Message from the President

This years Splash will be a joint exhibition, held in conjunction with Ceramicus, an exhibition by the Wellington Potters Association. The exhibition promises to be one of the highlights of the Wellington visual arts calendar. We hope that this collaboration with the potters will develop into a long term partnership as it has significant mutual benefits.

Guest artists for this years Splash will be Richard Bolton from Geraldine and Wellington artist Dianne Taylor. Richard moved from England to Geraldine with his New Zealand born wife in 2004. Early in his painting career his work attracted the attention of publishers. Richard is the author of a number of books on watercolour technique as well as articles in such well known periodicals as The Artist, Leisure Art and Artists and Illustrators. Dianne is a well known Wellington artist who won the Watercolour New Zealand Portrait Award in 2010 and the French Art Shop Peoples Choice Award for her painting Le Caf at last years Splash. Were delighted that Dianne and Richard have agreed to be joint guest artists at this years exhibition. Entry forms for Splash have to reach us by 30 September.

I hope that youre well underway with your paintings for the exhibition. As usual, entry forms will go out with the September newsletter.

Since the last newsletter, weve had our AGM. 2016 was another memorable year for Watercolour New Zealand, with a successful annual exhibition visited by over 3000 people and a number of well-attended workshops. Many of you have told me how much you enjoy the newsletter. We are gaining an increasing number of members from outside of Wellington thanks, we believe, to the newsletter and our website.

Stepping down from the Committee this year were Sudha Shenoy and Lynette Buchanan. I would like to thank Sudha and Lynette for their hard work and their valuable contribution to Watercolour New Zealand. Replacing them are Caroline Hulse and Martin Jenkins. It is good to see Martin back on the Committee as Vice President. He possesses a wealth of institutional knowledge, having been associated with WNZ for many years, and puts considerable time and effort into fostering art in Wellington through his portrait and outdoor painting groups.

John Toft
President, Watercolour New Zealand Inc

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