title Four offer differing landscapes publication The Nelson Mail description Review by Gail Tresidder date 14:06:2006 "Walk slowly along Leary's intricate painting The Games we Play and see it change. Admire the delicate colours and textures. Look for the soft round of the moon, the misty pink, the circles and crosses. In her other small paintings find a canoe, a fish hook, waterfalls and as much more as one's mind can see and essence feel. This is elegant work." Simultaneous exhibtions at two of our leading galleries showcase the work of four talented artists. Their paintings of land and water offer an intriguing contrastin interpretation and style... At Catchment Gallery, Nic Foster's three large near-representational oil on board paintings, set in Arthur's Pass National Park are beautiful and empty landscapes. I want to get in there and inhabit Eden. Looking at them, wondering at their mystical mountains and overall transparency of light, I think of John Buchanan's (1819-1898) classic painting of Milford Sound - of its time, also offering an invitation to all that saw it. Foster's new work in technically and emotionally very fine. Otira, with its sharp edged mountain snow seen through the mist contrasting with the deep green of the hills, an example of his artistry. Sometimes it is what is not in a painting that is important. My reaction to the two woman artists, Jane Blackmore and Anna Leary, both at Catchment, is very different to my response to Forbes and Foster. Whereas the men paint their interpretations of literal landscape, it seems to me that Blackmore paints the landscape of her heart and Leary the landscape of mind and spirit. Blackmore surprises. Her two oil and acrylics on canvas, You, Me Hand in Hand, with its explosion of light and life, and Perfume, imbued with a marvellous passion are exciting and different. In contrast is the serene and meditative oil on canvas nightpainting, Copycat Clouds...Stealing my Mood. I applaud the new warm colours and feel joy when I look at them. Walk slowly along Leary's intricate painting The Games we Play and see it change. Admire the delicate colours and textures. Look for the soft round of the moon, the misty pink, the circles and crosses. In her other small paintings find a canoe, a fish hook, waterfalls and as much more as one's mind can see and essence feel. This is elegant work. On holiday recently, I spent time visiting art galleries and institutions in two of the North Island's smaller cities, I returned home with fresh appreciation of the quality of our local artists and the inspiring tutors at NMIT who give them such a solid start. Foster, Blackmore and Leary are all Bachelor of Visual Arts graduates from the Nelson arts campus.