Layer by Layer
Some of my earliest memories of art are tactile ones. As a child, my sister and I often stayed with our aunty and uncle. My aunty worked for legendary Aotearoa artist Ralph Hotere when she was a student, and he paid her in paintings. I vividly remember running my hands over those textured surfaces, mesmerised by their depth and colour. These memories definitely influence my art practice today.
My art studio is my happy place, full of light, colour and music. It’s where I feel most myself. Sometimes I enter with a vague plan, sometimes with no plan at all. Often it’s just the music that takes me on a journey as I paint. The fun is seeing what evolves … or sometimes what doesn’t.
I usually begin with collage layered directly onto the canvas, then build colour and texture over time. My artworks often go through many layers and take drastic turns before arriving at a place where I’m happy. I’ve never documented a full work-in-progress, not because I don’t value process, but because my paintings are constantly transforming. To pause and define them too early feels like interrupting their becoming.
I consider myself an intuitive artist. For me, that means never truly knowing what the outcome will be, even if I start with a plan. I feel like my best work happens when I don’t think, when I just do.
I like to believe that my artworks reveal themselves slowly over time. That the viewer is continually surprised and delighted as they get to know a piece. I want my work to capture curiosity and invite personal interpretation. I want people to see what they see, not necessarily what I see.
My hope is that my art evokes memories, intrigue, a sense of discovery – and ultimately brings joy and uplifts. Art is deeply personal, much like how we dress, how we furnish our homes, or the aesthetics we surround ourselves with. I don’t expect my work to appeal to everyone; I’m not drawn to every artwork I encounter either. But I feel truly honoured and grateful whenever a piece of my art (a piece of myself) finds its new home with someone who feels connected to it.
My practice is always evolving. I love playing with different techniques and participating in practical workshops to keep learning. Creativity isn’t something I can turn on at will, I need the vibe to be right: a clear mind, an open heart, and good sounds. If I get to a point where I feel stuck or uninspired, I remind myself of what I love in my world; colour, vibe, aesthetics, feelings, and I ask why I’m drawn to them. I try to transfer those feelings onto the canvas. Sometimes I do the opposite and reflect on what I don’t like, and why. This process helps me find and refine my own art voice.
I was born in Aotearoa and am of English, Māori (Ngāti Pūkenga / Ngāti Awa), Scottish and Irish descent. I was raised in Tairua on the Coromandel Peninsula and for the past 30-plus years I’ve lived in a beautiful valley in Pūriri, near Thames
Recently, I produced a series of seven artworks with the intention of exploring my Māori ancestry. The first piece, Wā, is symbolic of the connection between the people of Aotearoa and the spiritual realms. It is infused with lyrics from my favourite waiata, Mā te Kahukura, and includes the nine stars of Matariki. This work was a process of belonging. With mixed ancestry, a sense of belonging has often felt complex. My whakapapa is important to me; my creativity and who I am have been passed down through my ancestral line, and I am deeply grateful for that.
I am also grateful to have my work displayed on all the walls of Burton’s Café in Thames, a much-loved local space. I’m a committee member at the Thames Art Gallery (604 Tararu Road, Thames), where my artworks are also available, and I am excited to be the Featured Artist there in April 2026.
My hope is simple: that my artworks find homes with people who are drawn to them, who enjoy living with them, and who allow them to reveal themselves over time.
www.lisastent.co.nz
Facebook and Instagram: Lisa Stent Art
Photo Credits: Stacey Dunlop (Studio images)
Words by Lisa Stent
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