"Wine Cheese & Bread" Painting

I was raised in New Zealand, in a beautiful area in the North Island surrounded by clean water, beaches and forests. Throughout my life I have always had a curiosity towards nature, always feeling the most at peace when I am outdoors. ​As a child I was always gazing at the clouds, and infatuated with color and shapes. My earlier years outdoors shaped my love for the natural world, and it created a feeling of home while outdoors. ​I have found that nature acts as teacher, showing the temporality and sacredness of life. While outdoors I see the world full of life and pulsating with energy, it is incredibly beautiful and powerful to watch. It is easy to see that we are connected to all life, not separate, and that we are all evolving and powered by the same incredible life force. ​My love of this life comes out in my work, often in an attraction to color, a concern, or a fascination toward a natural object. I often paint meditations or dreams, when I feel I understand their meaning behind what I have seen. These include animals and other symbols representing personal growth. ​My art has gone through many stages, my connection to the land and my own journey is always present in my work- Mark