Biography, Exhibitions and Links
Welcome to the website of NZ artist
John
Sargeant
John has been painting in watercolour from 2002 and oil paint from 2005.
John's style is intentionally eclectic ranging from highly detailed watercolour covering subjects from figurative, to old character buildings, to nature and various abstracts along the way.
John transfers from watercolour to oils to maintain a sense of eclecticism in his style as well as subject matter. He enjoys the ‘forgiveness’ of oil paint but when he has had enough of the turpentine and high energy necessary to paint in oils he moves back to the containment and cleanliness of watercolour where he can ‘come and go’ as time dictates.
Reluctant to take on commissions, John’s focuses on what he likes to paint with varied subject matter from around New Zealand . Equally as reticent to be pushed into having a 'favourite' style and artists he admits to being continually drawn to German Expressionism listing Otto Mueller as one of his favoured artists with 'Two Sisters' as the one painting he would like to own. John remains with the German these as listing Tina Berning Also on John's 'most viewed' artists is NZ Artist Edith Collier and John often visits her works at the Sarjeant Gallery at Wanganui.
John believes that when looking at a painting, it is not a matter of whether you like it or not but what it does to you and whether it changes the way you look at the world. He will also argue that is not important as to whether you understand the intent of the artist as much as how the work affects you and whether you like the work or not, it will still alter you as you will form an opinion which you did not have prior, so therefore you are changed to a greater or lesser degree.
John is able to be contacted by email or telephone on +64 00 06 278 1267. For New Zealand time click here. For international time zones, click here.
His complete work is offered on this site for your interest and John welcomes any comments.
John has exhibited at :-
Lysaght-Watt Gallery, Hawera
Percy Thompson Gallery, Stratford
Real Tart, New Plymouth
Taranaki Arts Revue, 2005, 2006,2007 & 2009
Bruce Mason Centre, in association with the NZ Art Guild Inc.
Black Sands Gallery, Maxwell
Zinkat Gallery, New Plymouth
Taylor-Jensen Fine Arts - Palmerston North
Sheila Turner Gallery, Rotorua
Fritz Reuter Gallery, Inglewood
Bookstop Gallery, New Plymouth
Fakes and Forgeries - Yellow Church Gallery, Mangaweka
The Dark End of the Street - Reat TArt, New Plymouth. February 2012
The links below have all been selected for their high quality and support of New Zealand art. You are actively encouraged to support them by visiting their web sites
Links
NZ Art Guild - supporting artists from New Zealand
Virtual Tart. An online look at Taranaki art
Taranaki Art - more art from Taranaki NZ
Govett-Brewster Gallery New Plymouth, NZ
Percy Thompson Gallery, Stratford NZ
Art Search - a search engine specifically for New Zealand art
New Zealand art and culture - a web directory
Reviews, articles, articles and events around New Zealand art
NZ Art Monthly Artists, galleries and exhibitions in New Zealand
Art Gallery New Zealand. NZ Art
Artist links on line - Draw Art Supplies Ltd
Creative New Zealand - Arts council of NZ ; Toi Aotearoa