Kyla Covic

The harsh, raking light and atmospheric effects found in Aotearoa New Zealand are something I feel compelled to paint. The vast, ever-changing sky and sea are my inspiration with all its dramatic changes and patterns – giving me a sense of peace and stillness, along with a sense of hope and awe.

Through my work I explore the relationship of colour and light, how light appears to shine brighter when a contrasting darkness is also present in the image. I am interested in how a halo of colour often appears around a very bright source of light. I observe purple fringing and chromatic aberrations which occur when facing directly into the sun, causing the appearance of edges to shift in hue and intensity.

The concept of Tūrangawaewae is also important to me: to have my feet firmly planted where I stand.