Hi there! I mainly paint detailed New Zealand landscapes. My absolute favorites are forest scenes but I paint whatever matters to me in the moment. I primarily work with acrylic paint on a smooth, hard surface. My acrylic works mainly focus on the play of light in nature. I get my inspiration from seeing and experiencing the natural world around me while on walks or other outdoorsy activities. I am especially captivated by the New Zealand landscape which starts right outside my doorstep. It is humbling to know each new painting demands a new beginning to figure things out.
During the last couple of years I have fallen in love with painting still-life from a bird’s-eye perspective, including fruit, pearls and fabric. These smaller works are so much fun to do and have helped me to level-up my painting techniques and gain some new painting skills that are also helpful for my larger scale forest works.
Another branch of painting I have been enjoying getting back into over the last few years is painting with watercolour. My recent works embed some detailed botanical art with a more abstract, light filled background and also larger close-up florals.
I grew up in Southern Germany where I spent the first twenty years of my life. Painting has always been important to me. I am learning my skills by experimenting, observing and painting alongside passionate painters around me. I moved to New Zealand at the end of 2011 with my Kiwi partner and we settled in Dunedin. As a trained primary school teacher I have worked in Dunedin schools over the past decade, all the while working on my painting skills. In 2014 I had my first solo show in Dunedin’s former Mint Gallery and a few more over the next years. Nowadays I am also creating paintings for art competitions, as well as for shows. I regularly exhibit works at the Otago Art Society, Moray Gallery in Dunedin and The Artist’s Room in Dunedin.
In 2025 I completed my biggest painting to date – a 16 square meter outdoor mural at Maori Hill School here in Dunedin. It was the most daunting project ever but so worth it!
Sarah Freiburger 