A mentor appears!
This is about meeting a new friend – Jennifer Duval-Smith. My husband met her first, with our two youngest sons competing together at athletics. He came home and said, “I’ve met someone I just know you’ll like.”
I had recently undergone back surgery, plus I was recovering from serious heart issues. Once I felt strong enough, Jennifer invited me to visit. I was thrilled to see that she and her family lived in an old wooden Mt Eden villa, set in a rambling garden full of fruit trees, hydrangeas, salvias, roses and occasionally topiarised bay trees. The front door was open, so I ‘yoo-hoo’-ed and walked down a long hallway lined with treasures, art and artefacts; it felt like I was home.
A beautiful, smiling Jennifer greeted me with a warm, enveloping hug. “It’s soooo lovely to meet you. You’ve been through so much!” Her lovely husband joined us, and over cups of tea and honest, funny conversation, I felt that click of genuine connection to a warm, creative kindred spirit. She told me that she had been in the corporate world for too many years and got to the That’s Enough moment. After that, she dove deeply into her creative side, which just kept on developing. She has an amazing flowing botanical style, which I just love and is very successful with her commissions, workshops, greeting cards, etc.
Not long after, Jennifer kindly offered art lessons to my daughter. I went along too (as driver) but didn’t join in as I didn’t think I could draw or paint. One day, Jennifer asked whether I would like to learn something new. I thought, Why not? What’s the worst that could happen? She showed me the magic that occurs when colour is added to water. I immediately loved techniques, experiments and happy accidents that developed from a small watercolour palette and water. My first painting was of a length of ivy. “Well, I could certainly pick that out from a police line-up,” she smiled encouragingly. I was hooked (and so grateful for the positive feedback).
Most importantly, she helped me to challenge the negative voices in my head. I was once told (as a youngster) by someone very close to me - who should have known better - that my first sewing attempts were such that “…a severely disabled person could do better than that”. This, of course, complicated my belief in my creative abilities for years, even though I was without doubt ‘a creative’.
I have since attended many of Jennifer’s creative courses on watercolour and botanical sketching – a series at the Auckland Wintergardens , and at Te Uru Contemporary Gallery in Titirangi. I’ve repeated some of the courses a few times, and I always learn something new and make new friends. She thinks I could run the courses now, having heard her schpiel so many times (!) but I’m happy to sit and absorb.
Thank you, Jennifer, for your inspiration and encouragement, for teaching me so many new skills and for allowing me to learn at my own pace. Your friendship and colourful inspiration are both FUN and THRILLING!
Is there something creative in you itching to get out? Tell me in the comments section below. There are so many arty/crafty classes available all around New Zealand. Perhaps it’s time to take a look?!
Best wishes, Sara
Visit Sara Meade Design to explore my range of watercolour prints, greeting cards, and my stunning 2026 calendars are available NOW! I also sell elegantly embroidered and embellished fantastic felt ornaments with an Aotearoa-theme. My latest release are downloadable DIY instructions for the felt pōhutukawa heart and Xmas tree ornaments (fully-equipped DIY craft kits for these ornaments are almost ready!), along with PDF knitting patterns for bouncing babies and cosy toes.
Get ready for some Christmas shopping!!
Yum yum, tamarillos!
I drew and then painted these tamarillo sketches at a botanical watercolour workshop with Jennifer Duval-Smith. I was particularly pleased with myself for finally allowing the light in - developing the contrasting light and shade. I’ve discovered that it’s very hard not to over-work an image and I had to step away before I painted it all in.
I like looking at this as a reminder of my learning adventures with Jennifer, and the fact that I can now do something I never thought I could do!
