Born in Palmerston North, Tim Wilson's first trip to the South Island was with his 5th form class during the August school holidays in 1970. As a 16 year old he vividly remembers his awe when travelling down the West Coast and through Haast Pass to Queenstown, thrilling at the power of the Landscape on his emotions.
(1954 - 2020)
The play of light on mists and the seasonal change within inspire such a wide range of emotions. It’s these emotions I aim to portray. I am not simply painting the landscape but the emotional response engendered by it."
A significant achievement throughout his journey as a painter was the development of an oil painting technique that made his paintings unique to himself. Although taking many years to perfect the exact effect he wanted his viewers to truly experience, Tim truly mastered this in 2005 and became recognised as a true master of light. From this year onwards the mastery of his art went to a completely new level.
Tim’s technique was nothing short of revolutionary. He meticulously layered 30 to 40 transparent and translucent glazes, each one applied with a precision that brought a depth and luminosity to his work that was unparalleled. The layers, like a hidden dialogue, reacted to the changing light around them, creating a breathtaking illusion. As the light shifted, the layers closest to the viewer seemed to dissolve, giving way to the richness of those beneath. It was as though the painting itself was a living thing, its layers shifting in response to the world around it—almost like looking through a series of transparent filters, each one adding its own layer of meaning and light.This technique produced a luminosity that was almost ethereal, a light that seemed to breathe and shift with every glance. The effect was mesmerizing—a truly three-dimensional experience. The landscapes Tim created no longer sat static on the canvas; they appeared to evolve, to change in real-time, as if they were breathing alongside the viewer. The light, constantly in motion, gave the work a soul-like quality, as though the painting had come alive. While Tim’s earlier works were captivating in their own right, they lacked the dynamic relationship with light that defined his later masterpieces.Tim’s influence, however, stretches far beyond his own work.
His innovative approach to light and his ability to evoke deep emotional resonance have made him a source of true inspiration for young artists across New Zealand. His paintings have challenged conventional notions of landscape art, encouraging the next generation to experiment with light in ways they never imagined. Through his relentless dedication and boundless creativity, Tim has not only redefined landscape painting but has reshaped the way we experience the natural world through art—forever altering the conversation between artist, canvas, and viewer. Even though Tim left this physical world in 2020, his legacy will forever live on with us through his art and inspiration to the next generation of artists.
"My first trip into the Matukituki Valley was a very difficult one. It was as if I was trespassing and being warned to go no further. An incredible sense of oppression and sadness prevailed. I was being judged in this place, dared almost to continue. Pushing on I came to a bend in the road and was rewarded with such an extraordinary vista filled with incandescent light. The Gods were in this place and I, a mere awestruck mortal, agog at such beauty."
"I found out not long after that this valley had seen much tragedy and wondered if that’s what I was sensing, knowing I would return to this place again and again to be tested. I feel welcome now, as though family."
"Painting the Matukituki, Wakatipu, Manapouri, Te Anau, Wanaka and much more of this remarkable country has taught me so much about myself. I feel such a strong spiritual sense of belonging in these areas and am constantly drawn back to the fold."
"I will be, when I am 90."
