PHOTOGRAPHS BY PAINTINGS BY Kāpiti Sunsets: Pixels and Paint 2021 © Jed Brophy & Tania Dally The beauty and mystery of Kāpiti’s sunsets captured in pixels and paint Kāpiti abstract artist Tania Dally was looking for Tania points out that her paintings are not attempting to photographic inspiration to paint some iconic local sunsets reproduce Jed’s images exactly as they appear. “Instead when she discovered the work of Kāpiti-based actor and I am looking to play with the light, shapes and colours to photographer Jed Brophy. capture the essence and energy inherent within the image, as well as inject some of the emotion from personally The result is this calendar: Kāpiti Sunsets – Pixels and experiencing so many stunning Kāpiti sunsets,” she says. Paint featuring 12 of Jed’s photographs, alongside Tania’s abstract acrylic-on-canvas interpretations. In each alternate Like so many situations in 2020, the Kāpiti Sunsets project month either a photograph or a painting is featured full page was affected by Covid-19. Initially Tania and Jed had at the top, with the corresponding image below. intended to create six pieces each and have an exhibition Contrary to what at Tania’s Boatshed Studio on Raumati Beach in late I am looking to play “many people think, Both Tania and Jed then also offer a brief commentary on March, 2020. However the pandemic intervened with “with the light, shapes the inspiration behind each of the scenes. there is no retouching gatherings restricted and a week later the country was in and colours to capture full lockdown, so the exhibition was postponed. involved. It’s all about Jed is well-known for his acting with a long list of credits the essence and waiting for that magic including Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit trilogy where he The silver lining was that this provided time for more works energy inherent within played the dwarf Nori. What is less well-known is that for to be done and for the idea of this calendar to emerge. the image, as well moment when the light many years Jed has practised his passion for photography, Lockdown also gave Tania the opportunity to explore new intersects with land, which is showcased via his website and Instagram feed. directions and develop her practice. as inject some of the sea and sky and the emotion from personally Tania’s distinctive abstract painting style can be seen at her “My paintings for this project can definitely be divided into explosion of colour Raumati studio and she has exhibited regularly throughout pre-lockdown and post-lockdown,” says Tania. “The first six experiencing so many that results. Wellington and Kāpiti over the past five years. Some of her created pre-lockdown are very much in my traditional style stunning Kāpiti sunsets. most recent work featured a series of scenes from Hoi An, of pouring paint, while for the next six I have really tried to JED BROPHY TANIA DALLY Vietnam where she lived and painted for three months in utilise the techniques I developed during the six weeks or ” 2019. so that we were all shut inside our homes.” ” “Having spent three months painting in a foreign country, Tania’s new style involves using a range of new materials I wanted to return home and capture some iconic Kāpiti including charcoal, chalk, pastels, crayons and pigment scenes,” says Tania. “There is nothing more iconic than our sticks. The technique includes layering and scratching into amazing sunsets and when I discovered Jed’s photographs the surface to reveal the various layers and depth. “I take I immediately saw the potential for a series of paintings.” off as much paint as I put on, as I search for the colour and representation of light that I am seeking.” Often featuring reflections off a glistening Raumati Beach at different times of the day and night, Jed’s photos typically Jed had long been a fan of Tania’s paintings and was involve a lengthy vigil to capture the moment. “Contrary to excited to collaborate on the exhibition, which was due to what many people think, there is no retouching involved. happen just as the Covid-19 lockdown hit. It’s all about waiting for that magic moment when the light intersects with land, sea and sky and the explosion of “The positive side of the situation was the opportunity to colour that results,” says Jed. add to the initial six pieces and create the 12 featured in this calendar,” says Jed. “These are 12 photos that Tania “At low tide there is often a thin film of water which creates most wanted to paint but they are also 12 photographs I a natural mirror giving colour to the sand as well as the sea particularly like because of the colours nature generously and clouds.” provided me.” Jed Brophy Tania Dally Jed has worked as an actor for 32-odd years, appearing in a Painter Tania Dally is a New Zealand multimedia artist who has wide range of productions in many locations around the world. been painting for over 20 years. Art is her full time passion and Many who work in the visual arts have interests in other she can be found most days painting either at her beach front aspects of the art form and photography is Jed’s favourite Boat Shed Studio or at her studio at home in Raumati Beach. other expression. Tania is known for her large abstract landscapes but lockdown A particular passion is that due to the travel often involved with provided an opportunity to explore new areas of abstraction as working in the film industry, he has had the opportunity to practice evident in this series of paintings. his photography in many amazing locations around the world. Tania uses a myriad of materials including acrylics, oils, charcoal, Moving to the Kāpiti Coast renewed Jed’s passion for chalk and oil pastels, crayons and pigment sticks. She applies photography. He has long been captivated by the light quality on the coast, especially at sunset. The result is hundreds of images, techniques which involve building up layers of paint then scraping many of which he has posted on social media and his website. and scratching back to create the effects she seeks. For years Jed’s friends and fans have been asking if he will do Tania has exhibited extensively in the Kāpiti and Wellington anything with the photos he posts. And so thanks to Tania who regions in recent years and is the author of Hoi An: Light and asked if she could paint one, he can now finally say: “Why, yes! I Colour, which featured a series of works produced while living am going to do something with them.” and working in Vietnam for three months in 2019. Photo by Dean O’Gorman Photo Photo by Joanna Piatek Photo jedbrophy.nz | instagram.com/jedbrophy taniadallyart.co.nz | facebook.com/taniadallyart | instagram.com/taniadallyart Editing, design and layout by Richard Calkin. Printing by Blue Star. Kāpiti Sunsets: Pixels and Paint JANUARY 2021 © Jed Brophy & Tania Dally SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY DECEMBER 2020 FEBRUARY 2021 31 S M T W T F S S M T W T F S 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 28 New Year’s Day 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 View from the picnic table Day After New Year’s Day (observed) PAINT BY TANIA (ABOVE) Most sunny Fridays in summer you can find me painting at my Boat Shed Studio right on Raumati Beach. When I’ve had enough painting, there’s no better place to watch the sun go 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 down than from the picnic table just outside. It’s usually not too hard to convince a few friends to join me for a few wines and some delicacies from the local chippy. With some tunes from the speaker, the unfolding display of pink and golden light forms the backdrop to the laughter and chat. I remember a sunset just like this last year. The colours are reminiscent of a photo I took from the picnic table of my friend Tracey chasing her dog Archie, while we waited for the fish and chips to arrive. Happy times. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Nature the artist PIXELS BY JED (TOP) I think the poem says what I feel every time I’m lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to capture her amazing artistic displays. This is the first photo Tania painted. 26 27 29 30 Nature the artist smudges paint 24 25 28 Across her horizontal canvas Mixing colours so brazenly And with such confidence Truly she is the most articulate of painters So bold, so imaginative Wellington Anniversary Day Kāpiti Sunsets: Pixels and Paint FEBRUARY 2021 © Jed Brophy & Tania Dally SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 Auckland, Buller, Nelson, Northland Anniversary Days Waitangi Day 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Family tree Waitangi Day (observed) PIXELS BY JED (ABOVE) This tree looks different from all angles. This day the sun just framed it like a parent holding a 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 smaller tree.