Art that won?t break the bank

Emerging Masterton artist Mandy Emerson is taking her work to the people, with the acceptance of five of her pieces into the New Zealand Affordable Art Show in Wellington.
Emerson, 35, who is married with a six-year-old daughter, has been drawing and painting since before she can remember; but only in the past three years has made serious attempts to sell her work.
The Affordable Art Show, held from August 3 to 7 in Wellington's Queen's Wharf Event Centre, shows off the work of both new and established artists and sells each one for less than $5000.
Of 1200 artists who registered from as far away as the Chatham Islands, 800 were selected for the show, which aims at introducing New Zealand art to those who may not usually consider buying an original piece.
Emerson's five pieces will together fetch $8000 if all are sold.
She says her work is influenced by "the important role of a woman" and "what we contribute unconditionally".
Emerson's richly coloured and textured paintings feature lots of layering, "layer upon layer", each of which has to dry before the next can be added.
Mannequins and dresses represent "the womanly figure, how beautiful and strong we are," Emerson says; "enduring love, family, friendship and tears ? with whatever our own lives have in store for us".
As a long-time sufferer of endometriosis from the age of 15, Emerson found herself painting as a distraction from daily excruciating pain.
Since her hysterectomy and health improvement three years ago, Emerson says her work has changed as she has been able to "put all my resources into it".
Emerson will have work on display at New Plymouth's Verge gallery at the same time as the art show. She has also exhibited in Masterton's Prime Art Space and Wish gallery, and is one of a group of women who exhibit their work in a Greytown hall on weekends.
This exposure, along with word of mouth, has resulted in several private commissions for homes and offices in Auckland and Wellington.
Emerson says the Affordable Art Show is another good way of becoming known and "a step in the right direction" for her growing artistic career.
Other Wairarapa artists featuring in the show include Sandra Wong, Bev Dench, Peter Keane, Carol Banner and Anneke Moore.