A Rakaia woman is using skills from her career as an alcohol and other drugs clinician as she holds art classes in her home studio.
Neela Curran, 66, worked with clients at the Department of Corrections in Australia, prior to moving to New Zealand to settle here with longtime partner Vaughan about four years ago.
Group therapy was one of her tasks in addiction rehabilitation work. She had to have skills in managing group dynamics and building members’ confidence.
This time her small groups of students are not learning to rehabilitate from alcohol or drug addiction, but instead learning all about painting.
Curran said art in itself was a type of therapy.
The classes she offers use watercolour, her favourite medium.
The process of creation for this medium in particular was ‘‘mesmerising’’ as paint and water had a movement all its own and created a unique image on the canvas.
‘‘It’s magical,’’ Curran said.
“When I show people what can happen with the interaction of paper, pigment and water, their eyes just light up…watercolour definitely has that wow factor!”
Curran got into painting through a previous passion of hers, p-tisserie.
About 26 years ago, she claimed first prize at the Sydney Royal Easter Show for a cake, which had involved painted on food colouring. Despite the thrill of winning, Curran was dismayed when judges said her creation would have benefited from improved painting skills.
‘‘That changed my life,’’ Curran said.
It inspired her to buy some water colours and brushes and teach herself. She loved it so much she went on to complete a Diploma of Visual Arts.
She began to take painting seriously about 16 years ago, and was able to use it in her former clinician career, teaching watercolour among a range of therapeutic activities.
Today living in the Rakaia countryside, Curran and Vaughan have a collection of pets – two horses, four pet sheep which were rescued as lambs, two rescue dogs and a rescue cat.
“I love the Mid Canterbury area,’’ she said.
She has set up a studio space in their home where she began running trial classes last year.
‘‘I have lived in different parts of New Zealand in the past, including in the North Island, but I feel that this area has the most friendly and helpful people I have ever come across.’’
Now she was preparing to launch lessons, named Lazy Sundays Watercolour Workshop Series, to run throughout the year, from April.
Anyone interested in finding out more can contact her on 0278441944, or [email protected]
