Aug 25, 20232 min read

Creative Matters with Evan Woodruffe

Abstract artist Evan Woodruffe lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. He is a well known, much loved figure in the NZ art world.

Evan is an artist with many threads to his practice. Most of his time is spent making work for exhibitions, projects, and commissions. He's also the “product specialist” for Gordon Harris, running workshops and writing editorial for their art stores. He is one of six Global Brand Ambassadors for both Schmincke Artist Colours and da Vinci Artist Brushes in Germany. He teaches at Browne School of Art in Auckland and he is an active advocate for the visual arts, a collector, awards judge, fabric lover and writer.

In this episode we talk about his parents' art store Studio Art Supplies in Auckland, which they started in 1973 and how this has influenced the work he does now. He shares how he began his adult life as a musician then later decided to study fine art, completing a PG Dip in Art & Design at AUT and then switching to Elam School of Fine Arts to complete his MFA, and how this changed his art practice. We discuss what makes a good abstract painting, what he wants his paintings to do to the viewer, why he loves to paint big and how he builds a painting starting with collage using fabrics from his favourite NZ menswear tailor Strangely Normal (who also make all the gorgeous shirts he wears) and sometimes finishing with found materials (such as fur from the vintage throw on his bed.)

He talks about his work as a brand ambassador and educator and he gives us a lovely insight into his and his partner Jeannie's growing art collection.