that are available for sale. I also make them to order. Some masks are designed to be worn, others are designed specifically as wall decorations. I enjoy running mask-making workshops, guiding people to create their own spectacular masks. This is especially successful and enjoyable with classroom groups of children.

My artwork is sold by word-of-mouth and referral, also at various exhibitions and art sales, as well as through several retail outlets. I also receive regular commissions.

I have a home studio, which is my haven. My two sons keep me busy when I'm not painting - and inspired when I am ! - as does my work as a facilitator, which I do in tandem with my art. Needless to say, my facilitation work has a large creative element within it.

March 2008

STUDY HISTORY

I am self-taught, although I have done a number of short courses and workshops over the years, along with hours of absorption, experimentation and integrated learning.

In September 2006 I undertook an intensive one-week abstract art course with a French artist (Elisabeth Poiret). This was held in a small village in south-west France. A wonderful experience, with lots of creative exploration and learning.

Different cultures and countries are important elements of my creative inspiration, and I journey to places as regularly as possible to capture, first-hand, the atmosphere of a certain place in the world.

EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS & OUTLETS

  • 2008 Royal New Zealand Easter Show: Gained three placings … 2nd (Abstract), 3rd (Small Art) and 4th (Open). Sold five works (800 artworks exhibited)
  • The NZ Art Guild Annual Art Awards 2008: Two pieces accepted as Finalists and exhibited at Bruce Mason Centre throughout February 2008. (NB: 48 pieces selected for exhibition, from over 200 paintings submitted, with 16 of these being selected as Finalists).
  • Snells Beach Art Exhibition, New Year 2008 –Merit Certificate and sales
  • “Beyond the Crossroads” Solo Exhibition, Small Dog Gallery, Depot Artspace, Devonport, Auckland, 8th-20th December 2007 – a very successful exhibition.
  • Finalist: Gordon Harris/Winsor & Newton “Opera Rose” art competition, 2007
  • The Original Art Sale: successful sales over several years
    - 2005 – Eden Park
    - 2006 – Eden Park
    - 2007 - Telstra Pacific Events Centre
    Have entered again for 2008
  • Member of The Depot Artspace, Devonport, participate in their various members’ exhibitions, and have sold successfully through the Tardis Gallery.
  • Hold an annual private exhibition (since 2003) and each has been a successful event.
  • Sell artwork through several shop/café outlets, and have sold my paintings at various markets over the years.
  • Regularly receive commissions from people who have seen my work, including large commissions for motels etc.

OTHER ART-RELATED INFO

  • Member: The NZ Art Guild
  • Member: Artists’ Alliance
  • Member: The Depot Artspace, Devonport
  • Associate member of the NZ Fellowship of Artists, and regularly attend demonstrations.
  • Regularly network with other artists to exchange ideas, information and techniques, and to enhance inspiration and motivation.
  • Run Creativation workshops and mask-making workshops for adults and children, passing on my knowledge and encouraging creativity.

Sally Blyth Ph: 09-520 1199 Mob: 021-480323