“I’ve got more confident with it over time, I think,” she said.
One piece called The Bird is a striking image of two bird of paradise flowers.
There is also a piece called Toast for Tea, for which she used the technique of impasto (thick brushstrokes) to give texture to the toast toppings.
“It’s like those nights when you’ve had a busy day and you say to the kids, ‘I’m making toast for tea’.
“The background represents the craziness you’re feeling and the chaos of life where all you can cope with is toast for tea. The kids used to love it when they were little.”
She mostly works with acrylic paint, but also uses acrylic pen to create fine and detailed lace-like patterns.
“Using a pen gives you more control and is good for doing detailed patterns.”
The name of the exhibition – Let Me – is me asking to show you this part of who I am.
Jodi Scandrett
The exhibition is varied, ranging from flowers painted in watercolour to an ink print and a large digital print of a brown leaf that has an interesting texture to it when viewed from up close.
Scandrett is from a crafty family. As a young girl, she would always do art activities at her grandmother’s house.
Her mother is an expert at crocheting, and she remembers spending a lot of time with her choosing fabrics and buttons at Arthur Toye, a former fabric and haberdashery store in Gisborne, as a child.
A qualified early childhood educator, Scandrett last year moved into a head teacher role in the learning support unit at Gisborne Girls’ High School, working with special needs students.
She incorporates art into her teaching and encouraged some of her students to enter the IHC Art Awards last year.
“It’s a job I love and a job that gives me the space to create with my students.”
Art has always been her peaceful escape from the world when it gets too loud for her.
“It is something I do when I have time in between all my other roles of being a mother, wife, teacher, daughter and sister.”
She said she has purposely kept the art affordable. Most pieces are priced around $300.
The exhibition runs until June 14.
The details
Let Me by Jodi Scandrett
Matawhero Art Gallery
Matawhero Winery, 169 Riverpoint Rd, Matawhero
Cellar door hours: Noon to 3pm Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.