I believe there’s a little inherent magic in any subject matter. THROUGH painting I STRIVE TO CAPTURE IT.
Fritha Fischer is a New Zealand painter working primarily in oils. She paints from life whenever possible, favouring loose, expressive brushstrokes that embrace the raw, tactile qualities of the medium.
Fritha’s practice spans portraiture, still life, and landscape—whether en plein air or in the studio. In portraiture, she seeks to capture not only a likeness but also a sense of vitality, always maintaining a painterly touch. In still life and landscape, her attention turns to composition, guided by a deep sensitivity to light and colour.
Fritha Fischer is a New Zealand painter who has been immersed in creativity in some form, all her life. She spent eleven years in London, working in West End theatre costume and high-end fashion tailoring, while continuing her artistic training. During this time, she studied regularly at Candid Arts life drawing sessions, attended short courses at London Fine Arts under Joni Duarte, and was an active member of the Dulwich Art Group. Alongside this, she consistently painted commissioned portraits, a practice she has continued since returning to Auckland, New Zealand.
Fritha works primarily from life, drawn to the richness and ever-shifting qualities of light that can only truly be captured through direct observation. She hand-stretches all her own canvases in her studio, affectionately known as the Art Shed, where she also runs a small weekly art group of six students. In addition, she has hosted wine-and-art nights on Auckland’s North Shore, teaching still life painting in oils.