Birds a favourite to paint

• Published date: 11 August 2022
• Publication title: Katikati Advertiser

“As a teenager I knew I could draw but I’d never picked up a paintbrush,” says Val

“I was living in Raglan and was invited to a local art group which met monthly. One of the ladies later gave a three-day course on painting with oils and I’ve never looked back.”

Now Val teaches others how to paint in oils at her Thursday afternoon classes.

“I have some promising students,” she says. “We don’t use smelly chemicals any more which is better.”

She has exhibited and sold in Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and is well-known in Katikati. She painted the large painting of the War Memorial Hall that graces the hall entrance.

Birds are Val’s favourite to paint. She feeds them, so they flock to her home where they provide subjects for her camera.

“I can have about six tui...