Herb Foley - Among Trees

Herb Foley continues to add to his extensive portfolio of work with a new solo exhibition debuting this month, “Among Trees”.

At Eighty-one, Foley continues to paint daily from his home in Kerkeri, where he relocated after the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. Surrounded by bush, he is at peace with his favourite muse; bushland. “I feel I paint the most important subject matter there is… without it there is nothing.”

As an artist who travelled extensively prior to settling in New Zealand in 1973, coming to a new land and experiencing the Pacific light and its environment could only work wonders on Foley's work. He is a master of chiaroscuro, conveying dappled light which he effects with paint splatters. Starting with earthy tones he stages bright reds and blues between the painted foliage, catching the viewer's eye and surprising us with new palettes.

TJ McNamara said of Foley’s past works “the images are complex patterns of life. Each painting moves from the undergrowth to the treetops… The undergrowth is populated by creatures, all painted with great subtlety and interwoven so the eye makes small discoveries everywhere.’

In Herb’s most recent works his focus has been on scenes from Kerikeri and Wharepuke. Motifs such as wetas, snails, and birds hide in between the leaves and give the viewer a turn of ‘I Spy', spotting the different subject matter.

"I have been involved in Art all my life. My math teacher told me I would end up on the end of a brush i.e sweeping the roads, a worthy occupation, looking after the environment, and so I have."

Join us on Wednesday, May 15th from 5:30-7:30pm to celebrate a wonderful new collection of paintings by Herb Foley. The artist will be in attendance. Exhibition will run until June 3rd.