Painting and Mixed Media
In alphabetical order by surname.
Peter Augustin
- Whitianga
I was born into a family of artists and musicians in Slovenia. In my childhood, I was an active painter and followed in the footsteps of my uncles. In my teenage years, I moved to Switzerland, where I embarked on an artistic path, studied at the Lucerne School of Art and received private lessons from renowned artists Paul Haelan and Otto Gilli.
I have dedicated a large part of my time to painting, between my work in tourism and hospitality. I have lived in Switzerland for 35 years, exhibiting here and in other countries and receiving various awards, including in Holland, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Russia
and New Zealand.
My work reflects the passion and inspiration of being an artist. It is symbolic, full of colours, emotions and is part of a larger context of cultures and rhythms of life of the present and future in the countries visited. By following my own unique artistic path. With the colours I try to make a positive contribution to people’s lives.
My working style has been described by gallerists as a “lyrical abstraction”, which makes a connection to my role models de Stael, Jawlensky, Dali and Schiele and also includes the people around me. In New Zealand, I am influenced by the bright colours of nature, the amazing variety of greens and blues and the sea.
I have been living in Whitianga since May 2021, having lived in Kapiti for thirteen years and Wellington for two years. I am an elected member of the Academy of Fine Arts, and a member of Whitianga Art Group, Thames Art Society and Mercury Bay Art Escape.
Kay de Blaauw
- Cooks Beach Artist
I came from a home that was passionate about art and this has stayed with me in adulthood.
Whenever I have a spare moment, you will find me in my studio painting.
I love to experiment with a range of styles and mediums, but my signature style is modern with bold colour and shapes. I also love to play with texture using a variety of techniques and mediums, such as textiles, gesso, metallic paints and gloss varnish.
Lately I have been exploring the layering of printed images as part of the Printmakers Combined group.
Marianne Braithwaite
- Thames
Although I express myself in many mediums my favourite is watercolour.
I am always striving to preserve the light in all its magic!
I am mainly self taught but have attended workshops with international artists.
I am an award winning artist with paintings in many countries and have had solo and group exhibitions in Australia and New Zealand
Email: marianne_braithwaite@yahoo.com
Mobile: 027 753 8792
Shizuyo (Sue) Colquhoun
- Thames Artist
Sue was born, educated and studied art in Japan. "Painting is my friend - gives me lots of joy and thoughts".
Watercolour perfectly expresses the free side of my nature’.
Sue has won many watercolour awards.
Ian Creevey
- Thames
74 going on 28!
Started recently painting during Covid, been too busy working in the past- Printer app, Bushman, construction labourer, Fisherman (B.O.I. 1976-8 then 40 years on G.B.R. Australia as Skipper) retired and came home, did 2 courses with Seasons Art Classes.
Loved it.
No great philosophy behind artworks, I just enjoy disappearing down a brush! and hope others enjoy the results. Love acrylics on both paper and canvas also working with oil pastels. I'm based in Thames but do housesits all over so have mobile studio as well as studio in Auckland.
Loving life ;-)
Sue Dove
- Thames
Sue grew up in the South Island in Canterbury, under the Southern
Alps. Modern expressionist, colourful interpretations of the natural
world, appeal as subject matter.
Sue uses pencils, oil pastels,acrylics and watercolours to depict land forms, birds, people, boats, homes and flowers as subject matter.
Susan Dunster
- Tairua
Susan Dunster is a Tairua based painter and printmaker. She paints in a fluid, fragmented and abstract manner. She weaves vibrant colours and shapes across the surface so that things dissolve into each other. Susan seeks to express a deeper emotional and spiritual reality beneath the surface appearance of things.
Her childhood influences were her mother and grandmother, both avid craftswomen, whose skilful hands wove in colour and stitches. Susan’s exhibition history dates from the early 1990s and she has exhibited regularly, both in solo and group shows since then. Works are held in collections in NZ, Australia and abroad. Studio visits are welcome at her home on the Coromandel Peninsula. Please phone first to arrange a time – 027 6387 695.
