New Zealand forest and beach themed clay artworks will be on display at Paeroa Society of Arts until the end of November.
Paeroa artist Tena Blundell, who has been a member of the Normanby Rd gallery for six years, told The Profile her clay artworks stemmed from her lifelong painting passion.
“Right from when I was little I’ve always loved painting and it’s really nice to use a different medium which is Papatūānuku, the clay, mother earth and I believe it’s very healing,” she said.
“I bought my own kiln for my studio at home and that’s where I make my creations and I can spend hours in there.
“Sometimes [the artworks] can be political around women’s issues and women’s rights and my children and grandchildren inspire me as well, but really it’s nature, I love birds and animals.”
Tena, who also sells her artwork at Mikkelsen Gallery in Paeroa and Bounty Store in Thames, said her art philosophy was “you’ve never arrived as an artist”.
“The thing with pottery is the colours are totally different to what you put on compared to how they look when they’re fired,” she said.
“There’s also a lot to learn with the glazes and it’s an exciting process to open the kiln and see what’s happened in it.”
Tena said she had received “positive feedback” from the public towards her artworks and hoped it continued for the remainder of her exhibition.
Tena Blundell with her clay artworks. Photo: GORDON PREECE
