South America Archives - Aotearoa Artist

Mila Renault

11 December 2023
Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Featured Artists, Impressionism, Nature, Painting, South America, Watercolour

BRAZILIAN BEAUTY

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Mila Renault grew up sketching and painting landscapes. Her maternal great grandparents (amateur painters) arrived in Brazil, from France and Sweden, in the late 1800s. Mila’s favourite place in her childhood was at her grand-aunties art studio. “I grew up with art supplies around and quickly learned to admire watercolour.”

When Mila was eight, she began art classes with a local artist in her studio. For the next four years, Saturday mornings were her preffered part of the week. When she was 13, she began a classical drawing education lasting two years at Lyceum of Arts & Crafts in Sao Paulo, which she followed up with a further year in a watercolour course at the same school. At such a young age, Mila loved to dedicate her time to her learning even after school. “The course was structured over two years and in the beginning that was too much for a teenager that of course was the ‘puppy’ of the classroom. In the first semester we studied observation drawing and perspective covering exercises in activating the right side of the brain. Second semester was focused in light and dark and understanding volumetric shapes as well as exploring different materials like pastels and coloured pencils.

Subscribe Today

Livia Dias

1 October 2022
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Birdlife, Featured Artists, Figures, Floral, Impressionism, Landscape, Nature, Oils, Painting, Realism, South America

CLASSIC BEAUTY

Livia Dias is an artist who enjoys painting nature, gardens and people. Livia grew up in an environment surrounded by art. At the age of 13, she began learning drawing and painting from her uncle, Gilberto Dias, who is a professional artist and art tutor in her home country Brazil. Her passion for art has never stopped since then. She’s been working as a full-time artist and art tutor since 2000.

She had a classical training based on the Old Masters teachings and glazing techniques which she is very grateful for, because she says that it taught her the importance of developing the skill set to create the illusion of form and depth on a flat surface that is crucial for her art. Her uncle was her first inspiration. She was amazed at what he could create with a brush! He introduced her to many other artists in a variety of styles which contributed to shaping her artistic journey.

Subscribe Today

Estefania Mondaca

1 August 2022
Animals, Artists, Charcoal, Featured Artists, Impressionism, Landscape, Oils, Painting, South America, Still-life

Born in Chile, South America, Estefania Mondaca is just starting on her artistic journey and we are pleased to introduce her work to you.

Estefania is currently studying for a Bachelors degree in Architectural Studies at ARA Canterbury. She has learned that all ways of creating achieve the same point, which is to create, whatever name you call it. Inspired by life itself, the things she sees that make her think or suprise her; she finds that in Chile the focus was on people, the human figure and a totally different landscape to New Zealand. Here she is inspired by the remarkable beauty of New Zealand’s terrain. “I normally go out and take photos, for example, the Heaphy Track on the West Coast, which was the first awakening for me to this beautiful country. I started to draw and paint what I saw. I think walking is a big inspiration for me, giving me an understanding of my feelings and perception of what I see.”

Subscribe Today

Caitlin Johnston

1 December 2021
Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Carving, Collage, Drawing, Featured Artists, Figures, Mixed Media, Resin, Seascape, South America

SELF-TAUGHT BY THE SEA

By Matt Mortimer

It is said that if you make a job out of what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. For self-taught artist Caitlin Johnston, this saying is her reality.

Being self-taught brings forward a love of creating things, having to channel your inspiration into your work. Whether it is our surroundings or environment, our current state of mind, or our emotional state. Having to be her own teacher is clearly not something that has held Caitlin back, and she offers this advice for those thinking they have to attend a school to get better, instead instilling a solid work effort in the creative space being more advantageous.

Subscribe Today

Teissi Aranda

1 September 2020
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Impressionism, Mixed Media, Nature, Oils, Painting, Portraits, South America, Watercolour

HEALING POWER

Teissi Aranda is on the hunt for her global art tribe. After a serious accident forced her to reevaluate her values, she decided to study art full time to a postgraduate level and has never looked back. “I have found people along the way who support me and believe in me, and that is the most important thing.”

With works now located in Argentina, New Zealand, Australia, UK and USA, Teissi is a force to be reckoned with. She believes that art heals, that it connects you to your people.

Subscribe Today

Sally Heritage
Above: Aldeburgh 594 x 330mm Loving watercolour, Sally Heritage has never had any formal training…
Nick Hayter
ABOVE: Cow Repose - 455 x 610mm. Oil on board NICK HAYTER Nick Hayter is…
Creative Room Update
Above: Womans Face - Watercolour by John Dumergue John writes about recycling Looking around our…
Mangaweka Magic 2024
Forecasted Rain Holds Off for an Energetic Mangaweka Mega Event 2024. Despite a heavy rain…
Sketch Club 18 – Dougie Chowns
ABOVE: 1985 ‘Embryo’ watercolour - Dougie Chowns. Birthing New Zealand as an adult embryo to…