It  always makes me happy to introduce you to new artists. Specially artists that have taught me so much. I was very lucky to work in a kids art studio Nayana had a while ago, called To the Moon, where I not only learned a lot about teaching art, but I also learned new ways of being, seeing and making.
Nayana creates magical and hyperrealistic animals that are amazing. I hope you like her work as much as I do.
If you'd like to buy some of her beautiful animal prints you can go to Etsy and follow her at @thewild.woods
I hope you enjoy getting to know about her work and what makes her tic.

How did art find you?  

I have always been creative, as a child we didn’t have many toys so we had to use our imagination. My mum was always sewing or knitting so I was forever making things.
Art was definitely my favourite subject in school but I knew it was going to be hard to make a living out of it so I went to university and started to study Interior Design. I enjoyed this but it was incredibly technical and not nearly as creative as I had hoped so I left Uni and ventured out into the world.
I eventually enrolled in Art School in my early twenties and never looked back. I had found like minded people and we got to try so many different techniques.
After University I worked in film and television as a props maker and painter and then when I had kids I started to draw because I needed to do something that allowed me to stay home, look after my family and still be creative.


A bit about my artwork…I love to draw animals! I have tried to draw many other things but I am always drawn to animals. There is something beautiful about seeing an animal come to life on your blank piece of paper. I draw with a great deal of detail. I have tried to be a little looser with my style but i cant help myself.
Colour pencils are definitely my favourite and I have so many beautiful pencils to choose from. I have tried so many different mediums but I have the greatest control with pencils.


Do I have a favourite colour?  Not really. I use a lot of fur colours so lots of my super bright coloured pencils don’t get much use.


Who is my favourite art teacher?  

I have had lots of amazing art teachers throughout my life. My favourites were always those that were super inspiring and introduced me to new and wonderful things.


Who or what inspires me?

I am always inspired by nature. Animals, forests, seeds, flowers, shells…all of the beautiful things you could collect while out for a walk!
I am also inspired by other artists and new techniques.


Why is art key?  

Art is such an important part of our lives. Being able to create something out of nothing is such an incredible skill to have.
We live in a world full of technology where everything is moving so quickly and I think it is important to keep being creative and to support local artists.


If I could ask my favourite artist a question it would be?  

I have lots of favourite artists so I would probably have lots of questions but I always love to know what it was that made them successful, what was that moment in their career that allowed them to go from just being creative to being able to support themselves and keep being creative.


When creating with children what are three things that work?

I think it always needs to be fun, thats definitely the most important thing.
I think you always need to show them an example of what they could do, kids are always surprised by what they are able to create with a little guidance.
Let them try as many different things as they can, diversity is so important because we all have different skills.


Three artist I follow on instagram are:   
@cj_hendry , she is an amazing hyper realist colour pencil artist,
@helen_dardik  , an illustrator who produces super bright, fun artwork and
​@jensievers_art
There are so many more I love to follow!

I want to introduce to you Jackie Mostek not only a talented Australian artist or a Japan fan, but most of all a beautiful soul. You can see al of this in her beautiful and delicate work. Here are some hints into her work and inspiration!

How did art find you?


My darling mother and father gave me an art easel for my 4th birthday, complete with a set of paints. Thats when the affair with art began!


When did you decide to become an artist?


I decided to become an artist when I was about 5 or 6, but my older childhood friends told me I couldn't make any money being an artist so I should choose another job. I remember thinking I should work as a pig farmer instead because I liked animals. I found my way back to taking art seriously after studying interior design for a year and really struggling with finding any passion for it. I switched to visual art and stopped worrying about career prospects. Since then I have been doing my art part time and working part time in ebbs and flows and it works well for me.


Please tell us a bit about you and your artwork?


I am 29 years old, and I live on the coast of New South Wales in Australia. I grew up in a town nearby with my mum, dad and little sister. The town is by the sea but I'm actually a bit afraid of the ocean.
I have a partner, Travis, a cat, Paul and a baby boy Felix. I love all of them very much.


When I make my artwork, Sometimes I think about the ways that people remember things, and how mementos such as photographs and souvenirs can change what we might have remembered without them. I enjoy painting and drawing everyday moments for people, things that ordinarily might not seem very important but that I think are beautiful and peaceful. I also paint a lot of animals, I like to think about how they have their own memories, stories and ways of seeing that are locked up forever in their minds.


What is your favourite medium, technique?


My favourite medium is gouache on paper, though recently I have started to paint with Gouache on wood as an experiment.


Do you have a favourite colour?


My favourite colour is green.


Who was or is your favourite Art Teacher and why?


My favourite art teacher was one of my lecturers from University who was often seen to be a bit nasty because he was so direct and often said things that people didn't want to hear. He always encouraged me to get into the zone with my work and never asked me to explain myself. He would get angry if I showed up to get my name marked off the roll because he would rather me be working 'I know you are always here Jackie! just go paint!'.


Who or what inspires you?


I am inspired by animals, objects, photographs and hand crafts.


Why do you think Art is key?


Art unlocks a part of me that helps me trust my intuition, it is grounding and helps me to notice more about my everyday world. For audiences, art can do a similar thing in drawing attention to details and ways of seeing that might be new or forgotten. This is because looking at art disconnects people from their routine, and often takes them to a different place in their minds - one that it quiet, thoughtful and questioning.


If you could ask your favourite artist any question, what would it be?


I would ask about their daily routine, very specifically. What is it exactly that makes up your day and work practice and in what order do things happen?


When creating with children what are three things that work wonders?


Storytelling has always been a great tool for working with children, whether that means that they respond to an existing story, or invent a narrative of their own to go along with their creations.


Could you share with us 3 Artist you follow in Instagram?


Izumi Kato @izucat692
Lynda Draper @lynda_draper
Jumaadi @juma_adi