Oh we love Candy, so we thought you've gotta' meet her!
Originally from Kerikeri, now based in Nelson, this quirky artists paints backwards... let us explain! Clarke paints mainly in acrylic upon formed acrylic (in reverse - on 3mm Perspex sheet). Painting on Perspex began as a happy accident! Candy has been honing her painting backward skills for about 20yrs; the softness & reflectiveness of the Perspex adds an animation enhancing the work. The colour beneath the surface is bright & luminous - these features uniquely identify her work.
Originally from Kerikeri, now based in Nelson, this quirky artists paints backwards... let us explain! Clarke paints mainly in acrylic upon formed acrylic (in reverse - on 3mm Perspex sheet). Painting on Perspex began as a happy accident! Candy has been honing her painting backward skills for about 20yrs; the softness & reflectiveness of the Perspex adds an animation enhancing the work. The colour beneath the surface is bright & luminous - these features uniquely identify her work.
Candy's subject matter is often in abstract form, a commentary on daily life, social behaviour & current events. With a love of language, the use of text often features as narrative or stand-alone objects within Clarke's paintings. Inspiration comes from a personal lexicon of collected language, overheard snippets, song lyrics, movie lines, new technology, old sayings, or new catchphrases. Bold colour & graphic components are always evident within Candy's work.
Through her paintings, Candy is always looking for the irony or humour & ways to gently mock the human condition.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE / YOUR ART PRACTICE?
I am primarily a painter, painting (backwards) in acrylic on acrylic. But like most creatives, I venture into lots of disciplines - papermache, ceramics, graphic design, interior design, plus my egg fetish! I have collected hundreds of eggs from our travels & made & decorated many myself.
WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIFE FOR YOU?
Mornings are all about getting ready for afternoons! Breakfast, the crossword, walk our old dog Murphy. Then I do all my chores so that I can go into the studio totally focused on art business. I work until my lovely husband gets home about 6pm. Then it's drinks on the deck & a game of Crib or Dice. Weekends, I enlist the help of my man to do all the boring jobs for me. Like framing & packing paintings - YAY Ben!
WHAT DO YOU MAKE / YOUR ART PRACTICE?
I am primarily a painter, painting (backwards) in acrylic on acrylic. But like most creatives, I venture into lots of disciplines - papermache, ceramics, graphic design, interior design, plus my egg fetish! I have collected hundreds of eggs from our travels & made & decorated many myself.
WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIFE FOR YOU?
Mornings are all about getting ready for afternoons! Breakfast, the crossword, walk our old dog Murphy. Then I do all my chores so that I can go into the studio totally focused on art business. I work until my lovely husband gets home about 6pm. Then it's drinks on the deck & a game of Crib or Dice. Weekends, I enlist the help of my man to do all the boring jobs for me. Like framing & packing paintings - YAY Ben!
HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN - WHERE DID THIS PASSION FOR THE ARTS COME FROM?
Well... it's innate, I was born an artist! My family are all creative. I can even remember the thrill I felt at Kindy when it was finger painting day.
Well... it's innate, I was born an artist! My family are all creative. I can even remember the thrill I felt at Kindy when it was finger painting day.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION AS AN ARTIST?
It is everywhere, but I find once you get started, one idea leads to another, & if you’re lucky you get into a flow… & away you go!
WHAT IS THE THEMES / INSPIRATIONS / STORIES, BEHIND YOUR PIECES?
Themes & Inspiration often change as they reflect what I’m focussed on at the time. I would say my constant is colour or my colour combinations. Colour influences your mood & I like to think my work is positive, uplifting & has a hint of humour. I play music from my vast collection (thanks Spotify) while I work. Often the songs are in foreign languages where you don’t really know the story & you have to assume your own meanings. I hope people can take their own meaning from my paintings in the same way. My favourite songs are: Whistling In Tongues (Todd Terje Remix by Felix LeBand), Gazza's Groove by Desmond Cheese, In The Air by L.A.B. Oh & while I'm on a roll, my favourite movie is an Aussie gem called Babyteeth!
