PM adds his touch to fundraiser

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post

TOP MARKS: John Key adds his touches to a paint-by-numbers mural which when completed will be auctioned, with proceeds going to the Wellington Sculpture Trust.

Relevant offers

Politics

Brownlee turns up heat on council over rebuild Agency mulled to run emergency 111 system MPs' travel bills leap during election Remedial work for navy's problem ship Wait for new oil law before awarding permits, Govt urged TVNZ included in police Electoral Act investigation Sea law 'an environmental risk' Govt defends 50c an hour minimum wage lift Maori queue-jumping for SOEs raised More claims about PM's man and doco funding

Painting by numbers is attracting a celebrity following in Wellington, with the prime minister the latest to pick up a paintbrush.

Advertising agency Clemenger BBDO is inviting people to add to a mural which will be sold online with proceeds going to the Wellington Sculpture Trust.

Clemenger BBDO chief executive Philip Andrew said the agency chose to be involved in a few projects each year that helped the community.

Looking for a project that would not "cost a fortune", staff came up with the idea of a mural which would involve contributions from members of the community, and in the end be sold to benefit the wider community further.

"The profits go to Wellington Sculpture Trust, as it gives Wellington a lot of joy."

Wellington illustrator Stephen Fuller was commissioned to design the mural, which measures about two metres high and six metres long.

Since November the company had invited well known New Zealanders to make their mark on the painting, and Prime Minister John Key became the latest yesterday, choosing to paint part of the body of a reindeer.

A staff member at the agency had gathered the courage to ask Mr Key directly if he would add to the mural when she spotted him at the Wellington races last month.

With more than 1500 sections available in the "traditional living room" painting, the agency has since November managed to get about half filled in by clients, friends, and other famous New Zealanders.

Wellington Sculpture Trust chairman Neil Plimmer said that without knowing how much the sculpture would attract it was difficult to earmark the proceeds for a specific project, but the trust was fundraising for a sculpture to commemorate Katherine Mansfield and also for the temporary sculptures placed in front of Te Papa.

Art By Numbers

Paul Henry was the first to contribute and chose to colour in one of the deer's upper lips – which made the deer look like it had a moustache.

This came after his on-air comments about the upper lip of a female guest on TVNZ's Breakfast.

Former cricket captain Stephen Fleming was the third painter to add to the mural.

Selecting a spot he could reach because of his height but many others would be unlikely to, he painted a gap at the very top of the canvas. He coloured the peak of the mountain range.

After the All Whites' win against Bahrain, midfielder Tim Brown chose section No 8 on the mural to paint – the same number as his All Whites shirt.

All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw stepped away from the media scrum of the Lovely Bones premiere in December to paint the wall.

He picked up his paintbrush while other staff had all eyes on the red carpet from the agency's well-positioned balcony.

- © Fairfax NZ News