Nature Archives - Page 5 of 12

Claire Wallwork

22 April 2021
Abstract, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Mixed Media, Nature, Painting

CONQUERING DOUBTS

As a young woman and throughout her life, whenever Claire Wallwork thought of her dream career, she saw herself as an artist creating beautiful works and loving it,and yet she never really imagined that it was something that could actually eventuate. Three years ago, she had a catharsis where she asked herself,’what is holding me back?’ When she realised that the only thing stopping her were her own self-imposed limitations, she began to pursue her dream in earnest. ‘From that moment I replaced my student paints for professional ones and dedicated all my time and resources into mastering my craft and stepping up to the challenge’.

I am self-taught and have learnt through a huge amount of experimentation, asking a lot of questions and through watching YouTube Videos to familiarise myself with various mediums and techniques. To describe the theme that has permeated every aspect and stage of my life, it has been the challenge of self-expression. As a child I was cripplingly shy, and it took many years to find my voice, and even more to be able to express it eloquently. I eventually found writing really supported me in that but then I discovered painting. After a lifetime of soul-searching and healing, I discovered that painting allowed me access to the feelings and thoughts that sat under the surface of my conscious awareness.

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Wendy Ricketts

1 February 2021
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Coloured Pencils, Drawing, Nature, Pastels, Portraits, Realism

Compelled to paint and draw animals, especially their eyes, Wendy Ricketts tells us how she uses her artistic talent to focus and calm her busy mind while producing works for commission, family and friends.

I was first inspired to draw after seeing a study of a hare by German artist Albrecht Durer. I was taken by the detail and softness of the rendition. I love the faces of animals and the detail needed to produce them. I strive to produce it, sometimes to my detriment. You can get so caught up in the detail that you forget the result you were intending to achieve. Or the mood you were trying to show in the animal. Animal faces convey so much, especially the eyes. I have always loved the natural world and have a fascination with wildlife.

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Lui Peti

1 February 2021
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Digital, Nature, Painting, Portraits, Symbolism

Lui Peti’s art is surrealistic, emotive and a little quirky. His digital paintings are available to be enjoyed by everyone, with his original work sold online as affordable art prints. His hope is for people to enjoy his art as much as he enjoys creating it. With buyers already in Australia, the USA and Canada, Lui is well on his way to becoming a full-time artist.

I love being able to visualise my thoughts and being able to create art from a process of thinking. I like pushing myself to be braver and reach deeper into my psyche to explore its essence. Perfecting my craft and being surprised by my progress is very satisfying.

Hollie Almond

1 November 2020
Abstract, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Enamel, Mixed Media, Nature, Painting

LYRICAL ABSTRACTIONS

By Cindy Kent-Woest

Hollie Almond lets her art become what it wants to be – surfaces saturated with storms of smouldering and dizzying colour. Colour moving and separating, guided by a light touch when needed; becoming beautiful while finding itself. Much like her own journey.

“I became an artist to help myself and to hopefully inspire others to see that art can help them help themselves too. It was my dream job as a child. To turn that into reality, and make my inner child proud for not giving up (even though I lost my way for a while), is probably my biggest motivator.

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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.

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Natalie Gelder

1 September 2020
Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Drawing, Expressionism, Figures, Nature, Oils, Painting, Portraits, Realism, Watercolour

PRECIOUS MOMENTS

In 2020, Natalie Gelder was a busy, pregnant mum with a two-year-old toddler. As a result, most of her art was created at night by the light of a daylight bulb. But the journey into motherhood has also given her a wonderful new subject matter, “one that I am full of love and enthusiasm for”.

Becoming an artist, for me, has been a personal creative development process from a young age. My biggest motivator was my dad. He encouraged me in the right direction as an artist, together with building a creative and supportive family environment. I started going to fringe art association meetings in England with my Dad when I was still really young, around 12 years old. I did AS level Fine Art straight out of school, and then two years of studying at art college from 2010.

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Sue Currie

1 November 2019
Abstract, Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Impressionism, Landscape, Nature, Oils, Painting, Realism, Watercolour

Sue Currie was delighted to find that a comprehensive Australian correspondence course in graphic design for three years while at high school in Christchurch was a successful background for working in art. “In those days there were few opportunities for women to be taken seriously. In Sydney, Australia, the attitude was much more positive.”

Sue also took lessons with artist and illustrator Arthur Renshaw, (a retired tutor from the NSW Polytech), twice a week for six months as well as working freelance in graphic design. After six years she returned to New Zealand to paint, attending weekend workshops with a few fellow artists.

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Yasmin Yussof

1 January 2017
Abstract, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Carving, Ceramics, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Nature, Sculpture, Symbolism

GLOBAL GIRL

My name is Yasmin Yussof. I was born in Germany of Swiss-Malaysian parentage. I have been an Australian citizen, lived around the world and now, I am a permanent resident of New Zealand. Someone once called me ‘Global Girl’ as I never lived anywhere for more than two years, and was born to parents from different ends of the world.

My father was an Ambassador so I have lived in Singapore, Germany, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, India, Iran and Rome. Travelling all over the world as a child I attended mainly international schools. From when I was young, I have always been a tactile person, never knowing I wanted to be an artist, it just happened. I always creating something, just a doodler and needing to keep my hands busy. Never thinking anything of it, just did it. If one has a calling, whatever the profession, you can’t help but go in that direction.

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Tessa Ralston

1 January 2017
Animals, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Birdlife, Charcoal, Drawing, Expressionism, Featured Artists, Gouache, Illustration, Ink, Nature, Painting, Portraits, Realism, Stylized, Watercolour

INSPIRED ILLUSTRATION

I’ve come to find that art seems to always niggle it’s way back into my life, even, perhaps, when I’m trying to distance myself from it. I have no true recollection of ‘getting into art’, but like most children inherently are, I was drawn to painting and visual expression.

With my mother being a graphic designer, I was fortunate enough that she fostered my artistic energy and patiently encouraged my creativity – and amusingly, she simultaneously firmly discouraged my entering the graphic design world. I believe there is a subtle divergence that happens when artists are ‘made’, and that is when they keep drawing, painting and playing after they are no longer children.

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Sally-Ann Davies

1 January 2017
Acrylic, Artists, Australia, New Zealand & Oceania, Carving, Featured Artists, Impressionism, Ink, Landscape, Nature, Painting, Printing, Seascape, Stylized

Sally-Ann Davies was born in Shropshire, England and resides in Taupo. She started her journey of becoming an artist as a toddler, drawing on the newly wallpapered walls of the farmhouse she grew up in. Her favourite subject at school without doubt was art. She vividly remembers that the primary school she attended would reward you if you finished your work early, with going and playing in the craft corner. She remembers how amazing creations developed with the simple materials such as egg cartons and toilet rolls.

Her journey to becoming the esteemed artist she is today did not come with ease. A the age of 12 she had a detached retina so ended up having quite a few months off school. This meant no active play, which she says was very frustrating when you grow up on a farm with her brothers. Sally-Ann is a triplet, so you can understand the frustration she must have had, because she and her brothers normally spent their time building dens, rafts and camping by the river.

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