Claire Redford's Just Past Paradise Inspired Masterpieces

Summer is here and we couldn't be happier about it! Even better – our summer artworks by the talented Claire Redford have arrived. This is Claire's third season as our resident artist and we are excited to share her beautiful new works with you.

We chatted (remotely!) with Claire about her new works, Just Past Paradise, and a summer to look forward to after what seemed like a never-ending lockdown.

How are you? What are you looking forward to most this summer?

We are all doing good here! After 100 days of lockdown in Auckland things are definitely looking up.

This summer I am looking forward to as many days as possible with salty sandy hair and grapefruit Fruju’s.

What’s inspiring you right now?

All of the amazing female artists and creators I found while researching for the art work for Just Past Paradise, especially Kate Eliza (https://kateelizastudio.com/) and Catie St. Jacques (https://www.instagram.com/sun_keep/?hl=en)

So many beautiful things to muse and inspire.

@__kate.eliza

@sun_keep

Our current season is Just Past Paradise, what does paradise mean to you?

Dreaming of those ‘pinch-me’ moments, you know the ones where you are somewhere just so beautiful and feeling so serene and relaxed that you think to yourself ‘I really need to remember how this feels’. I find that these are moments that my mind drifts back to when I am staring at my laptop screen on a mundane Tuesday and can’t decide whether to end my email with ‘Take care’ or ‘Kind regards’.

We absolutely love your new paintings. Can you tell us a bit about the process of making them?

I did lots of exploration of floral art work, in particular abstract floral art. This took me on a journey through Pinterest and Instagram (classic millennial). The main thing that caught my attention (of particular art works) was the warm summery pastel colours that reflect the WT Just Past Paradise collection.

What &/or who did you draw inspiration from for these works?

I let my mind wander after reading over and over again Annabelle’s beautifully written foreword for the Just Past Paradise collection…

Walking down the path… Vines creeping all around.

Grandma’s garden has all of the smells. 

Under the prickly Gunnera leaves lie secret worlds to explore.

The chair under the fig tree with the river bubbling by, a nice place to contemplate and take it all in. We sit here together and chat. Her wisdom soaking in.

I still hear their voices, their words guiding me. Rising to the surface bringing new meaning as the years come. 

I think of this Paradise and smile, letting my mind go past into the dreamscape. 

Just Past Paradise is inspired by those places, those moments, those people that inspire your thoughts… Paradise. 

That place in the dreamscape where everything is exactly as you would like it to be.

Where’s your paradise?

What materials did you use and why?

I used acrylic paint mushed all together with a mix of gesso primer and moulding paste! It was good fun getting it all thick and creamy. Kind of like icing a cake with buttercream icing (sounds like paradise to me!). 

To do the backgrounds I used acrylic paint mixed with flow enhancer which helped give it that watercolour effect. 

Finally, what are your go-to styles from this season?

Being 34 weeks pregnant I am living in all my Otama dresses - so floaty, so comfy, so free! And how good is it to smarten any look up with the Maeve Biker - mine is in Sky Blue.

To read more about the amazing Claire, click here.

To check out the full Just Past Paradise collection, click here.

We can't wait for you to see these beautiful artworks in person, see you in-store x