Zoe Feng

My first formal training was in 1988, when I studied graphic design for four years at Chongqing University, China. From then on I become an avid painter in my own time and worked as a graphic designer for a magazine in Beijing. Later I worked in the design department of a Chongqing television station.

In 2000 I enrolled for a one year oil painting course at Sichuan Artists College, after which
I opened my own professional art studio. The College retained two of my oil paintings for permanent display. After graduating I painted full time, doing a variety of art work, including commissioned art for hotels and restaurants, as well as a number of large murals.

In 2002 I was a featured artist at the annual Guangdong Artists Exhibition and a nude oil painting of mine appeared in the art book they subsequently published.

In 2003 I displayed my work in both the Chongqing Oil Painting Show and the
Art Teachers Exhibition, where I received a commendation for excellence.
And from this time on I also completed commissioned works for many overseas clients.

In 2007 I moved to Auckland, New Zealand to continue with my art work.
I am also a fully trained florist and this is where I get most of my inspiration
from for my flower paintings.

See more of Zoe's art here

I grew up in Auckland, and completed a degree in Maths at Auckland University. After a career of almost 20 years in IT in Wellington and Sydney,
I am very happy to now be doing art full time. I attended the Julian Ashton Art school in Sydney, in 2002, for about six months full time. The style I studied was the representational, traditional techniques of drawing and painting in oils.

Since returning to live in Wellington in 2003, I have continued drawing and painting, and have exhibited in many Wellington venues. In 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2019, I travelled to Italy to attend summer workshops in Fresco painting, still life, portraiture and figure painting at the Angel Academy of Fine Art in Florence.
My own style has evolved from this study of the techniques of the old Masters. My home now is Wellington, where I live with my husband Phil. My studio is a room I share with Phil, who works from home as an accountant. I enjoy sharing
a space with him – we listen to music as we work together.

I love people’s faces, and specialize in portraiture. I am a Christian, and feel blessed to live in New Zealand, where the beauty of nature is so much a part of our lives. I also see beauty in people’s faces, and like to try to capture a quality of the personality, or God given inner beauty of the subject.

I really enjoy a good cup of coffee, and enjoy the unique cafes of my home city of Wellington. Combining my coffee interest with my interest in portraiture, I have painted lots of pictures of people enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.

See more of Amanda's art here