Auckland artist Brenda Clews on her studio oasis and nature-inspired art
Auckland Artist Brenda Clews: Her Studio Oasis and Nature-Inspired Art
An enduring bond with Coromandel and a desire to connect with nature daily are key to Auckland artist Brenda Clews’ immersive paintings.
Working from Home: An Artist’s Perspective
For many, “working from home” brings to mind makeshift desks in cramped spaces, laptops on laps, and family squabbles over workspace. However, Auckland artist Brenda Clews’ home studio is a white-walled, light-filled oasis of calm and color, shared comfortably with her husband Peter, a freelance commercials producer.
Surrounded by stacks of her lush landscapes and pastel-hued nature scenes, and adorned with vintage furniture and an eclectic assortment of paint, brushes, and vases filled with flowers, it’s an enviable spot to work in.
A Studio Bathed in Light
Although her studio is in the original part of their 1930s bungalow, Brenda frequently moves to the 1960s extension at the rear of the house. “The light is better there in the winter months. It has huge windows and beautiful year-round light,” she says. “Peter is much better at keeping his work separate from the rest of the house, whereas I’m constantly moving around with the light—and when I move, my paints and mess move with me.”
Nature as an Office
On research days, Brenda’s “office” might be a serene stretch of sand and sea or a park brimming with inspiration. “We’re really fortunate to live within walking distance of Cornwall Park,” she says. “I try to spend time running and walking in the park—it’s important to have somewhere nearby where I can connect with nature. On the weekends, I love to take my camera up to the park with the kids and take photos.”
Inspiration from Coromandel
Many of Brenda’s landscapes are inspired by time spent in the Coromandel, a place she has visited every year since she was a baby. Rather than being an accurate depiction of a specific location, they’re an accumulation of places. “But they’re real in my mind,” she says, laughing. “Coromandel is the place I associate with taking things slow. I have time to stop, pick up my camera, and just notice nature in a much more mindful way.”
Nature’s Palette
Back in Auckland, Brenda’s photos become important references for creating paintings. “I have a huge gallery of photos to draw from,” she says. Nature is a constant source of inspiration, and she’s never short on ideas for paintings. “Even the same landscape presents hundreds of versions of the same view—in different seasons, times of day, and lights.”
She uses a mix of heavy-bodied and liquid acrylics and loves the way different mediums can create many transparent layers. “My process is very much about layers and the adding of texture and marks. I love seeing textured brushstrokes as there’s a kind of honesty in texture and in marks that are slightly awkward.”
Painting as Meditation
Brenda finds painting calming and immersive. She burns scented candles and listens to music while she paints. Her colors are also informed by nature’s palette, with the hues of the sky reflected in the land, water, and foliage she paints.
Brenda considers flowers to be gifts from nature that she can bring into her home. They feature prominently in the studio, both in real and painted form. “I find them incredibly uplifting. I haven’t had a lot of time to spend in the garden, so I pretty much rely on lovely friends and neighbors to keep me in good supply!”
A Lifelong Passion
From a young age, Brenda has spent time sketching and painting. At primary school, she was always the first to volunteer to draw the biblical scenes to be hung in church. While traveling in her twenties, she always had a pen and journal at hand. When she and Peter got married, they didn’t have extra money to buy art, so Brenda picked up her brushes and started painting canvases for their walls. Her passion for painting was reignited and continued to grow.
These days, blocks of time need to be scheduled in and around busy family life. She works on her paintings throughout the day, grabbing moments whenever she can. “I might add a couple of marks to a painting as I’m walking out the door to do the school run or in the middle of cooking dinner—painting is always going on in the back of my mind!”
Brenda finds painting a meditative and calming activity. “It’s a chance to clear my mind and immerse myself in something that feels like a very natural extension of myself,” she says. Worries disappear as she becomes immersed in the art-making process, ruminating over decisions such as whether she’s chosen the right shade of green.
“Sometimes I forget to make dinner or do an errand or hang the washing out because I’ve been caught up with painting. But that’s okay—we can always have cheese on toast, and there’s always another day to do chores.”
To see more of Brenda’s artwork, visit brendaclewsart.nz.
