Local artist’s classes unblock creativity
From left back row, Sue king, Margy Palmer, Grace Wilson and, front, Jane Jarvis, Clair Fones and tutor Kare Grayson. Photo: Ina Holst.
Kare Grayson’s Wednesday morning art classes at the Work Centre are described by the budding artists as “lots of fun”, “encouraging and inspiring” and “relaxed, with a focus on process and not the finished product”.
Kare came to Golden Bay in 2006 with a Master of Fine Arts from Otago, and was asked to teach a community art class. At its end, her students asked her to keep going and Kare now teaches four-week blocks of art classes that allow students to explore a range of techniques and media.
“I do exercises I learned at art school to get people into the flow and unblock their creativity, to open up, play and enjoy. People are really benefiting from the classes in more than just one way. I want to reignite their excitement and get them to be open to whatever happens,” says Kare. “I take my direction from my students and focus on areas they are interested in. Every lesson is completely different, and what I found was that everyone is also so completely different and brings their own personal goals to the classes.”
Kare believes that the art classes benefit people’s well-being through the focus on themselves and from the social interaction during the class.
“I really love teaching, and my philosophy is that if I have skills I want to share them, and this is reciprocal. Classes are $25 for the morning; that is less than $10 per hour. But money should not stop people if they want to learn. They should get that opportunity and I am open to trade and barter. Though it is not a huge income, the classes are one of the ways to support myself, and I would like to get a few more classes going, maybe a weekend one if there was enough interest.
“I am a painter. I paint in acrylics, semi-abstract, mixed with realism - my work is pretty design-based and I also take commissioned work.”
For Clair Fones, the art classes are priceless. “It’s more an investment in yourself. Wednesday morning is time for self-nourishment. I appreciate Kare’s professional knowledge and approach.”
Sue King agrees that the classes are a way to self-discovery and that drawing can be a key to realise aspects of oneself. “Kare is good at tailoring her approach to the individual and she gives each of us equal attention. She keys into people’s personal style and is very positive.”
For art classes please enquire at the GB Work Centre Trust on 525 8099 or contact Kare directly on 525 9128. Some of Kare’s work is shown at MONZA gallery and on her website at <galleryquirk@yahoo.co.nz>.
Ina Holst
