Distinctly Grahame Sydney

Painter Grahame Sydney has been pigeonholed by some as a landscape artist, but this doumentary contends that his evocative depictions of his Central Otago surroundings are much more than just exercises in realism. Fellow locals, poet Brian Turner and actor Sam Neill discuss the emotional and artistic resonance his work holds for them. Sydney's portraits and figure studies are also examined. The production of one of his lithographs is followed from inception — as a sketch on a slab of Bavarian limestone brought to NZ over 200 years ago — to fully fledged print.

If I was to draw the Hawkduns, or something like that, or use the Hawkduns in a painting, I spend most of the time just making them up. And people still think they’re the Hawkduns just because the profile is similar.

– Grahame Sydney on painting a local mountain range

Key Cast & Crew

Sonja de Friez

Director

Veronica McCarthy-de Friez

Producer

Beth Tredray

Sound Recording

Sam Neill

Subject

Julie Johnston

Sound

Grant Johnston

Camera