BUDDING Portland artists Kaylene Baker is celebrating success, with her original painting selling for almost $1000 through an online auction last month.

Two Cockatoos, by Ms Barker, was painted during an art therapy class she attended in Hamilton prior to Covid lockdowns.

Home @ Scope house supervisor Alison Duffy said the class had been greatly beneficial for Ms Barker.

“Kaylene’s mental health had really deteriorated just prior to Covid and we were looking for something she could do to improve that,” she said.

“We knew she loved literacy, numeracy and drawing so after some research we decided art therapy would be the best fit.

“It made such a huge difference in her almost instantly – her communication was better, her socialisation and community inclusion improved as well.”

Although she has since painted a number of works including fruit bowls, Ms Barker’s favourite subject to paint is birds, and more specifically Australian native birds like the cockatoo.

Recognising her talent, Home @ Scope entered Two Cockatoos in the Scope and Goldman Sachs art auction, listing it at $300.

To Ms Duffy’s surprise, the piece managed to fetch triple the price, selling to an unknown bidder for $900.

“We were shocked when we found out how much it sold for,” she said.

“We thought they meant $90, but no, it was $900.

“It just shows how talented Kaylene is and it’s encouraged us to look into an art exhibition of her work.

“I think we could do something that incorporates mental health and the ways art can help.”

Until then, Ms Duffy said the focus was on what Ms Barker might spend her hard earned money on.

“She loves being pampered so I think she’d probably like to get her nails done, a massage and things like that,” she said.