Inspiration from an old stack of Playboys
Relevant offers
A Christchurch artist with a fascination for the female form has drawn inspiration from 1970s men's magazines to create an exhibition called Retro Nude.
Melissa Sharplin on her retro nude paintings.
Twenty-eight-year-old Melissa Sharplin specialises in photorealism - a style of painting from photographs - and was inspired by nude images in 1970s men's magazines.
"A flatmate had been clearing out his grandfather's garage and they'd found his secret stash of 1970s Playboys, Mayfairs and Penthouses. I just thought they were amazing.
"The photography was incredible, the women just looked so hot,'' she said.
Sharplin works as a full-time artist and has been painting nudes since she was 15-years-old.
"I went to fashion school and always loved fashion advertising and women's figures and trying on clothes. I have always loved the female nude", she says.
"In the 70s it was about free love. It was about beauty and natural beauty."
The Retro Nude exhibition will run until December 14 at the Lestrange Art Gallery in Sumner
- © Fairfax NZ News
Sponsored links
Company claims CTV building report 'inadequate'
TVNZ included in police Electoral Act investigation
Tourist alleges police brutality
McCullum leads NZ to easy win over Zimbabwe
Child killed at Motueka school
Waka capsizes in Wellington Harbour
Milk price inquiry to continue
Website attacks motivated by politics
Another ocean giant meets a tragic end
Kiwi game industry worth more than $179.6m
Week-long strike looms for port
Popular app's CEO apologises over privacy bungle
Lake Horowhenua toxic enough to kill a child
Sir Bob Jones: SBW-Tillman fight a joke
Jaime Ridge ringside supporting Sonny Bill
Celebrity mum and daughter BFFs
Tillman to hang up gloves, focus on acting
Tillman KO the biggest buzz for SBW
TVNZ included in police Electoral Act investigation
Police U-turn on speeding tolerance
Romney campaign takes aim at rival Santorum
Rick Santorum wins Missouri primary
Santorum claims momentum with upset wins
Resignations at MediaWorks holding company boards
Sir Bob Jones: SBW-Tillman fight a joke
NZ has high rate of men-only boards
Tillman KO'd by Sonny Bill Williams in first round
Five aftershocks jolt Christchurch
Police U-turn on speeding tolerance
Sir Bob Jones: SBW-Tillman fight a joke
Celebrity mum and daughter BFFs
Tillman KO'd by Sonny Bill Williams in first round
Deciphering the language of love
Sir Bob Jones' boxing tirades becoming tiresome
How to tell someone they're fat
3D printing: saviour or piracy tool?
