Peter Wallers: 40 years a dab hand

Peter Wallers is one of New Zealand's most successful, acclaimed artists, and the subject of a Tauranga exhibition celebrating his four decades in the art world. The Matua man talks with Kiri Gillespie about the milestone exhibition, and Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan celebrated his 70th birthday last week, and acclaimed New Zealand artist Peter Wallers is quick to tell me so as he shows me around his Matua studio.
Dylan plays from a little stereo in the corner of the room, model cars and planes are proudly displayed next to easels boasting Wallers' latest work.
The studio is Wallers' haven, and home to his creative space - where he transforms blank canvas into stunning, clean and realist pieces of art. Wallers refers to the Dylan album, remarking on the musician's 70th birthday that day, saying he usually plays Dylan while painting.
"Oh, yeah, I play him, but about 10 times louder," Wallers says, chuckling away.
The mostly self-taught painter has his own milestone to contend with.
On Monday, Harrisons Gallery opened The Art of Peter Wallers, a collection of original artwork celebrating 40 years 1971-2011.
It offers a rare opportunity to view 16 works from his private family collection; including Wallers' early expressive pallet knife works from the 1970s and 1980s. Fifteen new works painted in his distinct realism style are also showcased.
It is a treat for Tauranga, because Auckland-born Wallers has a strong following in New Zealand and Australia. Such a following, in fact, he says he has never had to "get a real job".
Wallers has painted since he was 8. He's in his mid-60s now, and taught himself techniques and styles along the way. The long career has etched in a strong sense of who he is as an artist.
"I'm a realist. What I see is what I want to put on my canvas," he says.
Wallers points to a piece still in the works, depicting a long stretch of railway sweeping towards snow-capped mountains on the horizon.
"This is one of my favourite spots for painting, on the Desert Rd," he says.
Wallers' work has been described as crisp, clean and strong, capturing a highly personal interpretation of the essence of a place. His signature of landscape and coastal scenes is evident in the collection.
Wallers confesses he once tried contemporary art and that piece "has never seen the light of day".
"I am unteachable. I started following people like Peter McIntyre [New Zealand's official war artist] when I was young.
"I've tried contemporary painting and it just doesn't work."
Harrisons Gallery managing director Gaye Carrothers says Wallers is one of New Zealand's most successful and highly regarded artists.
The exhibition has effectively evolved over four decades and is a rare opportunity to view artwork from Wallers' private family collection, most of which have never been viewed by the public, Carrothers says.
Wallers is a member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts in Wellington.