Meet Dean Proudfoot – Wellington-based illustrator, painter, and long-time NZ Art Show artist. Well-known for his signature blend of bold landscapes, everyday humour and unmistakably Kiwi storytelling, Dean welcomes us into his studio to share what he’s been working on in the lead-up to this year’s show – including some new figurative pieces and a few surprises…
How long have you been art-making, and what drew you to it?
I’ve worked as a freelance illustrator for 30 years. I’ve always been drawn to the visual, and painting is something I’ve always done alongside my commercial work.
Painting allows me to work on my own ideas and concepts and express my own voice, rather than a client’s – and as the years have gone by, I’ve started to focus more on my personal work and less so on commercial projects.
How would you describe your art to people who might not have encountered it yet?
Some of the common themes that run through a lot of my artwork are about what it means to be a New Zealander – the general struggles of life and everyday living. What it means to be alive – just being human, really.
I like to think of myself as the lovechild of Colin McCahon and Dick Frizzell. My landscapes are very McCahon-esque. My sense of humour comes through in a lot of my work. My approach to art is to tell stories, make people smile and start a conversation. I’m not here to solve problems or change the world, but if I can engage people in a conversation and maybe make them laugh, I’ve done my job, I reckon.
Talking about myself isn’t something that I enjoy doing. I love to have a conversation about my artwork with people, but I’m never going to talk them into buying it. They either like it or they don’t. I’d rather let the artwork tell its own story, and if you like it and respond to it, that’s great. And if you don’t, that’s great too.
How, when and why did you get involved with the show? What keeps you coming back each year?
I’m one of the OGs – I’ve been doing it for a long time. There have been stages where I’ve stopped and had breaks, but I always come back, and I’ve been a regular for the last 10 years. I love it.
It’s my way of getting out and being exposed to Wellington – and people from outside Wellington as well. I’m not particularly proactive at selling and marketing, the Art Show is my chance to show off my wares to much of the country. It’s a great thing to be part of, and it draws the kind of people I want to see my work, as well. I’m not at all highbrow – I’d rather that my artwork was accessible to the public – and the Art Show allows so many styles and tastes to be in one place.
What role does the NZ Art Show play in your year and artistic practice?
The NZ Art Show is a major focus for me each year, and the team has always been a great support. Carla, Midge and Claire are so professional and accommodating; they make the process of exhibiting a pleasure.
I don’t have any presence in Wellington besides the show and I’m not a great promoter of my own work, so having the NZ Art Show in Wellington has become vital in getting my work out to the public. King’s Birthday Weekend has become a really important time of year for me – not only for me to sell but also to gauge the public response to a new style or theme I’m exploring.
And you’re not the only Proudfoot exhibiting this year… Tell us about that.
My son Wilkie won the Hyundai NZ Emerging Artist award last year. It was a real thrill for him. He is quite a different painter than me – a lot more talented, I think! He has just finished high school and is exhibiting three or four paintings this year. It will be nice for us both to be there!
Two artworks demonstrating Dean’s versatility. Left: A Permanent Posy. Right: Righting a Wrong
What are you most looking forward to about being part of this year’s show?
I really enjoy catching up with the all the artists I’ve got to know through the years, and growing those connections. Each year the team puts a new twist on the show with something new and innovative. I love that the show is constantly evolving.
Without giving too much away – what are you working on right now for the show?
This year I’ll have my recognised landscape styles as well as some fresh approaches. I’m trying a couple of different styles – more figurative works.
Much of my work is based on large landscapes with small people engaged in some kind of action. This year, many of my works will bring being human front and centre. I’ll still have the styles I’m best known for, but I enjoy painting in a more slabby and expressive way as well.
The NZ Art Show is a great place to test the waters. I love the Art Show for that. You can actually engage with people and talk to them about the new styles you’re working on.
What does a typical day in the life look like for you right now as you get ready for this year’s show?
It’s pretty mad – and it’s always a bit of a rush at the end to get everything done.
I normally treat being in the studio as a 7.30am to 5.30pm job, partly because I’m a commercial illustrator as well. If I’m not working on work for clients, I’m painting. It’s a nice way of mixing things up – I find the variety loosens me up and keeps me fresh through the day.
As it gets closer to the Art Show, my days in the studio will become longer. I’ll stop for dinner and catch up with the family, and then I’ll be back in the studio painting. The days become as long as they need to be to get to where I want to be in time for the show.
Where to find and follow Dean (when he’s not at the show):
