Above the water and beneath the trees

We chat to artist Mandy Williams, who lives in Omokoroa with partner Carwyn, children Kobe and Jade, and Oska the mini-schnauzer.

OUR PLACE

The kitchen is where it all happens. If we have a party everyone ends up there. I like that you can see upstairs and downstairs and it has the best views.

The house backs on to the Crapp Reserve.

The Crapps were the first settlers in the area. They planted all these exotic trees which now surround the house, some of them up to 140 years old. We have put lights at the foot of some of them and, at night, it is spectacular.

We can never be built out so we have great views of the water, which is special.

The house was originally built by Dynamic Builders. It was designed for a couple. The original design was not family-friendly. We have since extended out the back which gives us another family room, guest room and a second garage. In the front garden, we have just placed a metal sculpture by local artist Nick Clegg.

I started painting when the children were born and used to work at home but now paint from the Art Hub in Second Ave.

My children inspired my style of painting. When they were babies, I wanted to put some paintings in their rooms and didn't want to be limited to Thomas the Tank Engine or Pooh Bear. Then friends started asking me to paint their own children and it all evolved from there. Now I have a large waiting list.

All my paintings show images of children with wide eyes. They are doing something which to me expresses the innocence of childhood - riding a bike or playing outside.

I add elements from my own imagination.

The painting in the lounge is of my children in the wheelbarrow in the garden. I am trying to capture the New Zealand lifestyle.

The paintings are quite time-consuming as they have about 20 to 30 layers which create the depth you see in them.

Some have just a few children, but I love being pushed to new boundaries. I am currently doing one with four children and two alpacas.

I am developing a different material for my painting using plywood. It creates a different, softer look, focusing on fine details while keeping the rawness of the ply. It will work well with the house and the modern light wood interior.

I don't like too much clutter in the house and like a bright, clean look.

The children have two old school desks which Carwyn found on Trade Me so they do their homework there.

In the lounge we hang out, chill, watch movies and take time to chat as a family.

As told to Annemarie Quill