about ellaquaint

Hi there,
I'm ellaquaint, I am of Pakeha & Ngati Kahungunu  descent. I reside South of the Equator in a little island nation called Aotearoa / New Zealand. Here we have the most magnificent wild beaches, primordial forests and an array of kooky birds quite unlike anywhere else.

Painting birds and animals is my happy place. I love trying to capture something of their personality or 'wairua' / essence, within my illustrations. Some of my series are inspired by my local environment and the little adventures I have out and about. Other series are motivated by watching Sir David Attenborough's epic nature documentaries. Sometimes my animals are realistic in their rendering. Other times I attempt to exaggerate their survival features or bring in other props to allude to the key concepts that I explore in my work.

The aesthetic that I choose to work within is simplistic, that way you the viewer can bring to them your own associations or ideas. Using environmentally friendly packaging is important to me so you will find that your treasures come in cellophane, not plastic, so you can put it in the compost heap. The jiffy packs are recyclable and sustainably produced. 

In a previous life I was a teacher of Art and Design; my degree is in Sculpture but my favourite medium is paint. I have also been an adventure tour guide however in the current climate, I won't be in a position to do that anytime soon. However I do have some interesting plans that link my love of showcasing my country and my painting so watch this space ;)

I am open to collaborations and commissions so if you are interested please get in touch and we can have a chat.

Nga mihi x