Artist
Artist statement
Rahel’s love for painting grapes started on a stay at a friend‘s place in Arrowtown. Becoming aware of the changing shapes of shadows on the grape vine throughout the day led her to many ‘Grape Composition’ paintings. Moving to Blenheim and buying a home with a vine spreading on the fence has further deepened her love for the subject. Following the vines at home and throughout the Marlborough region through the changes of the day and the seasons provided endless opportunities for exploring colour, light and compositions. The paintings highlight carefully chosen views.
Her love for colour and composition is also applied to exploring Still Life, Landscapes and Mail Boxes. Since arriving in New Zealand, these have left a lasting impression due to the meaningful connections they offer between the land and the people. This then led to the Letters of Expression series.
About Rahel
Born in 1959, Rahel always enjoyed drawing, painting and creating. Following her love for all things art, she studied Art at Oranim Teachers Training College specialising in teaching art while living in Kibbutz Saar, Israel.
Starting New Zealand life in 1986 with her kiwi husband in Southland (where their two daughters were born), Rahel extended her skills in painting, weaving and felting at the Southern Institute of Technology.
On coming to live in Blenheim in 1998, Rahel joined the Marlborough Art Society and its committee. She took part in the Society transition to the Marlborough Gallery, taking on the role of Gallery co-ordinator for 3 years.
Rahel shared her time between motherhood, painting and teaching after school art classes for children at the Marlborough Gallery. She also conducted extension art workshops in schools creating murals and ran the Children As Artists workshops for REAP Marlborough.
Her first group exhibition ‘en route’ in October 1999 was an all sold out heart-warming first! Second group exhibition, ‘4rtmumz’ in Blenheim started a yearly event where the rtmumz exhibited work in Dunedin, Invercargill and Blenheim.
Moving to Christchurch in 2010, Rahel focused on painting, resulting in her first solo exhibition at home. She also taught art in the Christchurch City Council’s Holiday Programme as well as painting, drawing, printing and children art workshops in a variety of mediums at Hands Craft Shop.
Rahel is now living in Richmond, Nelson. She exhibits work at ‘Art Box Gallery’ in Christchurch & 'Arty Nelson' in Nelson.