Edith Duric
- Thames
Jacquie Ellis
- Coromandel
As a visual artist of light and colour, capturing the light is everything when I paint. It is always the light that offers soft or vibrant changes to each work, whether it be in my chosen mediums of pastel, oil or acrylics.
It is my inspiration, changing with the seasons, the subtle tones and values transforming shapes and landscapes in just a matter of seconds as they are laid on the canvas.
My style is flexible, my genres varied, and the mediums I use change with each piece, offering the viewer an opportunity to enjoy a wide, unique and original range of artwork.
Visit and view paintings at my gallery - The Oaks Gallery at 30 Driving Creek Rd, Coromandel.
Val Enger
- Auckland
My paintings are inspired by my encounter with the tumultuous nature of the NZ landscape. I enjoy the way colour and form play off each other, creating natural compositional rhythms. Colour profoundly effects on all aspects of my life, specifically, emotions and moods.
Organic forms and shapes appear everywhere I look, and they evoke a reaction that connects me to nature. The essential, biomorphic forms of the land inspire a freedom and opportunity to play and explore, searching for a visual 'truth' that finds its place between the observed and the deeply personal and transitory nature of experience.
Painting is a process of application coupled with a reductive approach that, through editing, shifts the work into an autonomous spaced of individual expression.
Jean Galbraith
- Thames
Having loved and immersed myself in art and art history at school I was taught further techniques by a very good friend.
Later, I was lucky enough to attend classes with Ron Hall whilst living in Rotorua. He’s a great tutor and taught me to trust my instincts and develop my own style.
My instincts, I have to say, have led me on a merry chase through many different interpretations.
I joined Uxbridge in Auckland, learning from workshops and exhibitions. Since moving back to Thames I have attended local artists Wendy Walls and Vaughan Udall workshops, taking away new techniques and ideas, often tinkering with the pieces at home.
I tend to go off on tangents like my Nature and Decay series, or can be influenced by a book or poem, mood or memories.
Artists to me are all unique and totally inspirational.
Andrea Maia Gill
- Thames
Andrea’s work combines lively drawing, acrylic painting, mixed media and collage. She also hand crafts assemblage ‘Arty Brooches’ and ‘GothPunk Pins’. Her love of vibrant colour and pattern is drawn from the Caribbean where she was born, Aotearoa where she was raised and currently lives and Australia where she lived for many years. She sees art as a conversation.
Andrea is open to commissions and can also develop customizable art and wellbeing workshop content for individuals and groups.
phone: 027 378 3883
email: andreagillartist@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/andreagillartist/
https://www.facebook.com/andreagillartstudio/
Jen Hawkeswood
- Thames
Jen mostly works with acrylic mixed media, and is now including eggshell mosaic and pigment painting
Jen has won awards for her black and white artworks
Kathy Heffernan
- Thames
From their home on the water’s edge at Tararu, just along from the gallery, Kathy and Paul Heffernan create paintings, ceramic works and children’s books.
Mr Heff works in a small studio where he makes whimsical and wacky detailed ceramic pieces. Kathy applies the colourful glazes.
Kathy creates large colourful acrylic paintings from her workplace in the lounge. So, the entire house looks like a gallery. Bright and cheerful like Kathy’s paintings.
Gloria Hodge
- Te Aroha
My paintings are a quest to capture a glimpse of the grandeur that comes and goes in the passing of an ordinary day, the spectacle displayed by the coming together of the light, the forms and movement in nature, the textures and shadows in some small corner of my world.
I aim for balance between chance and the carefully considered, and pray that my inner spirit will take over and produce something larger than me so that something worthwhile comes out of this gift of time to paint on another ordinary day.
Life has a way of taking each of us down individual paths of learning and exploration.
