Jenny Knowles, of Earnscleugh, works on a limestone sculpture of Central Otago’s ‘‘primary industries’’ at Pioneer Park during the Alexandra Thyme Festival.
Her mother did leatherwork and inspired her creativity from an early age and she studied art for University Entrance at St Hilda's Collegiate School in Dunedin.
However, while she worked long hours in a range of different jobs, her artistic talent lay idle until about eight years ago when she did a course sculpting limestone with Liz Hall, of Wanaka.
‘‘I did go to a couple of Reap courses and just decided I liked it from there and went home and ordered my limestone and carried on,'' she said.
She ordered a tonne of limestone and has not looked back since.
Carving the stone can be a dusty job so Mrs Knowles chooses to sculpt outdoors unless she is working in clay.
‘‘I can't get outside during the winter, so I do my clay work.''
She also does pastel and graphite sketches.
At home in Earnscleugh with husband Danny, the deer, sheep, miniature horses, chooks, dogs and cats, there will soon be another addition to the family.
Mrs Knowles is five months pregnant and she has been making the most of having time at home to do her artwork.
‘‘It's a hobby come income.
‘‘I do special bits for people - pieces that tell a story or about someone's life, things like that.''
As with other years, she has been one of the resident sculptors for the week-long Alexandra Thyme Festival.
The artists work on their creations all week in Pioneer Park and on Saturday night the works are auctioned.
Mrs Knowles' work Basin of Industry was the final work to be auctioned and was passed in at more than $1000, but an agreement was made with the final bidder and it later sold for the reserve price.
‘‘I was really happy where it went.''
The work incorporates four Central Otago landmarks - goldmining, cherry growing, wine and merino sheep.
‘‘I wanted something that represented the district.
‘‘Coming back to the basics always interests me, orchards, goldmining shaped the country a lot and the sheep farming which is continuing.
‘‘The big merino stations around here aren't going to change in a hurry.
‘‘I'm from a farming background, so the primary industries do interest me.''
Mrs Knowles, who was the youngest of four children, grew up on a farm near Ranfurly.
One of her limestone works from the 2006 Thyme Festival, of an Otago skink, sold at auction to Central Stories and is displayed near the entrance to the art gallery.
‘‘The sculptures I try to do, I do them so older people and children can relate to them.
‘‘Some artists just do art for adults and I like to do it for everyone.''