WHAT TYPE OF COFFEE DO YOU DRINK - LONG BLACK, FLAT WHITE, OR ARE YOU MORE OF A HERBAL TEA DRINKER?
Decaf flat white, I know sounds wussy…but I’ve learnt that champagne is only for afternoons hahaa!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT AOTEAROA // NEW ZEALAND?
Right now, it is our isolation from the rest of the world!
Themes & Inspiration often change as they reflect what I’m focussed on at the time. I would say my constant is colour or my colour combinations. Colour influences your mood & I like to think my work is positive, uplifting & has a hint of humour. I play music from my vast collection (thanks Spotify) while I work. Often the songs are in foreign languages where you don’t really know the story & you have to assume your own meanings. I hope people can take their own meaning from my paintings in the same way. My favourite songs are: Whistling In Tongues (Todd Terje Remix by Felix LeBand), Gazza's Groove by Desmond Cheese, In The Air by L.A.B. Oh & while I'm on a roll, my favourite movie is an Aussie gem called Babyteeth!
WHAT TYPE OF COFFEE DO YOU DRINK - LONG BLACK, FLAT WHITE, OR ARE YOU MORE OF A HERBAL TEA DRINKER?
Decaf flat white, I know sounds wussy…but I’ve learnt that champagne is only for afternoons hahaa!
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT AOTEAROA // NEW ZEALAND?
Right now, it is our isolation from the rest of the world!
HOW HAS YOUR ARTWORK CHANGED OVER TIME?
My whole life I’ve been trying to “loosen up” my painting style but it’s been a slow road. Think I’m getting there, changing my brushes has helped. I’m getting closer to my goal, more confident looser mark making.
HOW / HAS THE DIGITAL SPACE AFFECTED YOUR ARTWORK?
The digital space has been a fabulous way to see other artists & galleries around the world. Great inspiration at your fingertips. A way to get my own art out there!
WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO / CREATIVE SPACE LIKE?
My studio is cosy, to put it nicely. Great outlook to the garden, but not spacious. OK, if I keep it orderly, but lucky I can spread out all through the house & out to the shed too!
My whole life I’ve been trying to “loosen up” my painting style but it’s been a slow road. Think I’m getting there, changing my brushes has helped. I’m getting closer to my goal, more confident looser mark making.
HOW / HAS THE DIGITAL SPACE AFFECTED YOUR ARTWORK?
The digital space has been a fabulous way to see other artists & galleries around the world. Great inspiration at your fingertips. A way to get my own art out there!
WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO / CREATIVE SPACE LIKE?
My studio is cosy, to put it nicely. Great outlook to the garden, but not spacious. OK, if I keep it orderly, but lucky I can spread out all through the house & out to the shed too!
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LEGACY / LASTING IMPRESSION TO BE AS AN ARTIST?
I’d like people to think of my work as positive, bright but with a subtext, humorous & a little off-beat but uniquely, Candy Clarke.
WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING WITH THE POI ROOM?
The Poi Room is a great retail art shop packed with all the best kiwi art! It was lovely to be invited to exhibit with so many of my friends & peers.
DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POI ROOM & HOW OUR VALUES FIT WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
The Poi Room has such lovely friendly staff & they can sell my paintings as fast as I can paint them. What’s not to like!?
I’d like people to think of my work as positive, bright but with a subtext, humorous & a little off-beat but uniquely, Candy Clarke.
WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING WITH THE POI ROOM?
The Poi Room is a great retail art shop packed with all the best kiwi art! It was lovely to be invited to exhibit with so many of my friends & peers.
DESCRIBE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POI ROOM & HOW OUR VALUES FIT WITH YOUR BUSINESS?
The Poi Room has such lovely friendly staff & they can sell my paintings as fast as I can paint them. What’s not to like!?
