Never too young to produce great art

BIG ART: Allen Batchelor of Carterton, at 11 years of age is the youngest exhibitor at the Big Wai Art Sale, proudly shows off his work.

An 11-year-old first-time exhibitor has his art up for grabs alongside the work of almost 90 Kiwi artists at the Big Wai Art Sale in Carterton.

Allen Batchelor, who is the youngest exhibitor and son of event organiser and veteran Wairarapa artist, Anna-Marie Kingsley, has for sale eight abstract and one landscape painting in acrylics at the event, which will run at the Carterton Events Centre from 10am to 4pm daily from today to Sunday.

Allen, who is home-schooled, said he had first painted as a 3-year-old and preferred to work with acrylics, as he disliked using turpentine when painting in oils, because of the fumes and damage caused to brushes.

His abstract pieces were for sale at $75 each and his single landscape carried a price tag of $150.

Ms Kingsley said there were 88 exhibitors this year, the greatest artist turn-out at the annual event, and more than 1000 artworks up for sale.

The Big Wai Art Sale had become a popular drawcard at the Carterton Daffodil Carnival and the cash and carry art sale was expanding to include a Wai Artisans.

Artisans from the region will be publicly working their crafts including demonstrations from watercolour artists, metal and stone sculptors, quilters, and needle-felt artists, according to event literature.

"It is an exciting development and on the Sunday Carnival day the artists will be joined by olive oil producers and winemakers and cheesemakers."