Sean Fietje

I am a realism painter working primarily with oils, and live in Christchurch with my wife, Daniella, and two young boys, Leo and James.

I have been a teacher for almost 20 years and spent the last 8 years of my teaching career teaching art at International Schools in South Africa and Hong Kong.

After arriving back in Christchurch mid-2022, I have been painting full time and continue to be drawn to landscapes around Canterbury and the South Island. I have a particular love of the Arthurs Pass area where I spent many weekends tramping in my youth.

I prefer familiar landscapes with a strong light source and lots of interesting detail. I try to capture the subtle textures and small details in the paintings so there’s lots for the viewer to explore.

My aim is to bring the feeling of a scene to the viewer, whether that be a chilly morning or sunny afternoon. I really want the viewer to feel like they are standing in the painting.

I have painted since I was a child and have spent thousands of hours over the past 25+ years learning how to paint in realism. I look forward to sharing many works over the coming years.