Ken Padgett

Shortly after I retired from work we moved to Henderson. I needed something to occupy my time and noticed there was an art group working from the Westwave complex called WCCWC. Art had been my favorite subject at school and so I asked if I could join. From that time on I was a regular with the group, it was a real struggle at first but with the help of other members, I began to do some reasonable paintings. I first worked with oils but then was introduced to chalk pastels, this was a medium I came to love and my work began to sell.

Almost all my paintings went through Michaels Restaurant and Gallery the owner was Garry Bates, Garry is a very enthusiastic supporter of art in west Auckland, and is now a partner in The Falls Restaurant and Gallery also in Henderson; he is still selling my work from there.

I am also a member of The Titirangi Painters and The Hobsonville Painters. I do pastel work still but I am now working mostly in oils or acrylic. Most of my works are Landscapes with the occasional abstract picture to give me a change. I have taught art for beginners for a couple of terms and found it very rewarding, I think the tutor learns as much as the pupils, there are some demanding questions to answer.

There are examples of my work in China, Australia and England. I enter quite a few competitions around Auckland and have been fortunate enough to win a few awards, such as Favorite painting and different merit awards