STEPHANIE Harlan

I am a Tauranga-based artist working in abstract realism. My paintings are inspired by New Zealand's coastline and the way water shapes the world around us. I am drawn to weathered surfaces, shifting sands and the marks left behind by the sea. Working intuitively, I build each piece through layers, allowing texture, movement and instinct to guide the final work. Where Time Settles grew from my fascination with the way water slowly erodes everything it touches. The ocean doesn't rush; it quietly reshapes coastlines, smooths stone and leaves traces of every tide. To me, it's a reminder that time works in much the same way. The layers of turquoise, earth and charcoal reflect the meeting of sea, sand and rock. There are hints of landscape, but nothing is fixed. Like looking into water, the image shifts depending on what you bring to it. Some people see a shoreline, others see old structures, while some simply feel a sense of calm. This painting isn't about capturing a particular place. It's about the feeling of standing on a beach where time seems to slow down, where the land carries the stories of everything that has come before it. I hope it encourages viewers to pause, look a little longer, and find their own connection within it.