Artist displays her work

After a career committed to the corporate world, Mary Jessie Sullivan called on her creative side six years ago when she picked up a paintbrush, and some of the results can be seen at Electra Gallery's current exhibition.

Mary completed a Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design at Ideaschool, EIT, Taradale, recently and working with large canvases she paints using vibrant rich colour in thick, buttery acrylics. They can vary from landscapes, seascapes and portraits to all things rural. The bold, menacing abstract nature of Mary's sheep paintings have proved popular and sit in collections throughout New Zealand. Now when working from her home studio and gallery in Saint Aubyn St East, Hastings, Mary can be found creating heavily textured abstract seascapes and landscapes with found materials mixed with paint and modelling compounds.

"The air will be filled with the glorious fragrance of bees and honey as the encaustic wax heats ... ready to become the next creation using natural materials such as oils, pigments, inks and shellac on wood."

The exhibition by Mary Jessie Sullivan is on display at Electra Gallery, Ruataniwha St, Waipukurau, until April 16.