September at Korimako
9/1/20263 min read
Hi everyone, from a very wet Nelson Lakes, spring is taking its time to arrive here! "How's your day been so far?"
When the checkout lad asked me that recently I realised that many of my social encounters these days are pretty brief. I don’t have time to get to know anything about the checkout operator. Does he play the trumpet? Aspire to be a pilot? Grow orchids? Breed sausage dogs? I bet he has a fascinating life away from the supermarket but I don’t know anything about it. And yet, that’s all part of the puzzle which makes him the unique person that he is. And he may think I’m weird if I start asking him about his personal life :)
Probably the casual encounter that teaches me most about someone else , is talking with my hairdresser!
I guess the same thing happens when someone spots one of my paintings on a gallery wall - they don’t know much about who and what I am. So, in case you’d like to know more about what makes me and my paintings tick, here goes ….
First and foremost I’m a wife (of about 50 years) , mum to four , mother-in-law to 3, and NanNan to six. My family comes first. They are an amazing bunch of individuals and I’m very proud of them.
I read a lot… currently Lionel Shriver's “Abomination “ essays . I enjoy her non PC view of life and the way she makes me consider things differently. I’ve just finished Nigel Latta’s “Lessons on Living” , a very wise and poignant book. And Australian author Tim Winton always has me glued to his darkly fascinating stories.
Listening? Usually music - at the moment I’m listening to the soundtrack to “The Singing Detective” . Lots of loud singalongs there :) . But I could just as easily be listening to Metallica or Beethoven.
I’m an enthusiastic (but not accomplished) ukulele player, so I need to practice more.
I’m also enjoying Sam Neils autobiography podcast.
If I’m not in the studio I might be at my spinning wheel or in our big garden. Both of those involve colour and texture.
I enjoy cooking, usually there’s a pot of soup on the woodburner at this time of year and homemade bread in the oven. I like food!
I enjoy writing , maybe if I’d begun painting earlier then writing /illustrating children’s books might have happened. But then, it’s never too late if I decide that I want to give that a go. When Mum died aged 83 her only regret was that she hadn’t gone for a helicopter flight - which was booked. She was a great role model for ignoring age related caution .
My happy place is definitely with my paintbrush in my hand in some remote place, be it in NZ or Oz. A big sky above and no cities nearby .
I’m a member of Rural Women and a vigorous local book club , and a Civil Defence volunteer.
In everyday life I’m often on the lookout for interesting images - colour combos, textures, light effects - any of these might be used later in a painting.
Each painting I create will have been influenced by some of these different parts of my life - different music makes me paint in different ways. The light outdoors may make me grab my sketchbook and head out . A quilt being made by a friend shows me a new colour combo which pings. Flowers in my garden are always inspiring.
So all of these things make me who I am , I guess. A bit like a patchwork quilt, made of individual small bits but coming together to make a whole! And my paintings are my paintings because I’m me, made up of all of those strands . I’m a real human, with real foibles, not an AI app.
What makes you who you are? I’d love to know.
And remember next time you are asked that question by a stranger - that person will have myriad , intriguing elements which make them who they are, too!
Keep warm and hopefully the weather will settle soon.
Warmly, Jan
PS. This is a wonky "Bedtime story with NanNan hug rug " which I've just finished, painting with my knitting needles for a change.
Jan Thomson
New Zealand Artist & Tutor
© All Images Copyright © Jan Thomson, All Rights Reserved.
