After just 12 months as part of The Poi Room artist whānau, Meg Cummins has carved a spot amongst our most sought-after painters. Meg paints landscapes in oil paints and watercolours, capturing atmospheric moments in large oil paintings and exploring colour and texture with her small scale watercolour landscapes.
Each new release of works causes a flurry, with some pieces not even making it online before they are snapped up by savvy collectors. This is one artist to watch!
We spent time with Meg, talking over her processes and daily practises.
Above, left to right: Colours of Tongariro, Memory of Lindis Pass
WHAT DO YOU MAKE / HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR ART PRACTICE?
I am a painter, and I work in both oil and watercolour. I mostly paint landscapes, although I also do florals, which I kind of consider to be really zoomed-in landscapes. I work ‘wet-in-wet’ in both, which means working in a single layer of wet paint rather than lots of thin layers. I like oil painting to depict atmosphere and scale, and I love watercolour for exploring texture.
Above, left to right: Waikato Drive, Colours of the Central Plateau, Rangitoto Moss #4
HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN - WHERE DOES YOUR PASSION FOR THE ARTS COME FROM?
I’ve always loved drawing. In high school I became really passionate about book illustration in particular, and for years my dream was to work in either picture book illustration or animation. I started learning to draw at school but I took design rather than art, so I actually learned digital art first and traditional painting came much later.
HOW DID YOU LEARN YOUR CRAFT?
I studied graphic design and illustration at university. This included lessons in things like life drawing, composition and digital painting. I then worked for quite a long time as a corporate illustrator, doing infographics and things like that. Obviously very different from what I do now, but it gave me a lot of practice in working quickly, being decisive and taking feedback. I don’t have any formal training in traditional painting, but 90% of what I learned from digital painting on a tablet is transferable. Colour theory, composition, form etc are all the same no matter the medium. I’ve had the odd bit of painting instruction over the years but I’m mostly self taught through research, experimentation, and observing other artists as they work.
Meg Cummins loves tramping in New Zealand, where she finds inspiration for her landscape paintings.
WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION AS AN ARTIST?
I am inspired by landscapes I visit, and try to do lots of travel around New Zealand to get reference photos and ideas. Tramping is especially great because I can see views that are much harder to access. I also get inspired by the process of painting itself, and the more I paint the more ideas I get for other paintings.
WHAT ARE THE THEMES/IDEAS/INSPIRATIONS BEHIND YOUR ARTWORKS?
I’m generally trying to capture atmosphere. I like the feeling of being dwarfed by a landscape, and of shifting light and shadow. It’s why I like painting the South Island so much. The mountains create so much drama!
Above, clockwise from left: View Down the Routeburn, Hahei Cliffs, Colours of Tongariro
WHAT DOES A NORMAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
I start the day either by going to the gym or walking my dog. I then try to take care of any life admin like cleaning or laundry because I can’t focus if I know there are jobs to be done! Once everything is sorted I try to settle in for a solid session of painting. I usually don’t paint for more than 4 or 5 hours in a day, sometimes less in winter because I like to paint with natural light.
WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO/CREATIVE SPACE LIKE?
I work in a converted garage at my house. It faces north which means I have great light, super important for painting. I have two different work stations, one for oil painting and one for watercolour. I have to keep the oil painting stuff separate from everything else otherwise it creates a huge mess.
WHAT'S YOUR COFFEE ORDER and WHAT SNACKS KEEP YOU GOING?
I usually order an Americano with cream. Very decadent! I snack a lot on popcorn, chocolate and fruit.
Above, left to right: Rangitoto Haze #20, Rangitoto Haze #19, Above Routeburn Falls Hut
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING & LIVING IN AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND)?
I love that Aotearoa has such a variety of landscapes in such a small area. And there’s a great culture of art here, people are so creative and so supportive of artists.
Above, left to right: Beach to Trees #2 , Mount Hobson - Ohinerau, Waikato Summer
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LASTING IMPRESSION OR LEGACY TO BE AS AN ARTIST?
I’ve never really thought about a legacy. My goal is just to reach my potential as an artist. I’ve come a long way but there’s always so much more to learn and explore. I find the less I worry about what people might like and the more I try to please myself the more my work seems to connect with others!
WHAT DREW YOU TO WORKING WITH THE POI ROOM?
I love that they’re such vibrant spaces and so welcoming. The staff are great and there is such a base of loyal customers of many years.
Thank you so much for your time and letting us into what makes you tick, Meg!
