About Me

  Sandra Marie Adams

Welcome to my blog. I'm Sandra. My artist name is Sandra Marie Adams.  I've been an artist for a long while now.  I wasn't always an artist and had other careers previously. I came from a very sporty family. My Dad had been a top athlete and as a child he took me to a high national level with my sport. However there was some artistic influences in my life. My grandparents house was full of art of relatives including my great aunt Peggy Spicer.  A known  New Zealand artist.  Peggy's mum Ella Spicer (nee Adams)  was also a known New Zealand artist. I used to look at the art and notice it but being an artist never occurred to me.  I was pretty hopeless actually and used to admire kids at school who could draw. When I was at Uni my flatmate was at art school. I used to think that she belonged to this special secret world and admired her. I had a career as a result of my sport and lived in LA, London and Sydney. Slowly my artistic side started to emerge. I tried for years to be an actor and did post grad Drama School in London. However that was not meant to be. I came home lost, not sure what to do with my life. Then fate/destiny stepped in. I had a series of spiritual experiences that I couldn't explain and picked up a paintbrush to try and make sense of them. I remember a voice say "painting will set you free" and it has. I was a hopeless artist to begin with but I kept going. Now when I'm in my studio and everything is flowing it is like riding the crest of a perfect wave. I feel very lucky to have found the thing I love to do and my reason for being here.

WAR By Sandra Marie Adams                    
 One of my favourite paintings. My kids fighting the younger one used to bite VERY hard.. They love each other to bits.

I''m lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Waiheke Island. A small island off the coast of New Zealand. Waiheke Island is known for its art internationally now. There's something about the island that attracts arty types including me. I have a studio here which is open to the public and gets busy in the summer. I live across the road from a beautiful little beach with my two daughters.

Waiheke Island has featured alot  in my art. The bachs and beaches are fun to paint. When I first started painting I used oils but found it too slow with young kids so changed to acrylics. I paint a very wide range of subject matter as I like to be always trying new things.  I feel strongly about things and my art tends to be autobiographical.  When I start a new painting often I will get a very strong image in my head that won't go away until I paint it. I love colour and how I begin a painting is always with a strong idea of colour and form.  I have definitely had my share of challenges. My daughter has been very unwell the last couple of years which has influenced the things I want to paint about. As we have been to some dark places I can feel myself questioning what life is all about. My next series of paintings aren't going to be so pretty, with darker elements. So watch this space. Take a look around my blog  and feel free to contact me or comment because being an artist you don't have to much interaction. So its nice to hear what people think about your art.. Hope you enjoy.