What do you do?

I’m an artist based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I also work part-time making coffee and toasting sandwiches.

What are you reading?

I’ve been reading an essay by American artist Ross Simonini titled ‘The All: In praise of generalism’. I love the way he writes and really respect his ongoing art practice. He has a real commitment to interacting with other artists from around the world through conversations/interviews.

Who is your ideal studio buddy?

My partner Ruby. We are lucky enough to have studios in the same building, so we are always sharing our work with each other. I believe our work is in constant dialogue although we are not always aware of it. I love her painting so much and we are having a show together in July together. I’m very excited about it!

What are you listening to?

I’ve been listening to lots of Juana Molina, Joanne Robertson and James Ferarro recently. At the moment I’m trying to get into the habit of working without music and listening to the sounds of my materials a little more. I’m also a passionate listener of music from Aotearoa. I love Erny Belle, School Fair, Team Dynamite, The Clean and Aldous Harding, I could go on and on.

What did you learn at art school?

Follow the work. Don’t let yourself get pinned down with any specific way of working. Talk to other artists, be generous and attentive, learn to understand how other artists think and work.

What could you imagine doing if you didn’t do what you do?

I’ve always been interested in writing music for films. It’s a little beyond me in a technical sense but I’m very curious about the process.

An artist (living or dead) you would like to meet?

Elizabeth Cotten or Howard Hodgkin.