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Diana Treeborn

diana-treeborn-aotearoa-artistBELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Born in Germany, Diana Treeborn received eight years of thorough training there, covering a wide range of topics, including different techniques, styles, pottery, sculpting, and art history. “I continued to explore various artistic mediums and experimented with colour and styles. My special interest back then were Manga’s (Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan) and I practiced drawing lots of characters and wrote short stories and novels. Back then my main expression was through writing, with visuals accompanying my ideas, but that shifted with time.”

In 2012, Diana embarked on a thrilling adventure as a world-traveling backpacker. This journey took an unexpected twist, and she found herself working on a cruise ship! “I was scribbling and painting in my travel book trying to catch the flow of experiences, emotions, and impressions. This enabled me to cherish the moment and create a bit of a time capsule for myself. My creations found homes in the hands of fellow travellers or locals, were sold at lively South American markets, displayed in quaint cafes, and even aboard the cruise ship. Each piece was a fragment of my journey, a tangible memory that I could share with the world.” Diana has recently written, illustrated and published a wonderful children's book - See more HERE

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Judy Woods

judy-woods-aotearoa-artistARTISTIC ADVENTURES

Judy Woods graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts from Otago Polytechnic in 1985. Having always wanted to be a professional artist, she taught for 16 years and then decided to devote her time to her own career in art and see what happened. Finally motivated by the passing of her father and feeling some urgency to pursue her passion, she began to paint.

In the beginning, Judy battled with self-belief and struggled to produce artwork that she was satisfied with. However, having developed a process of embarking on a painting adventure with every work and not worrying about the outcome, she is producing work that excites and surprises her. “It’s a much more enjoyable experience to create work that I’m happy with and this has helped me grow in confidence.”

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Iris Wood

iris-wood-aotearoa-artistSATISFYING THE SOUL-ITCH

Iris Wood found she was drawn to each, and every art medium introduced to her at school, and she never stopped exploring. Her mixed-media body of work is both chaotic and calming, with a distinctly playful tone. 

Never having been afraid of trying a new tool or method, and with a curious, explorative mindset, the biggest motivating factor to pursue a career as an artist for Iris was the profound satisfaction she gets out of pulling a real, tangible piece of art out of ephemeral experiences. "Sometimes I will experience something, and it’ll instantly get transformed into a painting in my head, and I’m compelled to execute that vision. It’s like a soul-itch that needs to be scratched; what will it feel like? what will you find under there? could it make someone else feel the same way?"

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Jocelyn Friis

jocelyn-friis-aotearoa-artist-mug-shotSELF-TAUGHT SUSTAINABILITY

Jocelyn Friis went to a Steiner school in South Africa, where creativity is a part of everyday school life. This set the foundation for her creative life. “I have always loved to create. I believe strongly in pursuing what you love but it was only during my ‘mid-life’ years that I truly found my way in art. I realised I was not living true to myself. I am now free to express what I cannot with words. I love the freedom of intuitively laying down paint on the canvas. I see so much intertwining between painting and life – so many lessons to learn.”

Her biggest obstacle has been her mindset. “I have really had to work on believing that my work is worthwhile and contributing to the good in this world. Professionally, it is always a challenge to stay on top of things, stay visible and market myself. Perseverance is key and being able to take the losses with the gains.”

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Tut Blumental

tut-blumental-aotearoa-artistBorn in Israel, Tut Blumental has been passionate about art from a very early age, exploring and working with different methods and mediums. After graduating from Avni Institute of Art and Design, Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1994 she started work as a graphic designer in advertising agencies but continued painting in her spare time. In 2006, after immigrating to New Zealand with her family, she decided to follow her dreams and be a full-time artist. 

Tut’s overwhelming pleasure comes from the joy of expressing her feelings through painting and the ability to share it with different audiences and lighting up their day. Over the years, she has learned to listen to her inner voice as well as different ideas and opinions. “I open my mind and keep believing in myself even when the road doesn’t always go as planned.

