Colour, curves and a bit of romance is how local artist Briar Hardy-Hesson describes her contemporary work.
The 38-year-old has been in Wānaka on and off since 2006 and says the town’s slow-paced environment suits her down to the ground when it comes to fanning that creative spark.
"I don’t take for granted how exceptionally privileged I am to live in a very magical place. I find being by the water instantly calms me down. If I’m by myself and without distraction in the great expanse of lake, sky and mountains, it doesn’t take long for my mind to clear and ideas to meld."
Her relationship to water, plants and flowers are a consistent theme in her jewellery and art.
"In terms of the lifestyle and the pace of living, I have the brain space to be able to do this; in a city, I would be so overwhelmed that I wouldn’t have the capacity and headspace to let these ideas brew."
Hardy-Hesson would need to open up a lot of headspace given her talents range from painting, sewing, sculpting, prints, jewellery making — you name it, she can do it.
"Spending time outdoors lends itself to developing certain practicalities and leaves you with a sense of nonconformity. It doesn’t take long for this to flow through into what I make, whether it’s a shape, form or a colour combination. I don’t ever set out to capture or recreate the landscape but it certainly influences me."
She named her brand Fruit Bowl Studio as an umbrella for all the art.
"It gives me flexibility and encompasses the eclectic and colourful nature of my work. I think what sets it apart is that my personality and character carries through whatever I do.
"I am really driven by colour and organic shapes and forms, whether that is in the jewellery or [in] figurative pieces and paintings."
She has recently been relishing sculpting ornamental pieces for walls and tables around the home.
The simple inspiration for the idea of making hundreds of clay sculpted ears for the wall was when she found a few earrings that had lost their partner and needed a new home.
"I am really into curves, whether on a person or in a ring, softness and roundness. I guess my style is a little bit quirky and whimsical and very romantic as well when it comes to these bigger glitzy and princessy-style rings ... a little bit fantasy.
"I like things and unusual shapes. I am not excited too much by straight lines."
Hardy-Hesson says much of the art found in Wānaka is often of the traditional landscape variety, which she appreciates. But the contemporary scene is still growing and she would love to see a space where they could all get together in mutual appreciation.
"I think not having a really good facility is part of the problem. We need an art centre desperately."
For now, she works from her newly rented Queensberry cottage, which has given her the space and freedom to get really creative.
"It is a huge difference just to be able to saw, bang and smash into the night and not worry about the noise and other people."
She works during the day at an architecture firm in town. By night she is on the tools.
"When I am not at work, I am working here. I like to do a few hours before work, get to work and then come home and do more."
Her jewellery and art sells in Wellington, New Plymouth and Dunedin, but many of her sales happen via her Instagram, The Fruit Bowl Studio.
She says her style is best-described as "vibrant, free-spirited and a little bit quirky with a touch of whimsy and romance".
She picked up her creativity from her mother, who made ceramics and taught art herself.
She set off to do a fine arts degree at Auckland University’s Elam School of Fine Arts, but left after a year as she found there was too much theory.
"I am a maker. I didn’t want to be taught how to think — I wanted to be taught how to do practical things and I wasn’t getting that at school."
All of her talents and crafts are self taught, apart form a few short courses.
Her end goal she says is to be making things full time and hosting classes in order to teach others creative crafts.
