Two Leaves: New Zealand flax V thumbnail 1
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Two Leaves: New Zealand flax V

Watercolour
2000 (painted)
Artist/Maker

All the finished works in this series and the sketchbook drawings are excellent examples of Nerys Johnson's striking use of colour. They also demonstrate the artist's distinctive use of floral subject matter, which illustrates both the growth and the decay of plants and flowers. Although Nerys Johnson was reluctant to be seen as a disabled artist, by her own admission her works are a testimony to the physicality of the creative process. This is particularly apparent in the artist's use of a wide range of techniques that were often dictated by her health. These include the use of tissue paper instead of a brush for creating images. Nerys Johnson often employed art students to help her to mix paints and prepare her materials, and so turned the problem of her deteriorating health into an opportunity to teach and share her talents.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleTwo Leaves: New Zealand flax V (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour (gouache) on paper
Brief description
'Two Leaves: New Zealand flax V', watercolour (gouache) on paper, black background with fluorescent leaf image, Nerys Johnson, 2000.
Physical description
One of eight works, gouache on paper, abstract in style and based on the subject of leaves. The artist has used a striking black background with contrasting, almost fluorescent tones.
Dimensions
  • Height: 28.4cm
  • Width: 15.3cm
Credit line
Given by the Nerys Johnson Estate
Subjects depicted
Summary
All the finished works in this series and the sketchbook drawings are excellent examples of Nerys Johnson's striking use of colour. They also demonstrate the artist's distinctive use of floral subject matter, which illustrates both the growth and the decay of plants and flowers. Although Nerys Johnson was reluctant to be seen as a disabled artist, by her own admission her works are a testimony to the physicality of the creative process. This is particularly apparent in the artist's use of a wide range of techniques that were often dictated by her health. These include the use of tissue paper instead of a brush for creating images. Nerys Johnson often employed art students to help her to mix paints and prepare her materials, and so turned the problem of her deteriorating health into an opportunity to teach and share her talents.
Collection
Accession number
E.11-2003

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Record createdFebruary 19, 2003
Record URL
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