Graham Christensen, a painter of landscapes, portraits and farm life scenes, shares his studio, a former hay barn, with his daughter Natasha Christensen, a contemporary textile artist. Photo: Warwick Smith / Manawatū Standard

When Manawatū artist Graham Christensen gave up half of his studio he gained a critical eye.

The painter of pastoral landscapes and farming life works out of a converted hay barn he shares with daughter Natasha, who took up weaving a couple of years ago, spinning her creativity into Slow Woven Textile Studio.

“I have absolutely no skills whatsoever in assessing weaving,” said Graham. “But Natasha has some very good eye skills for assessing my artwork, and I regularly call on her advice to assess a piece which I have completed and guide me accordingly.”

Those following Art Trail Manawatū this weekend have the opportunity to stop by and see both father and daughter in their element. More than 100 galleries and private studios are opening to the public to champion local artists and better connect them to those who support their livelihoods.

Both Graham and Natasha Christensen will be on site to welcome and chat with visitors during Art Trail Manawatū on Saturday and Sunday. Photo: Warwick Smith / Manawatū Standard

Though artists were stereotypically portrayed as lonesome creators, tapping inspiration through isolation, Graham said the large studio at their rural property near Ashhurst worked “exceedingly well” for both him and Natasha.

It was well-lit with extraordinary window space, and both were able to make good use of the natural light, he said.

“I guess the only difficulty we have is the barn is about 50 to 70 metres away from the house. Comfort stops require us to make a quick trip back to the house.”

Natasha took up weaving when recovering from a serious cardiac arrest and brain injury, the creative outlet providing a welcome focus. She spoke to Manawatū Standard earlier this year on how the repetitive method of weaving, including measuring and counting, aided her brain function.

Graham said his daughter had become so focused on her weaving she had less time to think about her health, and as a consequence it had improved considerably.

“From a parent's point of view, it's a wonderful thing to see it happening.”

Natasha Christensen at work on her loom. Photo: Warwick Smith / Manawatū Standard

He and Natasha set boundaries when she moved into the studio, both in terms of a few house rules and physical divisions.

The latter provided both with additional wall space to display their work which was hugely beneficial during the Art Trail. Both would be exhibiting a number of newer pieces that hadn’t been seen before.

Graham’s paintings of rural life in New Zealand had a nostalgic quality. He said people often liked to reminisce about their own childhoods growing up on farms.

“Often I find I'm painting memories as much as anything, and people can relate to what I do. There might be a painting of a stock man sitting in a wool shed, or shearers sitting in a wool shed, and they like to tell me their their stories of their youth.”

Graham Christensen, a “painter of memories”. Photo: Warwick Smith / Manawatū Standard

Most of the settings he depicted were timeless; the landscapes, livestock, wool sheds and farmhands giving away little on what decade or even what century they belonged to. We asked whether he would contemplate portraying a contemporary farm, with GPS cattle sensors or spray drones.

“The next door neighbour’s got a dairy herd with collars. I look over the fence and I think, yeah, I could possibly do that,” he said, laughing. “It doesn't seem quite as natural for an older bloke, but that may come.”

Graham has been involved with Manawatū Art Trail since its formation in 2017, initially displaying his work at the Caccia Birch House exhibitions before realising he could put his home studio to better use.

“We get surprising numbers of people who call and visit, there's something like 70 or 80 people over the two days who will cruise in and have a look.

“We are slightly off the beaten track, because you have to turn off the main highway to get to get to us, and yet people are keen to do so. So we're excited about the number of people who turn up, and very keen to talk to them about what we do.”

Artists Carla Woollaston, left, and Audrey Holmes at the Art Trail Manawatū opening exhibition at Square Edge on October 3. Photo: Warwick Smith / Manawatū Standard

The Christensens’ art studio at 84 Glenburn Rd, Ashhurst, will be open 10am to 4pm over October 18 - 19, as will artist demonstrations, interactive experiences, workshops, and exhibits throughout the region.

A brochure noting all participating artists and galleries is available from Square Edge, while a digital trail guide is available from the website communityarts.org.nz. All entry is free, and artworks will be available to buy.

You can read the original story published in The Post here.