Aussie art show visits Tauranga

Artist Susan Harrison-Tustain with Colour in Your Life CEO and director Graeme Stevenson. Photo/George Novak

Local artist Susan Harrison-Tustain sees a three-prong benefit for all when television shows like Colour in Your Life come to town.

The Australian show is dedicated to the promotion of art and artists throughout the world and recently visited Tauranga. The film crew, led by famed master artist Graeme Stevenson, caught up with six of the Bay's best artists.

"It's such good promotion for the Bay," says Susan. "It opens up so many doors for artists. It's a win for everyone - for the Bay, for the artists and for the viewers around the world.''

Susan Harrison-Tustain. Photo/George Novak

The film crew spent a day each with artists Nick Eggleston, Rob McGregor, Timo Rannali, Doreen O'Neill, Sue Dent and Susan where they were informally interviewed by Graeme, the CEO of the programme. Susan was first up.

Susan says they spoke of major breakthroughs in her 25-year career and what motivates her artwork .

"Light, colour and emotion captivate my imagination. A great example is a walk through native bush on Otanewainuku, where I often find myself analysing the interplay of dancing colours and dappled light, as I gaze up to the tree canopy. The bare roots also fascinate me, the way they intertwine symbolically within the exposed earth - connecting the surface life with the amazing world below.''

Susan describes her work as naturalistic realism, "realism as it is in nature but with artistic licence,'' she says. She is currently working on a new series using 26 carat gold and platinum leaf with oil painting on top. The works play with the notion of juxtaposition - realism against an impressionistic background.