I am influenced and inspired by the natural and organic elements, and the many ways that artists across generations have depicted them
Not self-taught, but life taught through the years from 1950
Jan Linklater
- Coromandel
Jan enjoys using colour to enhance the reality of her landscapes and still life artworks.
She draws inspiration from her environment
Pat Lumber
- Thames
Jewel Lynam
- Thames
Jewel has been an artist for 34 years. Her career started in France and continued in the USA. She has had many solo exhibits over the years.
She mainly paints without any preconceived idea in mind, creating individual paintings.
Jewel has many collectors of her work throughout the world. Presently she has work in Vienna and Munich, and is writing a book on her journey as an artist.
Joanne Mahoney
- Pirongia
My mixed media works have evolved over the last few years – and
perhaps could be described as interdisciplinary mixed media.
Using watercolour, acrylics, oils, Cold Wax Medium, collage and the many different processes used in printmaking to create a unique
artwork.
Having spent time living in Asia and in the beautiful coastal environment of the Coromandel these continue to influence my work while now living in the Waikato.
Email: joanne.mahoney@outlook.com
Website: www.artfindnz.co.nz/project/joanne-mahoney
Instagram: @joanne.m.mahoney
Studio: By Appointment at 197 Aubin Close, Pirongia, Waikato
Mob: 021 0226 4471
Dennis Matthews
- Thames
Dennis experimented with watercolor and acrylic paints before making the decision to concentrate on oils. Oil paints are known for their rich colours and their ability to mix and blend on a canvas, as well as their slow drying which allows for various styles of painting.
Dennis has developed a style that suits subjects from landscapes and portraits to semi surrealism and somewhere in between.
Recently Dennis has revived an old skill of using pen and Indian ink, a technique he learnt while training as a mapping draftsman
Jim Neilson
- Thames
Cassandra Nevin
- Whenuakite
Gary Nevin
- Whenuakite
Gary Nevin lives at Whenuakite and makes his versions of humans and animals.
Visit our garden gallery at 1367 State Highway 25, Whenuakite, Whitianga.
Pam Plummer
- Thames
I'm involved both with ceramic sculpture using stains and oxides and mixed media painting. Usually figurative and in painting I enjoy a mix of acrylic, drawing and collage.
In the 1960's I graduated in fine arts at Elam School of Art Canterbury, specializing in sculpture and some years later did a diploma of Secondary Education. I taught for over 12 years and came to live in Thames some years ago.
Jenny Polakov
- Thames
Born in New York City in 1964, with a wealth of artistic influence, I now find myself inspired by the natural beauty of New Zealand.
I am pencil drawing and painting with watercolour.
Catherine Preston
- Auckland, North Shore
Catherine has painted for 40 years, she is self taught but attended many art classes.
The love of colour is obvious and present in all her work and loves using all mediums including collage. The fascination of poppies comes from tours through Italy in the spring time.
Her aim is to paint more childlike as the simple pureness of the style really appeals to her. Catherine exhibits in a few galleries in NZ and has work overseas.
Dennis Raines
- Thames
Dennis was born in England and has always loved art. After serving in the Royal Navy, he attended three schools of art in England prior to emigrating to New Zealand. He specialised in oil painting for many years. On retirement when he moved to Thames, he joined the Thames Society of Arts. He served on the committee and also organised the Thames Library Exhibition which was shown on a yearly basis for 25 years. Dennis is the delightful convenor of the 'Wednesday Morning' group of artists, and is a Life Member of the Society. He now specialises in pen and watercolour works.
Jenny Smith
- Thames
I have painted for many years in all mediums, and enjoy the difference of each one.
I have had exhibitions both here in NZ and UK.
My love of animals has been inspirational for many pastel painting from the tigers at Auckland zoo to many dog/cat portraits and even a parrot.
Having lived for a while in South Canterbury I have an affinity
to the wonderful mountains and landscapes that surrounded
me.
I now live in Thames and enjoy the different aspects of the
scenery of the Coromandels.
