Frances Hodgkins

If you have a passion for art you will know about Frances.

I put her in the same category as Katherine Mansfield. These New Zealand women are two of my most admired people. Individuals, probably really stroppy, prepared to be individuals and making their mark in New Zealand history.

There is a Frances Hodgkins exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery at present. It is called European Journeys. Frances was born in Dunedin in 1869 and died in 1947…when I was six …and I didn’t even know who she was.

She left for Europe in 1920 and became a very important influence on British Modernism. She saw two World Wars and she lived in a time when women artists were really never recognised.

I have had a picture/photo of her on my studio wall since I started painting.  My youngest daughter gave it to me when I started to produce anything that looked vaguely promising.

She was highly regarded by such well known artists as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth.

I believe that she is one of the most internationally important artists in New Zealand's history. I wish that I had her talent - she was able to take a mundane scene and bring it to life as an expressionist.

As well as the picture on my wall, I also have a book about her and her images which I value.
Absolutely brilliant and as amazing (I think) as Katherine Mansfield.

The Frances Hodgkins exhibition is on until the end of August and I’m thrilled to be going.