Hi my name is Narelle De Santis, a Sydney based self taught artist. I have always had a natural affinity with animals having competed with horses in eventing and showjumping until the age of 30. Growing up, my family had a working beef cattle farm so I was involved with cattle and hand raised orphaned farm animals. Upon retirment from competitions, I was concerned about our Australian native wildlife, so I started to rescue and foster injured or abandoned wildlife which contined for 10 years.
It wasnt until after a long 2 year battle with cancer that I started to draw. I have always had a fascination for the intricate details of an animal's anatomy and movement as well as their fur, feathers and eyes. Specialising in soft pastel allowed me to infuse creativity with a soft, tactile quality that shows the intricate and delicate details of each animal's individual features. I love to bring the animals to life through delicate strokes of pastel and meticulous precision of realism one pastel stroke at a time.
Through my art I aim to not just showcase a stunning variety of wildlife but also to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and our responsibility to protect these creatures and their environment.