Lisa Stent
- Puriri
I am of English, Māori (Ngāti Pūkenga), Scottish & Irish decent. I was raised in Tairua on the Coromandel Peninsula, but for the past 30+ years have lived in a beautiful valley in Puriri, near Thames.
I love mixed media! Texture and colour have become my trade marks.
Infusing my art with words, numbers, symbols, sacred geometry, and using collage to create unexpected surprises peeking through the layers, really makes me happy!
My inspiration for creating art is the hope that you will feel intrigued, uplifted, surprised and moved by it. I would like it to remind you of something, maybe an experience, to take you on a journey, spark a bit of magic in your world, inspire you, or simply for you to enjoy the textures and colour.
I want you to see what you see, not necessarily what I see, reflecting life in all of its layers.
But mostly I want you to enjoy the visual and textural experience, whatever that means to you.
Find me on the socials and visit my website www.lisastent.co.nz
Studio visit by arrangement
Lisa x
David Stone
- Auckland
I have been painting for many years, since obtaining a Diploma in Landscape Painting at Whitecliffe Art School
I particularly enjoy painting the sea in its varied picturesque settings, as well as farms, buildings, mountains, bush, roads, rivers and rural landscapes
My paintings are detailed and atmospheric. One of my other passions is to paint birds and flowers in a modern abstract form.
Verena Tagmann
- Whitianga
Verena is a mixed media artist. Mixed media allows combining various substances to the paint and various materials onto the painting surface (paper, sand, inks and more).
Verena’s recent works are semi abstract or abstract: colour, shape and lines are expressing Verena’s environment and her thoughts.
Creating an artwork is constant searching and finding – is the experience of something real, is responding to the world around me, is the freedom to create where no rules limit.
Over the last few years Verena attended various printmaking workshops to learn about some techniques of hand made original printing using plates
Fay Tutahi
- Te Puru
I am pleased to introduce my artist world
Currently I am fascinated with living in Te Puru; its people, the history, the natural environment and how I connect with it
My collection of works “Caught on the Wind - Peace”, describes what I observe of the leaves that come in on the tide, and the colours that fleet in the elements of time
Whilst pondering and looking for connection, I have been reminded of Te Raukura - Parihaka
I look forward to creating more works of my discoveries
Vaughan Udall
- Coromandel
Vaughan is a mixed media artist based in Coromandel Town.
Vaughan's style of painting is somewhere in between contemporary and abstract. Exploring techniques and difference painting methods is his ongoing journey
He loves sharing his techniques with others and regularly runs painting workshops around the Coromandel Peninsula.
Vaughan's work is displayed at the Thames Gallery and at the Gallery 6 Coromandel Town which he helps run with other local artists.
If you are interested in a workshop with Vaughan contact him at udallvaughan@hotmail.com to be put on the mailing list for upcoming workshops
You can also see more of his work and workshops on Facebook. ' The Positive Art Class' and 'Gallery 6 Coromandel'.
Barbara von Seida
- Coromandel
Barbara’s gallery is her cliff top home over looking Long bay, Coromandel. Her painting form part of numerous private and corporate collections.
"What you are seeing is the work of a very accomplished artist." Terry (TJ) McNamara - art critic, Mairangi Art Centre Exhib.
Colleen Waite
- Thames
Wendy Walls
- Whitianga
Wendy is a full-time mixed media artist residing in Whitianga. She paints both abstract and realistic subjects in vibrant colour and rich texture, using gels, pastes, fluid acrylics and collage. See wendywallsartist.com.
As well as maintaining her art practice, Wendy runs mixed media art workshops in Whitianga for all levels and abilities. She is a Golden Certified Instructor for Golden Artist Colors of New York, and the driving force behind the popular Chasing Mercury Art Workshops.
Lesley Weston
- Turua
Lesley enjoys the natural scenery of the Coromandel which inspires creativity to her acrylic paintings.
Largely self taught she enjoys working with different styles and strives to present an original focus.
