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From drawing and doodling to works of art - Finn Wilson '09
Thursday, 5 October 2017
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Drawing and doodling since he was a kid, Finn Wilson '09 has always had a passion for creating art. "I haven't stopped drawing since I could hold a pen - art was always my favourite subject at school." So it probably comes as no surprise that Finn has established himself as an emerging street and graffiti artist, giving him the freedom to express himself in a unique way. "I love the fact that there are no rules, there is no right or wrong - it's forever changing. When you get a good feeling that something might work, let it all out! As long as people can connect with your work, that's all that matters." Spending hours in the Art block at Grammar proved to be a turning point for Finn, giving him the ability to hone his craft. "I spent countless hours in the studio, even when I wasn't creating work, trying to express what was going on in my mind every day. I just enjoyed the good vibes - and the teachers were pretty awesome, too." Finn's most recent solo exhibition, Untamed Acrylic, showcases his skills, where he takes everyday objects and turns them into incredible works of art, including old skateboards, snowboards and dried out pizza boxes. Finn worked in collaboration with Olly, an urban café and art gallery in the heart of Mount Eden, which is creating some great opportunities for emerging artists in Auckland. It was a big step to host this exhibition, but Finn is grateful for the opportunity and to see his hard work come to fruition. "This solo exhibition was a really exciting step for me. It doesn't seem like such a big deal until you realise the hype through social media and word-of-mouth. It's always an awesome feeling to have my work out in the public eye." Still feeling that ever-growing sense of 'Grammar pride', Finn not only creates works for friends and family, but also does commission pieces. "It's always nice doing commission pieces for people, because I get the chance to collaborate with them; it often sparks new ideas that might not come into my thought process without the collaborative connection. I feel like I achieve something significant when I sell my work." Finn was a guest artist at the School's inaugural Art House Tour in 2016, where he created an innovative piece of graffiti art, using an old school desk as a canvas. This piece was auctioned off and purchased by two current parents who bought it as a birthday present for their son. Remembering his time from Grammar well, Finn is proud to call himself an Old Boy. Making a career path from his passion for art was not a difficult decision, because working hard to succeed and striving to do your best is part of 'The Grammar Way'. However Finn does have one regret from his time in the classroom, something he wishes he had done back then: he was afraid to ask questions because of a fear of being wrong. "I was always the kid who would duck if the teacher asked questions because I was scared I would be wrong. I didn't know back then that mistakes are what help you succeed. I'm still learning new things everyday just from asking questions, because when you ask there's always an answer. Don't be afraid to hold yourself back because there is doubt that you won't succeed. Let your mind lead you and remember to ask loads of questions!" Below are some of the works of art on display as part of Finn's current exhibition, Untamed Acrylic.   
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