Waitakere artist branches out

It's been a long road, but Linda Dixon's mixed-media, nature-inspired artworks are finally getting the recognition they deserve, as Sharu Delilkan discovers.
It's taken Linda Dixon six years, but she believes being accepted into the Titirangi Painters' Winter Exhibition has been worth the wait.
"I put my name down when I started painting because I was in awe of the work I saw and wanted to be part of it.
"So, when I got the call inviting me, I was thrilled," says the Glen Eden artist who has also completed a piece for the Best of the West competition, which will be judged by potter and Waitakere City art laureate Len Castle.
That artwork, Cabbage Tree, is based on a photo Dixon took high on a hill overlooking Piha of a cabbage tree that filled the entire frame of her camera's viewfinder.
"But, after finishing the piece, although I thought it looked great, I decided to add a few other elements because people don't always get it when you're too minimalist."
Dixon, who got into painting when her son Cameron gave her lessons in still life and colour blending, has always been charmed by trees.
"I think they're beautiful and very powerful, particularly since we need them to breathe."
The winner of the recent Titirangi Community Arts Council emerging artist competition uses stencils as the basis of her paintings.
"I create stencils from the photos I take and paint out the parts I don't want," says Dixon.
"And I'm able to reuse the images.
"I don't like wasting old paints so I find ways to blend them.
"After all, if you look at nature, there aren't any colours that don't go together."
17th Titirangi Painters' Winter Exhibition,
War Memorial Hall, South Titirangi Rd, Titirangi,
Aug 22-23, 10am-4pm. Free.
Contact Robin Mansfield, ph 827 2210.