Meet Peter Augustin, a worldwide renowned Modern Surrealistic painter and featured artist of the Coromind magazine’s March 2023 edition.
Hi! I am Peter Augustin. Growing up I loved to read books and paint. My influences came from the stories in the books of Greek mythology, kings and queens, and history. These images and stories remain in my work today, combined with influences of music, opera and expressions of passion and excitement to display the beauty and joy of the human form with symbolism and colours of sea and nature.
During my life in Switzerland I studied art, particularly with Paul Haehlen – through his own work and his tutorage, I learnt a lot more about colour and the harmony of colours together. How colours ‘sing’ is how I want to paint.
I use brushes, pallet knives, sponges, combs and even bare hands to work on canvas or board with oils, acrylic and collage effects. I primarily paint figurative and face paintings in a Modern Surrealistic style. Often these works are a more simplified style; using a single stroke of a spatula or brush that cannot be corrected, I create more spontaneity and life.
With my move to New Zealand in 2004, then move to Whitianga in 2021, and influenced by watercolourist and friend Wendy Masters, I came to include more landscape in my work, using it as backdrops and settings for my figurative work. I occasionally paint in watercolour as a member of Watercolour NZ and create works with print techniques as a member of the Xpress Artists based in Coroglen. I am a Selected Artist Member of the NZ Academy of Fine Arts Wellington.
My Studio/Gallery will be open over the Mercury Bay Art Escape, first two weekends of March, and is often open when I’m at my easel. My next exhibition will be a group of five artists, ‘Elementa 5’ at the Barry Brickell Gallery, Driving Creek, 14-23rd April.
Check out more of Peter’s work here.
