Crispin Korschen

The paintings by New Zealand artist Crispin Korschen are characterised by a love of colour, texture, strong composition and an understated quirkiness.

Her art works bring to life characters and images inspired either by her own imagination or her life experiences.

"People inspire me…what they do, what they say, their relationships with one another. I find observing people an endless source of inspiration."

Poignant and funny, her acrylic paintings on canvas brim with energy and a zest for life which is totally engaging. Crispin’s experiences in Kenya , which she says have now taken on an almost dream-like quality, along with the joys of her New Zealand life, feed her imagination and ensure her art works will continue to enthral viewers for years to come.

"I like to tell stories about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people,” Crispin says.

“If people can find something in my art works that they can relate to or laugh about, I know I’ve reached them.”

After graduating from the Wellington School of Design in the late eighties, figurative artist Crispin Korschen began her career as a free lance illustrator.

During the nineties she lived in Kenya , returning to New Zealand and the Kapiti Coast in 2000, and to painting in 2003.

Crispin lives in Raumati beach: "I moved here for the sense of community and so my children could grow up the way I did," she says.

In her latest series of paintings, New Zealand artist Crispin Korschen maintains her trademark passion for colour and whimsy in evolving her figurative elements.