Benjamin Woollcombe
(New Zealand)
I became interested in the medium of water color in 1979 when I first exhibited in Auckland New Zealand.
I enjoy painting plein air amidst our majestic mountains of the South Island. All my work is painted from real life whether landscape, portrait, or still life. Working fast, as light and other conditions change, does not allow for getting too caught up in the details. I find that paintings made in this way are fresh and reflect the feeling of the subject I am portraying.
My work has been exhibited extensively in New Zealand. Over the years I have been able to paint in many countries including Taiwan, where I weathered out a cyclone at Sun Moon Lake!
After more than 40 years of painting I am still intrigued by this subtle and illusive medium as it envelopes the page.
1978 年在紐西蘭奧克蘭首次展出時，我開始對水彩這樣的媒材產生興趣。我享受在紐西蘭南島壯麗的山巒中進行戶外寫生，無論是風景畫、肖像畫或是靜物畫，我所有的作品都在描繪現實生活。因著光線與其他條件的變化，我迅速創作，不容許自己耽溺於細節之中。我發現如此作畫較為新鮮，也反映出我所描繪的主體的感受。
我的作品在紐西蘭多處展出。多年來我也到許多國家作畫，包括臺灣，那時我在日月潭熬過了颱風的侵襲。
作畫逾 40 餘載，我依然為水彩這溶納紙張、低調且迷人的媒材深深著迷。
Ben McLoud woolshed, Rangitata Valley, New Zealand 班的羊毛小屋
Watercolor 水彩｜18.8 x 28 cm｜2000
I was attracted to this group of farm buildings as they made for an interesting composition with the backdrop of shadowed hill behind.
Over more than 40 years of painting I have recorded many buildings that now, no longer exist…..they become a record, a glimpse of the past.
這些農場建築物與後方蓊鬱的山丘形成一幅有趣的構圖，深深吸引著我。四十年來的作畫生涯中，我描繪了許多建築，而今已不復存在了……而畫作成了一種紀錄、一種回憶。
Mount Somers 向晚風光
Watercolor 水彩｜26 x 36cm｜1997
I painted this very quickly one evening from my garden. It was the dramatic sky that interested me. With the help of copious water I was able to capture this fleeting scene.
I enjoy the contrast between the light sky washes contrasting with the heavy undiluted paint straight from the tube depicting the evening landscape.
這是我在某天傍晚快速描繪的自家花園，當時的天空令人著迷。利用大量的水份，我才能捕捉這閃瞬即逝的一刻。我喜歡渲染出來的光亮天空與厚重顏料直塗的向晚風景之間的對比。
Alstroemerias 百合水仙
Watercolor 水彩｜28 x 18.8cm｜2004
On a rainy day I sometimes paint a still life or on this occasion a pot with flowers attracted my attention. Painting briskly in a broad manner and leaving highlights I was able to capture the light bright nature of the blooms against the dark background.
I often find that work completed quickly in this way without too much attention to detail are the ones that look well in the frame when finished.
某個下雨的日子，這一個花瓶吸引我畫了一幅靜物畫。我以輕快的筆觸大剌剌地作畫，並保留畫中最明亮的部分，好捕捉相對於深沉背景，那花朵明亮的特質。我常覺得如此快速地作畫，無須執著於細節，完成後才是一幅好看的作品。