http://www.leonardaitken.com

Auckland born & educated, painting has been a passion since childhood.  It becomes a form of meditation as I deeply immerse myself in all shape, form, colour, light & texture. I enjoy the challenge of working in a variety of mediums & styles, but my favourites remain - timeless Oils & the immensely versatile Pastels- my ‘Plein-aire’ medium.  My work continues to evolve with life’s experiences, enabling each painting to retain the freshness & spontaneity of the moment.

I have been richly blessed with success throughout my career, with my works being well sought after for publication on the International market.  I enjoy sharing my passion with others whether via exhibitions or through teaching art groups both throughout NZ & overseas.

My paintings are held internationally in private, Corporate & Governmental collections.

http://www.gailboyle.com

Now considered by many to be one of New Zealands most promising emerging landscape artists Art Capener grew up in Merseyside, England in the fifties & sixties a time when The Beatles and the Mersey sound was taking the world by storm . Always interested in art from a very early age he was encouraged by his art teachers to pursue art as a career in commercial work, he attended Art College in Liverpool for a short time but preferred to paint and learn as a 'self taught artist' Also interested in writing and comedy he has written for television comedy.

Art and his wife and three sons emigrated to New Zealand in 1973 and a 4th son joined the family in the early eighties. It was during a visit to the South Island of New Zealand some years ago that was all the inspiration needed to start painting again. Now he paints full time and many of Art's paintings are in Private and Corporate collections all over the world as well as NZ.

He enjoys painting in a variety of styles and is particularly interested in Landscapes. Art uses only fine linen stretched canvas and imported Classico Italian oils from Maimeri.

http://www.landscapeart.co.nz

Peter Geen, who was born in Nelson, New Zealand, is a self-taught artist who has specialized in landscape and nautical paintings in oils and acrylics for over 35 years. He has exhibited in Australia and New Zealand and his paintings have been purchased for private collections throughout USA, Europe, Australia, Asia and NZ.

Peter sells his work from his studio/gallery, EarthSea Gallery in Golden Bay, New Zealand. He uses realism to capture 'what he sees' on canvas, so the viewer has a sense of 'actually being there'.

" It is when they feel the sand beneath their feet and taste the salt on their lips, that I feel they truly connect with my paintings. Most sales occur when a painting 'touches the heart' of the purchaser invoking a special memory or a feeling of well-being. I love more than anything to paint the mountains and the sea, and our natural environment free from man-made modifications."

Despite selling hundreds of paintings over the past 35 years, he is still incredibly honoured when someone purchases one of his paintings.

http://www.earthseagallery.com

Ev started her artistic journey as a printmaker, trained to teach art.  A valued tutor in both Australia and New Zealand, she inspires others by sharing her enthusiasm and the skills needed to readily express her vision. Winner of many awards, her work is keenly appreciated and collected.

http://www.evhales.com

Regina is a professional artist painting in oils and pastels and is a signatory member of The Australian Guild of Realist Artists’ (AGRA) and past President of The Pastel Society of Victoria (Australia). 

She is a modern impressionist painter who invariably is drawn to the light and atmosphere in her subject. Regina strives to capture a sense of temperature and mood in her paintings with a structure and composition that captures the viewer's eye. Her work is in collections on four continents.

Regina feels equally at home painting all manner of subjects and has given instruction to numerous other artists in her regular classes, demonstrations and workshops around Australia. Her work has received many awards in both mediums.

Published work include feature articles in International Artist #34 Dec/Jan 2004 and Australian Artist #263, May 2006 magazines.

http://www.reginahona.com

Amanda McLean is a professional artist who lives in South-eastern Australia. Working mostly in the Pastel medium, she is a tutor, art writer and an Editorial Consultant to Australian Artist Magazine. She is passionate about the landscape but also enjoys figurative, floral & still life. She finds painting emotionally and intellectually satisfying and it is a driving force in her life. The immediacy of the pastel medium allows through its hands on application a direct physical connection to her work. She lays down a tapestry of colours to create images full of reflected light and colour that she hopes transport the viewer to a quieter place & stir in them some emotional response that cannot be expressed in words.

A member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists & the Pastel Society of Australia, her work has been published in International Artist Magazine, Pastel Artist international & Australian Artist Magazine.

http://www.amandamclean.net

Kelvin McMillan was born in 1959 and raised on a Dairy Farm in South Westland before moving to Canterbury in the late 1960’s. He was interested in art from an early age, becoming a full time artist at the age of 22. He initially concentrated on Pencil drawings, mainly of architectural subjects, finding inspiration in derelict houses and farm buildings. Kelvin then developed his work into the Watercolour medium and more recently acrylics.

