Four in a row for phone book artist

A BIT of critical appraisal from wife Catherine paid off for high-achieving Wanganui artist Andre Bronnimann, who has won the region's White Pages cover art competition for the fourth year running.
"I was doing another one, but she said the quality wasn't as good as usual. So I started doing this one," Bronnimann said.
"This one" is Green Pearl, which will adorn the cover of the 2005-06 Wanganui White Pages to be distributed to around 59,000 homes and business in the region next month.
The competition was open to anyone living in the area covered by the White Pages and Bronnimann decided to enter again.
The entry paid off, seeing the self-taught artist snaffle a neat four wins, an unprecedented achievement in New Zealand. "I was surprised. I've been surprised every time," he said.
"It's the fourth time now that I have been privileged to receive this award, and it's just as exciting as the first time.
"It's a special feeling to know that something I have created will find its way into every Wanganui household."
A commercial carpet cleaner (he said paint stains are hard to remove) and father with a family of four, Bronnimann said the win was a step towards becoming a full time artist.
He describes his art as surrealist and his works are distinctly recognisable as hailing from Wanganui and New Zealand.
Green Pearl was inspired by the vast blue sky and the ever-changing ocean and river and the rich, green pastures that surround Wanganui.
"I hope it summarises all those good things I hear the people of Wanganui say about their beautiful place every day," Bronnimann said.
The work also features a section of the Royal Wanganui Opera House with the addition of a carved pillar, a motif that features in several of his works.
"I tend to begin a painting based on a visual concept. My main focus is on its aesthetic value and ability to catch one's eye. In this particular painting, I like the idea of seeing Wanganui as a gem that has it all, depicted here as its own planet peacefully floating above the ocean."
Bronnimann said he would continue to enter the White Pages competition and to paint.
He recently created a work commissioned by Mayor Michael Laws to hang in the mayoral chambers and has a work exhibiting at the Sarjeant.
He said he was available for other commissions, and his work can be viewed at http://hipnz.tripod.com/andhome.htm.