Svetlana Orinko
Svetlana began her journey as an artist at a very young age having inherited artistic abilities from her father. She was born and raised in the Ukraine. At the age of 12 after passing an entrance examination, she began a rigorous Classical Old Masters art education program, which would take her almost 10 years to complete.
After completing her education Svetlana made a living as an accomplished dressmaker as the opportunity to be a professional artist in the Ukraine was unheard of. Life was difficult with limited opportunities in the former USSR. Svetlana began looking for alternatives which would achieve a better future for her and her daughter. So in 1992 she immigrated to New Zealand and once again commenced painting. Svetlana has used oils and watercolours to achieve amazing success and reputation as one of New Zealand’s top artists and teacher. She is best known for her detailed floral compositions and portraits using a contemporary realism style.
Her art school background has taught Svetlana the skill of “Say what you want to say with minimum brushstrokes”
Some of Svetlana’s Art Awards and Achievements over the last 5 Years:
Published in magazine “Pratique des Arts” HS Aquarelle (special watercolour issue) France Oct/Nov 2016
• Published in International Artist Magazine issue 109 June/July
• Artsy Shark Featured Artist article April 2016
• Featured in Colour in Your Life Artist April 2016
• Kath von Tunzelman Memorial Watercolour Award 2015, Ashburton
• Lysaght Watt People Choice Award 2015 “Self-portrait”
• Most Innovative Painting Award, Splash 2015, Watercolour NZ
• Winner of Peter Yealands Wine People Choice Award Chch Art Show 2014
• Finalist World Watercolour Competition, France 2014
• Finalist Salon International 2014 Art Award San Antonio, USA
• Watercolour NZ Supreme Award 2013
• Art2die4 Award Ashburton 2013
• Second Award West Melton Art Exhibition 2013
• NZ Watercolour 2012 Art Award, second
• People Choice 2012 Art in a Garden, Flaxmere
• West Melton Annual Art Exhibition 2010, Second
• Finalist North Shore City Art Award 2010
• North Otago Art Society Merit Award 2009