Kelvin paints simple subjects that surround him living in the vast landscapes of Canterbury and Otago. His painting style depicts the romance of our rugged New Zealand landscape. Kelvin’s attention is captured by the strong contrasting lights and darks, creating long shadows on building facades, boats, rural railway stops and mailboxes. Kelvin has exhibited widely throughout the South Island, participating in both group & solo shows.

His work is represented by Art Of This World, Devonport.

http://www.kelvinmcmillan.com

Grant grew up in Hamilton, in the North Island’s Waikato region. He studied art throughout his schooling and began oil painting at the age of 16. Regular family trips during winter to either Mt Taranaki / Egmont or to Mt Ruapehu at Tongariro National Park inspired a fascination for mountains and alpine landscapes, which is evident in his paintings today.

Grant’s detailed originals are large format oils on linen or canvas and there is a strong theme to Grant’s work. Subject matter is almost always mountainous New Zealand landscapes. He travels the country with a camera seeking images to work with that will allow him to expresses his perception of the textures, colours and character of the parts of New Zealand that inspire him.

http://www.nzoncanvas.com

Lyn Mellady is past President of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (A.G.R.A.) a member, of the Pastel Society of Victoria and "Brushmen of the Bay". While her personal painting is her highest priority, she is constantly asked to teach, judge art shows and has professionally demonstrated her techniques to many hundreds of artists.

 Since 1984 she has received many awards for both pastel and oil.  Her paintings have been acquired for Sutherland, Campbelltown, Frankston, Susomo and Nagoya (Japan) government collections. Lyn has featured in Australian art reference books, as well as local and international art publications.

http://www.mellady.com

"With my work I set out to capture evocative images of wilderness and wildlife, from pristine beaches, untouched by mankind, through to some of the most exciting animals that mother nature has to offer. At the moment I am concentrating on the beaches of the Mornington peninsula along with African and Asian wildlife. Many of my works capture a special moment in time, usually in soft pastel.

I am a firm believer in studying a scene en plein aire and do many studies for my larger works on site. I have won numerous awards and my works reside in many private collections throughout Australia. I am also a member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists and the founder of the Untamed Artist Network, a group of wildlife artists from across the globe."

http://www.leighrust.com

Raelene uses oil, pastel and watercolour with equal proficiency. She draws different qualities from each medium and her subject matter is diverse. Similar aptitude is displayed in all her chosen subjects, whether it be landscapes in pastel, marinescapes in oil or gum trees in watercolour. Raelene also is a portrait artist. Her use of light is one of the most compelling qualities of Raelene’s work. She uses light as a tool not only for effect, but also as a significant addition to the piece.

Raelene has work in collections all over the world, and has been published in numerous publications including Australian Artist Magazine on several occasions. Raelene has received many prizes in all mediums and subjects including The Australian Art Excellence Medallion Award 2003 and was included in a Joint Exhibition of 30 chosen artists by the Portrait Artist Australia for a Washington DC Exhibition 2005. Winner of the Shirley Hannan $30,000.00 National Portrait Prize 2006. 

http://www.raelenesharp.com

These paintings have many layers of oil glazes which work together to make a luminous surface, light reflects back from the canvas beneath. As a metaphor, these paintings comment on the many layers of our world, both physical and spiritual. Reflections, sunspots, light and shade within the paintings are an important aspect to my work.  They refer the process of image-making (the preceding drawings, photographs, copies), and they indicate the very nature of a painting – a group of brushmarks and paint on a surface that make up an image.

The New Zealand landscape is spectacular and I hope to capture some of it’s unique and striking atmosphere in my work.

http://www.amandawatson.com

I am self taught and have been painting since 1990, predominantly Australian landscapes in oil and I am a signatory member of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AGRA). Since joining AGRA in 2002, I have won the ‘Australia at Large’ competition, 2002 and September 2006, the ‘Terry Collins’ award 2002, held a joint exhibition at Guild House in Melbourne 2003, plus various other awards.

I have had articles published in ‘Art and Antiques’ magazine, the Central Coast Express Advocate and the Singleton Argus. I was a finalist in ‘Australian Artist’ magazine, 2006 and I am currently working on a demonstration article.

My inspiration is Nature, not just the picturesque but the beauty in the mundane, which is often overlooked. My aim is to paint believably realistic scenes of actual places, without over-glamorising, so that the unique natural splendour is captured.

http://sandrawhiteside.com