Napier RSA vice president Brian Strong (left), Labour MP for Napier Stuart Nash, Napier RSA executive committee member Bob Jordan and Napier RSA president John Purcell with artist Sophie Blokker. Photo/Paul Taylor
Napier RSA vice president Brian Strong (left), Labour MP for Napier Stuart Nash, Napier RSA executive committee member Bob Jordan and Napier RSA president John Purcell with artist Sophie Blokker. Photo/Paul Taylor
A poignant painting to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War I armistice has already garnered praise from many who have seen it.
The piece of art, titled Not all wounds bleed was commissioned by the Napier Returned Services Association and unveiled last Friday - Poppy Day.
Police Ministerand Napier Labour MP Stuart Nash attended the unveiling.
The painting took about a month for Havelock North artist Sophie Blokker to complete, taking her time with the intricate detailing of the deep red poppies, vibrant sky and mournful soldier.
"It was really awesome to get into the beauty of our history and do something not only for Napier but for our country, to pay respect.
"I am very happy with the result. It took a very long time to do and I took pains over it trying to get it right. The main thing was to make the RSA happy with the result," she said.
The RSA wanted a soldier on a cenotaph looking somber and respectful, a field of poppies and a sunset. The artist added Cape Kidnappers in the background to create a more "involved effect".
Napier RSA chief executive Dorothy Paki said that from a very basic description Blokker was able to produce a "magnificent painting".
"We released it on Poppy Day because the poppies stand out and it really emphasises that 'not all wounds do bleed'."
About 300 people attended the unveiling and Paki said they had received a lot of feedback on how members were "really proud that they have it in their club".
She said the beauty of the artwork was that it could mean what people wanted it to mean.
"It's vibrant. I think anyone is allowed to interpret it the way they want to."
It now resides in their front entrance and the RSA hopes to add more artworks in the future.
Mr Nash thought it was "fantastic".
"It is really difficult to try and capture the essence of what being a soldier or fighting in the war means and she did it well."
