Beating Drizzle

Report by SUE WILD

It defies logic! 18 artists gathered for three days of painting in the great outdoors. The clouds drizzled all day, all night. The 18 artists still had a great time. How could that be?

Fortunately the rain fell vertically - there was no wind. Light drizzle can add texture without totally obliterating colour. Necessity is the mother of invention. You could paint under the back flap of your car or push your umbrella handle down the front of your jacket and crouch under its shelter. You could dry your first wash under the car dashboard with the heater on full or follow Brian Baxter’s crazy example and use a gas-fired blow torch!

You could use a tablet, iPad or even a phone to paint from reference photos snapped en route to Kaikoura, or get fast prints from the local Paper Plus.

But most importantly to our enjoyment, the folk of the Kaikoura Art Society were incredibly welcoming and generous. On arrival we gathered in a local hall, where tables were laid with white cloths and bowls of flowers
and a feast of delicious homemade treats was served by Wendy Smith, Kathy O’Loughlin and their friends.

President Larry Field organised with the Kaikōura Primary School for us to use their hall in adverse weather, which meant all three days. The principal was most enthusiastic about our presence. It fitted with the current school theme of Adventures in Colour and groups of children came through to see artists at work and appreciate the growing gallery of paintings.

Our people came from Ashburton in the south to Dannevirke in the north and included 80 year old Barbara Jaine, delightful young Chinese immigrant Weihong Jiang and a number of first-time safari-goers. Everyone made new friends and encouragement was the essence of the gathering.

On the last night we were treated to a visit to the home of Larry and Mitsuyo on the peninsula above the town. We were delighted to see Mitsuyo’s unique jewellery pieces and Larry’s impressive astronomical observatory. Larry had produced maps of the area with 22 numbered locations for painting the fabulous Kaikoura sea, rocky shore and mountains. We used only a fraction as the mountains and horizon hid in mist. So, we will return on a future Sunshine Safari!