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JB: “When did the birds fly into the picture?”
KI: “It’s only in the last five years that I’ve concentrated
more on my birds. I grew up with paintings hanging in my
parent’s and grandparent’s home by Rei Hamon, a New
Zealand artist who did a lot of dot work, working in the
pointillism style and that influenced me a lot. I picked up
some pens and just started and I thought I quite enjoyed
that and it just evolved from there. And I like going back
to it, circles, a sort of Aboriginal influence.”

JB: “Did you have any formal art training?”
KI: “My studies were more about art history so learning
about the artists and their techniques. For me it’s been
more Internet based training. If I want to learn how to
do something, I’ll just Google or You Tube it and go from
there. About ten years ago I met a Russian lady who
was doing adult art classes up at Selwyn College and
she would offer guidance when I asked. She was fine art
trained and helped a lot with colour selection so it wasn’t
formal. She’d encourage us to draw every day so the more
you practice the better you get.”

JB: “Tell me about your pointillism technique.”
KI: “I always draw and sketch what I want to do first
to get the proportions right and once I’m happy with that
I’ll transfer it to a good piece of paper. If I’m doing a bird
or animal, I’ll always start with the eyes, which sort of
brings it alive for me and slowly work my way from there.
I normally work from a photograph as a reference.”

JB: “What materials do you prefer to work with?”
KI: “I use pigment pens. Artline and Stadler are my two
favourite pens because they have good pigment colour. If
I work in black and white I use the different thicknesses to
give me the light and dark shades.”

JB: “How do you see your art evolving?”

KI: “I start with the pointillism and then I want to

try something different. But then I’ll come back to it.

I come and go so I’ve never been able to stick to one

technique forever and ever because there are too many

other techniques that are lovely as well. At the moment

I’m doing a painting but I can see my dottiness coming

through, I’ll start dabbing on paint in big dots. At the end

of the day art is my passion. I have to do it. It’s my time out

that doesn’t involve my husband or kids.”

JB: “What’s your craziest art moment?”

KI: “It was a few years ago. Everyone had gone off to

work and school and I had this giant canvas down stairs. I

painted for six hours solid. I was just manic, painting this

field of wild flowers. My husband came home and said

wow, I like that. It’s still hanging in our lounge.”

JB: “What inspires you?

KI: “Nature, always nature. I find myself stopped at the

traffic lights looking for a pencil to sketch out an idea.

There are too many ideas to get them all out.”

JB: “Do you see your art as a business?”

KI: “I’ve never thought of it as a business. I just have

to do it. Selling it is a bonus but I end up giving it away

mostly to charities just to put something back. At the end

of the day the sales help to cover my costs so I can buy

more pens, buy more paint, buy more paper. It’s a means

to an end really.”

JB: “If you could take a year sabbatical what would you

do?”

KI: “That would be amazing. I would go to my favourite

place, Tiritiri Matangi Island and stay in the dock house

Koru - painted in oils 2004. Kina - painted in acrylic 2009. Noughts and Crosses - painted
in oils 2004.