Accidental artist passes on skills

Tauranga artist Kim Artus with one of his three paintings that have won Tauranga Society of artists supreme award. Photo/supplied

Driving over the Kaimais thinking "what the hell am I doing?" was how Kim Artus' life as an artist began.

It was the end of 2012 and since then - with very little experience since he left school - he has become an award winner.

He has won the supreme award at the Tauranga Society of Artists supreme award each year since 2013 - also getting second place that year - and the newcomers award at the Auckland Easter Show, awarded to artists with four years' experience or less, twice.

The reason for the trip was to attend an art workshop in Matamata being conducted by Jus Coufreur.

"I saw a painting [of his] that my brother had bought off TradeMe and though it was cool so I looked up his website. Then I bought a couple of canvases and went over to a workshop," he says.

"I wanted my paintings to look professional and I thought if I did a course with a professional, I'd get those tips and it paid off."

One of his favourite subjects is Asian people. "Kids are the best for pulling at the heartstrings of the judges," he says.

Since he started painting he has made three trips to Bali. One of his winning paintings featured three drummers from a festival. The following year he returned and, remarkably, found the boys again.

"I'd printed off photos [of the painting] on the off-chance, and one boy saw one of them and called the other two over."

He gave them some money, as his painting had won two prizes and been sold, and the photographs.

His mentor in Matamata often paints the backs of people -a style Kim initially followed - but he was then given a photo of his grandmother to paint.

"At first I thought it was a bit out of my league, but it turned out really well and gave me he confidence to try other things."

Kim has also helped pupils at St Mary's School with their art thanks to his architectural design training, teaching them perspective drawing by taking classes to the Historic Village to practise.

Also at St Mary's, but in a different vein, Kim coaches the school's Jump Jam teams which are regulars at the annual national championships. Three teams from the school have qualified for this year's nationals and will travel to Christchurch in November.

Kim photographed the 2007 championships. At the time his children attended St Mary's School. "I thought 'my daughter should be doing this' and went back to the school raving about it.

We got a trip organised for the following year. "We did okay, but when we were down there and saw the teams who had done it all before, we began to understand what was required."

The school had its first win at the nationals in 2011. While he no longer has children at the school, St Mary's staff are keen for him to remain as coach.

"It's probably my creativity and attention to detail and desire to do well," he says.

"I love seeing the kids' looks on their faces when they win - everybody loves that high."