Meet Emma Evangeline Gustafson, a full-time artist and illustrator based in Whitianga and featured creative of the Coromind’s issue 4.
Kia ora!
I’m Emma Evangeline Gustafson, a full-time artist and illustrator based in Whitianga. I primarily paint nature-based scenes and local landscapes. I’m very grateful the universe brought me to the Coromandel. I love exploring the peninsula and painting those special spots I find off the beaten track. Through my painting, I get to showcase the magic of this place – the pristine beaches, bush, birdlife, creeks, crystals and stunning rock formations. I love the challenge of trying to do these landscapes justice. I sometimes like to add metaphysical/surreal elements to my paintings too, because I think it’s important to remember that everything in our world is so much more connected than we realise.
My painting process is very intuitive. Although I studied graphic design, I am a completely self-taught painter and have always gravitated towards art-making because it runs through my whānau.
In 2020, I started delving more into illustration. The first big illustration job I was fortunate to work on was The Story of Swoop, which managed to hit #1 on the NZ Children’s bestseller list. Since then, I have worked on a couple of other stories for NZ-based authors, but I intend to illustrate my own stories so I have greater creative freedom.
I sell my work both online and through the local markets here in Coromandel. As an artist, I find it very easy to be a recluse, but I love doing the markets because they bring me out of hermit mode and connect me with this amazing community. I really believe that creative expression is medicine, and I am so stoked to live in an area that really honours the arts.
Check out more of Emma’s work here.
