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Guest Artist: Andrew NicholsonAndrew is a professional watercolour artist from Portobello on the Otago Peninsula. He had been a full time artist for 10 years when a few sales at cruise ship markets led him to full time painting. He doesn't feel he has worked a day since, as they say 'when you truly love what you do it's not really work'.
Before becoming an artist, Andrew was a primary school teacher, before that, a fitness instructor, and, before that, a three-time Olympic athlete. When he was 10, Andrew followed his big brother along to Auckland's speed skating club at the Avondale ice skating rink. He had no idea this would lead to a journey involving 15 years of international travel. Mostly self funded, he roamed constantly between international events living in Norway, Holland and Canada. Successes included a world 1500m record, a world champion title as part of an underdog Kiwi relay team and a 4th placing in the 1992 Olympics. Andrew quit skating in 2000, but hadn't quite had enough of crazy physical challenges. Once he quit skating, he followed this up with five Coast-to-Coast races , a stint at powerlifting and Guiness world record for cycling around the planet. Andrew has put these crazy adventures into the best kiwi underdog sports story you have never heard of, his book Road Rage. Andrew's art story is less wild, and he says he has got to where he is largely thanks to his dad's coaching. His late father's (Peter Nicholson) art story was in many ways similar to his sport story. "Dad knew a thing or two about art. He had 70 years experience, beginning when he would calm his nerves during the battle of Britain sketching with his three treasured coloured pencils." Andrew's grandparents recognised his father's talent, but in post-war Britain, art was hardly likely to become the stable career needed. Nonetheless, with hard work, endless practice and determination Andrew's father worked successfully for 30 years as a commercial artist in London, then Auckland and then spent the rest of his life as a watercolour artist on the Coromandel peninsula. His father taught Andrew the golden rules that make a great watercolour. "Englishmen of that generation don't give praise easily, especially to their kids, but in my last conversations with my dad he commented that some of my work was really 'coming along'. This means I really might be getting quite good?" Andrew says. Although art is not as measurable as cycling or speed skating, Andrew still strives to achieve a personal best with each painting. New Zealand Landscapes, birds and wildlife are his favourite subjects and he rarely paints anything but watercolour. "Nothing beats watching that first drop of pigment explode on the paper," he says. Andrew thoroughly enjoys selling my work at markets, taking it around our beautiful country and talking to visitors. |
Waikaka Arts
