“I’ve found my niche”
31 March 2009 "I’m an artist. I also have cerebral palsy. Seven years ago, I discovered Spark Studio in Auckland and have loved finding my artistic streak. I work there as Website Developer and Maintainer. Being employed by Spark Studio and being an artist there is particularly rewarding."
Allyson Hamblett writes about her life as an artist.
I have a Bachelor of Arts from Auckland University and a Diploma in Library and Information Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. I am currently studying for a National Certificate in Computing (Level 3).
I never knew I had an artistic talent. Art teachers at school were scared of students with disabilities. But Spark Studio has the patience to develop my artistic talent. If Spark Studio could bottle the creative energies in the studio, there would be no recession.
I started using acrylics on canvas, painting landscapes and cityscapes. What fascinated me, and still does, is turning a two-dimensional piece of canvas into a three-dimensional place one could walk into.
I went through a Venice phase. One of my paintings was called Venice is abstract anyway and it just showed a path through the centre of a Venetian town. I’m very pleased with that particular piece of work, which I see every time I walk into Spark Studio.
Another favourite piece that sold in an auction was a cityscape of Three Lamps, Ponsonby. It was a significant painting for me because I live in Three Lamps and because I knew I was developing the technical skills I needed to be happy with my artwork.
I’m my own worst critic. Funny thing is that the art tutors love my work but it takes me a while to come to the same conclusion. When I paint, I become so focussed on the artwork I’m creating that two hours seems to take five minutes.
Telling our stories
In 2007, my art started developing and evolving. The focus of the art classes was telling our stories. My art has become much more significant because it’s about me. Using my experiences as a person with cerebral palsy and as a transsexual woman has been very intense at times (part of me would like to go back to the safety of a landscape or cityscape) but very rewarding.
I was involved in a major exhibition in November 2008 at Corbans Estate Arts Centre where I exhibited a collection of prints put together in a book, which told the story of my life. One of my artworks was a handwritten poem on handmade ginger paper about “disability seen as a positive”. I sometimes think that our contributions to society are ignored because of our disabilities.
At the moment, I am focussed on portraiture. I’m finding this class amazing. It’s been a technical class so far. I get frustrated with my cerebral palsy at times, because not all of the pencil and charcoal self-portraits have turned out as well as I would have liked them to be, and I hope I look better than the image I’ve created. Self -portraiture is very difficult because I’m trying to draw and paint myself. I’m looking forward to the portraiture exhibition Spark Studio is having in June.
As for the future, I’d love to be recognised as an artist – where my disability will just disappear into the background. I’d love to work towards my own exhibition. Discovering my artistic side has been incredibly rewarding. It’s developed my confidence and has given me a real focus in life. I’ve found my niche.