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Pam Crowther

pam-crowther-aotearoa-artistPAMELA'S SOUTHERN SYMPHONY

Artists continually strive to bring a piece to life, to fill a canvas with something that personifies a thought or represents a feeling. For artist Pamela Crowther, this is the earliest part of the process. Just as a songwriter starts with no sound and starts with one part of an arrangement – as an artist, Pamela has to start somewhere too. 

by Matt Mortimer

“I begin with the largest shapes filling in dark and light areas, usually in one colour, mainly using a brush for this. I’ll then place another three or four colours to start with, using retarding medium on palette – then it’s mix and begin. My technique varies considerably. I basically follow my instinct.” This instinctive approach works well, as she then branches out into the work, on the way to a sometimes-lengthy process to create each work. “Colour, colour, colour – the desire to change the blank white space into some exciting, thought-provoking or sometimes just decorative. Starting the painting takes courage and the need to prepare yourself for mental stimulation and then, near the end of the painting, dealing with exhaustion.”

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Nancy Frazer

nancy-frazer-aotearoa-artistNancy Frazer is a full-time self-taught artist who specialises in contemporary art, using acrylics on canvas with a strong emphasis on textures and vibrant colours. She has never had any formal training. “Growing up in Singapore, I always wanted to be an artist from a young age but circumstances did not allow me to pursue that dream. I married and moved to New Zealand in the early eighties, but it was not until the late nineties, after raising a family that I was able to fulfil my dream.

“In 2008, I was one of eight artists selected by the NZ Art Guild to display a painting in London in aid of the NZ Shore Plover. ‘Suze’ in Mayfair, London agreed to exhibit the works in its gallery. An auction of the paintings was then held at the residence of the NZ High Commissioner to the UK. I was also invited by ‘Avinki Ltd’ to exhibit my artworks at the New Zealand Avant-Garde Showcase held in Hong Kong in February/March 2009.  In 2012 I was selected as a finalist in the second art contest organised by ‘Artavista.com’ and sponsored by ‘World Wide Art Books’, where I received an ‘Honourable Mention’. I have also been selected as a finalist on two occasions, for the ‘Molly Morpeth Canaday’ art awards held in Whakatane.”

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Romuald Rudzki

romuald-rudzki-aotearoa-artistTHE FIRST PREALIST

Inspiration to create art is drawn from various areas for each artist. For Manawatu-based artist Romuald Rudzki, his motivation stems from a rebirth of colour, following a tragedy.

“I have painted since childhood but did not take up my place at art college when I was 18 as I was advised that I would “end up as an unemployed artist.” In 1988 I was in a head-on collision with a drunk driver which left me blind for several months with retinal detachments, as well as a spine fractured in two places. When I eventually regained my sight, I was struck by how each colour is so different from any other, for example, blue cannot be described in terms of red. I therefore started painting again.”

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Kristin Hyde

kristin-hyde-aotearoa-artistDREAM BIG, AIM HIGH

Having been a Flight Attendant for 32 years, and after taking a month's holiday with her eldest son in the Bahamas, the night Kristin Hyde flew out of Houston to come home was the night the world started closing its borders and unbeknown to her at the time, she had already crewed her last duty. They say ‘When life gives you Lemons, make lemonade’ ... so I did. I took the leap, and at 60 years old in a pandemic, I became a full-time artist.” Kristin tells us her story:

“I am mainly self-taught, having taken the odd class over the years, both online and in person. I have always been a bit of a closet creative. I would scrimp and save and spend my money on art or craft supplies. When my children were little, I started painting on terracotta pots for friends. They quickly became sought after and so I created ‘Pots for Tots.’ From there I have always dabbled over the years in many different artistic endeavours from mosaics and water colours, screen printing to beading then jewellery making, eco printing and felting. I was always eager to try new things, but painting has become the dominant leader.

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