I was raised in Oratia and my parents always encouraged me and my sister to draw and paint from a very young age. It was later that I discovered about learning the fundamentals of drawing, to uncovering the visual language of academic art. This is what made me realise that learning art was just like learning a trade, anyone could do it if they were willing enough.
I draw a lot of my inspirations from the 19th and 20th century realist painters like… Sargent, Annigoni, Mancini, Fortuney etc. They all seem so attuned to nature, and they were highly dedicated to their work. The realist style incorporates all the beautiful ingredients to make a picture. Some of these include atmosphere, shape language, perspective, colour harmony, form, sense, anatomy, composition, value (tone) and gesture.
I enjoy attempting to attain expressions, and the portrait is a wonderful, raw force of expression. Also, the shape language that the head and face produce are very interesting to me. The clear separation of light and shadow shapes on a portrait, when lit correctly is an important factor. When you train your eye to see these shapes, the portrait has a very generous amount to reveal.
It all depends on what type of art you want to learn. If you want the more traditional/academic route, then doing master copies of 19th and 20th century realist art is a great method. Doing drawing and painting workshops is a great way to learn also, and any life drawing sessions or classes you can take is going to be beneficial. Also, learning to deal with failure, and building a daily habit to draw or paint. The ceiling is so high, and the learning will never stop, so go easy on yourself. I still have a long way to go myself, there is just so much to learn.
I really appreciate the people behind the Waitakere Arts, who organise exhibitions and have workshops available for us all. It’s always good to have a community you can integrate within and support one another amongst arts minded people.
For more of Jalal’s work, visit www.instagram.com/jalal.asgher.art
Phone number: 09-838 5733
Email address: wccac@waitakerearts.com
Office hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm, closed on Friday
All entry forms must be FULLY completed, including pricing. Incomplete entry forms and late entries will not be accepted.
Please note, running a member’s exhibition is reliant on volunteer help. Please let us know if and when you will be able to volunteer in any of the below capacities:
- Helping out on Bring In Day (receiving artworks)
- Helping at the Help Desk during the Art Exhibition/Market
- Helping at Pack down
- Delivering leaflets/posters to libraries/community centres etc
- Putting up signage
Credit Card payments will incur an extra 2.5% charge.
All artworks must be for sale and a 25% (inc GST) commission applies on sales. This will be deducted from the artist’s payment at the end of the exhibition.
Payments may take up to 14 working days (from 18 May 2026) to process and will be direct credited to your account.
Personal tax liability is the responsibility of the artist.
Insurance of artwork is the responsibility of the artist. Although Waitākere Arts will take all care, we will take no responsibility for lost or damaged work.
Work must NOT have been entered in any previous Exhibitions, must have been completed within the last 12 months and not part of any tutored workshop or class. It must be completely original.
The Committee reserves the right to refuse an entry if it does not comply with the Terms and Conditions or is deemed inappropriate or is poorly presented.
Any changes to your details must be made on or before Bring In Day. No changes can be made after this date.
All artwork must be dry. No wet paint.
Entries must be ready for hanging on hooks, with D – Rings, cord attached 1/3 down from the top of the artwork. There will be a charge for purchase of D Rings or cord on the day of $10.
Each entry must be identified with a swing tag attached to the hanging string, with artist info – (Artist Name, Title of work, Medium, Category, Price).
Work over 3kg cannot be wall mounted. (Please consult with Waitakere Arts if over 3kg).
Note – our exhibition will be on black panels.
NOTE: Failure to collect work will result in a $10 per day fee to cover moving and storage of the artwork, useless it’s an emergency and prior arrangements have been made with the Office Manager. Artwork will become the property of Waitākere Arts Council and be sold or donated to charity if not collected by 1st July 2026.
All entry forms must be FULLY completed, including pricing. Incomplete entry forms and late entries will not be accepted.
Please note, running a member’s exhibition is reliant on volunteer help. Please let us know if and when you will be able to volunteer in any of the below capacities:
- Helping out on Bring In Day (receiving artworks)
- Helping at the Help Desk during the Art Exhibition/Market
- Helping at Pack down
- Delivering leaflets/posters to libraries/community centres etc
- Putting up signage
Credit Card payments will incur an extra 2.5% charge.
All artworks must be for sale and a 25% (inc GST) commission applies on sales. This will be deducted from the artist’s payment at the end of the exhibition.
Payments may take up to 14 working days (from 18 May 2026) to process and will be direct credited to your account.
Personal tax liability is the responsibility of the artist.
Insurance of artwork is the responsibility of the artist. Although Waitākere Arts will take all care, we will take no responsibility for lost or damaged work.
Work must NOT have been entered in any previous Exhibitions, must have been completed within the last 12 months and not part of any tutored workshop or class. It must be completely original.
The Committee reserves the right to refuse an entry if it does not comply with the Terms and Conditions or is deemed inappropriate or is poorly presented.
Any changes to your details must be made on or before Bring In Day. No changes can be made after this date.
All artwork must be dry. No wet paint.
Entries must be ready for hanging on hooks, with D – Rings, cord attached 1/3 down from the top of the artwork. There will be a charge for purchase of D Rings or cord on the day of $10.
Each entry must be identified with a swing tag attached to the hanging string, with artist info – (Artist Name, Title of work, Medium, Category, Price).
Work over 3kg cannot be wall mounted. (Please consult with Waitakere Arts if over 3kg).
Note – our exhibition will be on black panels.
NOTE: Failure to collect work will result in a $10 per day fee to cover moving and storage of the artwork, useless it’s an emergency and prior arrangements have been made with the Office Manager. Artwork will become the property of Waitākere Arts Council and be sold or donated to charity if not collected by 1st July 2026.
No Digital Artworks or Couriered Works accepted. Payment must be received for entry to be accepted.
No photography section for Adults, only for Youth (13-18 Years Old)
All works will automatically enter the “Open section/competition”.
Works may be entered into only one themed awards category.
- LOOKING WEST: “Capturing the impressions and spirit of West Auckland”
- OUR PEOPLE OUR PLACE: “Embracing the changing face of the people within West Auckland” (must contain a figurative element)
- INSPIRATIONAL AOTEAROA: Finding that unique factor which identifies with AOTEAROA | NEW ZEALAND
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
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