Alan's first ever colour work, exhibited in "The Art of Realism"

"I learnt to draw at school. I wasn't given home work just a pencil and a piece of paper. From there I got onto it, even winning a competition for my drawing of a 'Mountain Lion on a Rock'.

I started doing more detailed work using pen and pencil. I would draw as I listened to music because it would bring out all my feelings, some of them really dark. I'd leave these feelings on the paper, it's like I'm trapped in that world. That's what makes my work honest, don't leave anything out. The more you look at the detail the more you find hidden meaning.

I had my first exhibition last year, it was the first time anyone had seen my drawings. It was hard for me to show others my work because the drawings were so personal and I was surprised to find people really liked them. I enjoy coming to Mosaic because the atmosphere is peaceful and I feel different here. I want to take my work further, get out of the darkness, use more colour and shading in my work. At Mosaic I feel supported to do that."

 From Alan's first solo exhibition "Dark Gallery"

Some of Alan's creative digital photography

Visit Alan's Cafe Press Page to buy merchandise

Recent Exhibition History:

• 2006 Solo Exhibition at Mosaic, entitled 'Dark Gallery'.

• 2007 Contributing Artist for the Mosaic Wine Box Auction.

• 2007 Hawke's Bay Review.

Alan's Story

Alan spent years creating meticulous, fantastic drawings but was too afraid to show them to other people. He thought that no-one would be interested, and in general felt that he didn't have anything to offer the community.

Since having a stroke in his late 20's, his world had gradually got smaller as he lost confidence and belief that there was a place for him in our community. Before having his stroke Alan was a typical New Zealand bloke, enjoying working with shearing gangs, and having an active social life. This changed, however and he found that he was no longer able to live the way he had before, and that society was not prepared to accommodate his new needs, seeing him as “disabled”. His circle of friends grew smaller and he found that he was now unable to get work. For many years Alan lived with his family, existing on the fringe of society.

One day Alan came into Mosaic to see what was being done in this interesting looking building. There he found a variety of courses in topics that really interested him such as computer graphics, sculpture, woodwork and bone carving. More importantly Alan found people that accepted him as he was and encouraged him just to be himself. He was helped with learning how to use different media and his creative side blossomed as he was encouraged to express his own ideas and identity. One day Alan brought in his cherished pictures to show the art tutor, and was surprised to find that the tutor thought they were great, so good that the tutor suggested exhibiting them, something Alan never believed would happen. Each drawing had taken many months to complete and was a highly detailed world in itself. When they were framed, they looked even better, and Alan nervously prepared for his first ever exhibition, writing his own artist's statement and producing new computer generated photographic art works to complement his drawings.

Exhibiting your artwork for the first time is a big step for any artist – how will people think about my work, and how will they think about me? Alan was delighted to find that many people loved his artwork and several of his drawings and prints sold, giving him an even bigger boost in self-esteem.

Today Alan says that coming to Mosaic has been one of the best things in his life, and that discovering new friends is the most important part of that experience. Building relationships and having a positive sense of self worth is important for everyone, and for someone with a disability these are so much harder in a world that wants you to be “normal”, when it is just not possible. Being yourself is more important, and finding people who accept you for who you are, and for what you can do is a great help.