Skip to content
Swamp Express-aotearoa-artist-chris-emeleus

Chris Emeleus

Chris Emeleus - aotearoa artist

PAINTING WITH PAPER

After successfully completing two years of study at Ilam School of Fine Arts - 1989-90, Chris became ill from exposure to pesticides during a summer holiday work experience. As a result he  experienced acute Chronic Fatigue Syndrome which lasted twelve years making him unable to complete his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. “My artistic development was very much put on hold during this period however, since making a full recovery, the tangent of my artistic development has been plentiful with many unexpected discoveries.” Chris has gone on to achieve a BA from the University of Canterbury, majoring in Sociology, which he finished in 2005.

A bit of a ‘magpie’ character, Chris collects discarded materials, old magazines and children’s books. His inspiration comes from the potential aesthetic beauty of our transcient/throw-away culture as well as ecological awareness. The likes of Marcel Duchamp and Andy Warhol have much of Chris’ admiration due to their ability to use mundane objects and squeeze artistic beauty from them. “I am very indebted to Picasso and Braque as they were both pioneers in integrating collage into their works and helped raise awareness of collage as a serious art form within western art.”

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Christine Redfern - aotearoa artist

Christine Redfern

Christine Redfern - aotearoa artist

BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES

Christine Pickstone-Redfern spent her childhood years watching and assisting her father, the renowned Queensland artist, George Pickstone, sketch, paint and carve. Her passion and inherent talent ensured her participation in scholastic art activities, where she spent much time sketching and entering art competitions. Winning an Australasian scholarship to the Melbourne Art Training Institute boosted her confidence. She re-trained to become a nurse. 

Christine has a very interesting perspective in life. All of her creations are unique - ‘one of a kind’. She will not reproduce any work (not even try to) twice, and the worst thing you could say to Christine is: “It can’t be done, it’s not possible.” She wants to know why, and you while you are explaining, she’ll do it anyway and when you finish explaining, she will be standing proudly next to her latest creation, defying the rules.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Patrick Greene

Patrick Greene - aotearoa artist

TAKING A RAINBOW FOR A WALK

A master watercolour artist, draughtsman and recipient of many awards, James Patrick (Patrick) Greene sadly passed away in October 2014.

By Barbara von Seida

In the 1950’s, he trained as a cartographic draughtsman with the Lands and Survey Dept, which was interrupted for two years whilst he travelled his big “OE”. During this time he was actually shipwrecked in British Guyana. His love for art took him to the great museums of the world which left a big impression on him and a desire to become an artist.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Group shots-katrina-mcgettigan-aotearoa-artist

Katrina McGettigan

katrina-mcgettigan-aotearoa-artist100 BIRDS IN 100 DAYS

The New Zealand Artist Magazine first met Katrina McGettigan at the Christchurch Art Show 2015, where, in awe, we watched her paintings sell like hot cakes. Katrina is an established artist in the Canterbury region. At that time she worked as a full-time pre-school and art teacher, inspiring young artists to fulfil their artistic talent. By night she spent her time painting.

Recently Katrina completed the colossal challenge of painting 100 birds in 100 days. “I had heard about the challenge and was inspired by other artists who had completed the challenge in previous years. So I thought it would be a great thing to gain a little more exposure, help with my technique and give me something to aim towards each day.”

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Serge Souslov

Serge Souslov - aotearoa artist

VIBRANT TALENT

Serge Souslov, born and raised in Irkusk, Russia, has had a passion for art since childhood. He trained at art college between the years of ‘76 - ‘85 and has brought his incredible talent to New Zealand, where we celebrate his contribution to our rich and vibrant art world.

Serge attended the Art College and The Institute of Culture in Russia where he learnt how to play the accordion, compose music and create art pieces. Thoroughly enjoying pushing the boundaries, Serge’s ideas and inspiration come from observing marine life and whimsical sea creatures, as well as from dreams and fantasies dating as far back as his childhood. He is currently a part-time artist but finds his ideas keep pushing him to create.

 

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

mountain scene-caley-hall-aotearoa-artist

Caley Hall

Caley Hall - aotearoa artist

HALL OF ART

With many trials overcome, and no formal training Caley Hall is finding that being a professional artist really suits him. “Working as an artist has changed me. I’m a caring, giving type of guy - take with one hand give with the other. I’m happy with my current situation, it’s always new and exciting each day.” Caley tells us his story.

I become an artist by starting a gallery and having an interest in other artists styles and way of life. I have painted with a few known NZ artists and honed my skills that way. My biggest motivating factor is the stress relief that painting as a professional full time artist gives me. This new life, of course, comes with a list of new stresses but they are mild in comparison to the life I lead before becoming an artist.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Light gets interesting at sunrise-jamie-larnach-aotearoa-artist

Jamie Larnach

Jamie Larnach - aotearoa artist

MOVING FORWARD

At the age of 13, Jamie Larnach overheard his father talking about a guy he knew as a teenager, who had a gift for drawing but never did anything with his talent. He thought that was a travesty. “That’s stuck with me all my life. I try to make the most of my talents. I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded by insanely creative and passionate people and they’ve always inspired me to keep moving forward and creating.

Inspired by New Zealand’s environment and the patterns that occur in nature, by geometry, coral, Arabic mosaics, and ancient architecture, I have been making artworks for 22 years, including music, jewellery, sculpture and festival dressing. In 1991, immediately after finishing high school I was pre-enrolled at Law school at Waikato University.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

pears-mike-greenwood-aotearoa-artist

Mike Greenwood

Mike Greenwood - aotearoa artist

CRIKEY! IT'S MIKE GREENWOOD

A larger than life, grumpy sweetheart with a brilliant sense of humour, Mike Greenwood started drawing and painting at the tender age of 12. In school, he was only ever interested in art and sport and has been actively pursuing these passions for 64 years.

Mike left school at 15 and played football until he retired aged 33, intending to be a full time artist. As all artists do, Mike found it hard to exist on the income from his art and decided to start his own domestic fencing business. In this business, he not only did fencing, but retaining walls, decking and landscaping, designing all jobs himself.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Jacob Barry

Jacob Barry - aotearoa artist

BEHIND THE FACE

Jacob Barry studied art in high school, but his talents were not appreciated, he failed. How many other great icons have failed at school, yet gone onto become well known success stories? There are many. One has to wonder what it is about these situations. Jacob shares with us here.

Jacob passed all other subjects, except art. Looking at what he is doing now, it seems crazy. He received much support from his teachers and parents, thankfully, and has gone on with his art regardless. “The response I got from each painting was the motivating factor.

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

The Foundry- Jonathan-Campbell-aotearoa-artist

Jonathan Campbell’s Foundry

LOST AND FOUND

Jonathan Campbell has had sketch books since he was a youngster, constantly sketching compositions and ideas, generally ending up in one theme that leads to another. When he starts to make sculptures, he experiences further changes. “I don’t over-think, once I start doing a piece of work, it seems to take off.”

Having studied at the Foundation of Fine Arts in Whitirea, Jonathan had just picked up his skills when a French wool buying company approached him to produce about 200 castings, to celebrate their centenary. “They had seen my work in a group show and had tracked me down. It was complete luck and it enabled me to set up with decent equipment right away.”

register and subscribe

Subscribe Today

Back To Top
Search

You cannot copy content of this page