WINDOW washer Richard Bigwood has always admired the art on the other side of the glass.
By day he cleans windows at buildings like the Wellington City Gallery and government and corporate foyers.
“Some of the exhibits have been very interesting. The government collections are impressive, but not always to my liking,” says Bigwood.
In 2008, the cleaner fractured his spine at work.
“I have had a few high falls, broken elbows, and dislocated shoulders. But although this back fracture was just a small fall, it took three months to recover.”
At his Karori home, Bigwood found painting came naturally and used the time to try and paint something others might like to gaze though the glass at.
Bigwood wasn’t daunted by a lack of formal training.
“I wouldn’t know how to teach someone how to paint, because it’s just what the brain tells me to do – it’s the brilliance of ignorance.”
His natural ability is getting attention, and he has been chosen to appear as a featured artist at the New Zealand Art Show.
The selection came after his classical painting of Oscar Knightly won him a raft of prizes at the Duxton Art Awards.
And the Portrait Gallery has asked him to continue to capture contemporary Kiwi artists.
“They are interested in including my work in an upcoming exhibition, and suggested I develop classic portraits of modern New Zealanders. The gallery wants to attract more than the middle-class, European demographic,” he laughs. “I hope to paint musicians like Ladi 6 and Scribe – the kind of people who wouldn’t have had a classical portrait in the past.”
The Samoan connection in Bigwood’s paintings comes through his wife, Alita Bigwood.
“She knows these people through her sister’s friend’s cousin, who lives with Oscar Knightly in Auckland. Oscar was pretty enthusiastic about it. Some people don’t like the idea of having an image of themselves, while others are motivated by it”.
Painting portraits is always a varied experience, and reading your subject is important, he says.
“Talking with them about a passion works well, and it helps bring out their character.”
Since his accident, Bigwood stays away from high-rises, and sticks to windows at places like Island Bay School.
New Zealand Art Show, TSB Arena, July 29 to August 1