Jaimee Paul

Growing up in a tiny rural town in the southern end of New Zealand, Jaimee Paul, while surrounded by green, had a dream that welcomed her into the African wilderness, she says 'like a portal into my own future'.

Jaimee's work captures the beauty of nature's beings and celebrates what is worth protecting.

Favouring the realistic quality of black and white watercolours, she brings us face to face with foreign animals. Life, nature and entities that we might otherwise never experience.

Her works bridge the unattainable gap, by fostering hope and custodianship through beauty. Delicately she brings distant realities to our forefront.

1. Could you speak about your connection to and artistic pursuit of what you describe as ’natures beings’? What draws you to this subject matter?

I grew up on a sheep farm in a small town south end of New Zealand. There were more animals surrounding me than humans at a young age. We had 10+ sheep dogs at anyone time, so I spent a lot of time playing with them than the few kids in our town. I think it was only a few years ago that I realised this could be where my deeper connection to animals comes from (I think more so than humans). I call them 'Natures Beings' as to me, I feel it's speaks more about how we are the same. Human Beings / Natures Beings. It's the same same. When i come face to face with an animal, it's the rare times my brain slows down and I become present. I wish I could know their thoughts. 

2. You choose to represent these animals is a mainly monochromatic way, what is your thought behind this artistic decision?

I have been painting this way since 2012... It came after a year of travel, i returned home wanting to paint the animals of the Canadian Rocky Mountains for a group art exhibition. I have been favouring black and white ever since. Taking the animal out of a normal context allows me to focus on their soul, their eyes and what they might want to be saying. To me, they are so powerful, they needed only their eyes to speak. After many years and a few experiments, this is my first solo exhibition I have painted in 'colour' for some.... Using my nana's watercolour paints, I wanted to honour both where i came from and the colourful Beings of Africa, who I couldn't bring myself to tame with monochrome.

3. Tell us about your recent expedition to South Africa and how did this impact your work for this show? How did it impact your life?

I had been dreaming of Africa since a little girl, sitting with my older cousin looking at her albums of her safari. When the opportunity of the 'Endangered Species Expedition' with fellow conservationist Brinkley Davies came up, I knew this was my chance to ethically experience Africa and do good at the same time. We volunteered at 'Care For Wild' who work to save and rehabilitate Orphaned Rhinos along with other animals and followed the Endangered Wildlife Trust for a few days who are integral in the protection and tracking of the remaining 300 Wild African Dogs in South Africa. Getting to experience from dawn to dusk safaris, feeding baby rhinos to fully grown bull elephants (highlight), played soccer with local kids all while learning of the day to day conservation efforts.  I was always planning to create this exhibition inspired by this trip. Grateful to be loaned a Sony Alpha A7 camera I was able to see my artworks come to life in front of me in real time. When i see a photograph, it often speaks to me, to capture those moments myself of animals i have longed to meet, has stayed with me as I recreate them from photo to painting. It was amazing. Some photos made me cry right through the viewfinder with the animal still in front of me. It have been my own artist in residency since returning.

3. What is different about your latest body of work, ’Sawubona’  showing at ‘Ditty Wheels’?

When coming home, going back into real life, I felt like it never happened. As I started to paint the works, the memories and feelings came back. That feeling that only travel can bring, that joy of the unexpected surprises and experiences. What can't be ignored about Africa is the colours. The wild vast lands, sunsets and the excitement when spotting a splash of colour in the landscape. I wanted to somehow bring that feeling to 'Sawubona'. (Which is Zulu's most honorable greeting). it means to see and be seen by another. For me, that is what those animals did, saw us, and I hope to honour them and thank them. Some of these works have that 'surprise', I wanted to play and push the boundaries of my work. I hope you enjoy. 

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