Waiheke Gulf News 9 December 2021
If you know Katie Trinkle-Legge’s still life in oil you will see what a masterful painter she is and viewing her work in person is an absolute must as she has an incredible sense of colour and form. She also captures the colours and texture in her recent landscapes which undoubtedly should be seen in person at Space Gallery or in her studio.
Michelle Barber: What’s your background?
Katie Trinkle-Legge: I was born in 1965 in New York but traveled extensively as a child because my father was in the Military. I spent most of my childhood summers on Nantucket Island with my grandfather so it was no surprise that I ended up choosing to live on Nantucket full time after graduating from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 1988. It was one of the places that felt like a permanent home to me.
I was very fortunate to have landed there before it became totally discovered. The contemporary art scene was just starting to take hold and I was able to begin exhibiting my work with a great gallery.
I met my Kiwi husband Darren while he was traveling and working on Nantucket. We just celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary this November. Crazy how time flies.
We moved to Waiheke in 2010 because we love island life and wanted our son Jake to have a chance at Kiwi life. Prior to covid I would travel back to Nantucket every year for an exhibition of my work but now I just ship pieces out to my USA galleries.
MB: How long have you been making art?
KTL: I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. My grandfather was an architect and my father was a painter. It’s in the blood. There was always paper, pencils and paints around so it just felt like part of everyday life to create images. Currently most of my works are oil paintings but I love using watercolor as a sketch medium for planning bigger work.
MB: What does your work aim to say if anything? It doesn’t have to “say” anything but moreover, what does it say to you?
KTL: I’m not sure I’m trying to say anything with my art. It’s more of an instinctual process for me. It’s a reaction to my surroundings. Light, color, shadows and the atmospheric hum that surrounds us, captivate my eye. I am restless if I don’t get into the studio for a few days but I do like to get away sometimes. Taking breaks from the studio allows me to come in with renewed energy and inspiration. Color and how we all perceive it differently is fascinating to me. I was trained as a classical painter but my palette is not traditional.
MB: Who are your biggest artistic influences?
KTL: There are quite a few but here would be the top four:
Georgia O’keeffe – for her scale and point of view when creating compositions.
California painter Wayne Thiebaud – for his textural paint application and choice of subject matter.
Edgar Degas – for his palette and ability to capture light.
Mark Rothko – for his color field paintings and their resonance.
MB: What else do you do? And does this influence your work?
KTL: I have been walking my dog so much during lockdown that I can’t help but be inspired by the landscape that surrounds us on Waiheke. I particularly love morning and evening light. People know me for my large scale still life paintings but I am creating landscapes too.
Darren loves to sail so we get away on the boat when the weather is good. I am a
fair-weather sailor. There are often skies and horizon colors out at sea that inspire my palette.
I also volunteer with Waiheke Native Bird Rescue. I love helping out with the penguins and all the birds. It is such a departure from my studio practice. I am able to completely focus on bird care while I’m there. It clears the mind of art career clutter.
MB: How did you cope with lockdown? Were you more productive? Does your work reflect what’s currently happening?
KTL: My mood during lockdown fluctuated. In the early days I was happy for the quiet break. Darren and I created a really fun upcycled table from old wooden pallets and I painted a Palm Beach scene on the top. (It’s available at my studio if anyone is keen to see it.)
I also had quite a few commissions but the best one was a wedding gift for a cousin in the States. The only bummer there was that the US postal service lost it for nearly a month so it was a very late wedding gift.
I am grateful that I have my studio and something to keep me sane during lockdowns. I feel for people who may have spent way too much time online during this crisis. I try to stay away from social media these days. It is a great tool for artists to get their work out there but I feel like seeing art in person is still the best way to experience it.
I’m part of the Space Gallery Collective in Oneroa. We just opened up again so I’m looking forward to seeing more people and connecting to the world a bit more. Anyone is also welcome to visit my studio in Surfdale.
Michelle Barber is the owner/operator of Artisphere.co.nz