Artist Development Programme
Reconnect with your painting practice and grow as an artist in a supportive, one-on-one environment. The Artist Development Programmes offer tailored guidance for artists looking to explore new directions, deepen their practice, and build confidence with paint. Whether you’re returning to painting or ready to refine your approach, these programmes provide a quiet, focused space designed around your individual goals.
In-Studio Mentorship (Tirau)
Format: Weekly one-on-one sessions in my Tirau studio, on the preferred day you book, with some flexibility if needed.
➡️ 8-Session Process & Exploration (Tirau)
$680
10am–3pm sessions, typically weekly over 8–10 weeks
A focused, process-led programme designed to help you reconnect with your painting practice and begin developing a more personal visual language.
Ideal for artists wanting to:
loosen their approach
explore expressionism and abstraction
move away from overworking
begin identifying their own style
Sessions are intuitive and responsive, with an emphasis on exploration, confidence, and developing your relationship with paint.
➡️ 12 Sessions Development & Exhibition (Tirau)
$1300
10am–3pm sessions, typically weekly over 12–14 weeks
A more in-depth programme for artists ready to expand and refine their practice over a longer period. Alongside developing your personal style, this programme introduces new approaches and techniques to bring greater depth and interest into your work, with a stronger focus on building a cohesive body of work.
This programme includes:
12 personalised sessions
Development of a small portfolio
Exploration of expressionism and abstraction
4 weeks of follow-up mentoring (correspondence-based)
Artist Development Notes — guidance on writing an artist statement, approaching galleries, and planning the next steps in your artistic career
Builds on mentoring experience developed through Creative Compass, co-founded by Santie Cronje (Deciduus) and Vicki Fox (Quirky Fox), providing practical guidance to emerging artists in New Zealand
Integrates both technical painting support and professional development, giving you the skills and confidence to grow your practice and engage with the gallery system
A small curated exhibition of work developed during the programme, installed in the gallery and presented online through the Deciduus Gallery platform
Correspondence Mentorship (Remote)
Format: Weekly personalised guidance via email, Zoom, or your preferred platform, with optional weekly Zoom or phone sessions (30–60 minutes).
➡️ 12 Week Correspondence Mentorship (Remote)
$980
For artists who can’t attend in-person sessions, this programme offers a tailored, one-on-one approach to support your painting practice remotely. The structure mirrors the in-studio experience, helping you explore, refine, and develop confidence from your own space.
What to expect:
Weekly personalised guidance via email, Zoom, or your preferred platform
Submit images of your work and reflections; receive detailed feedback, exercises, and suggestions to evolve your practice
Optional weekly Zoom or phone session (30–60 minutes) for discussion, demonstration, and Q&A
Artist Development Notes — guidance on writing an artist statement, approaching galleries, and planning the next steps in your artistic career
Builds on mentoring experience developed through Creative Compass, co-founded by Santie Cronje (Deciduus) and Vicki Fox (Quirky Fox), providing practical guidance to emerging artists in New Zealand
Integrates both technical painting support and professional development, giving you the skills and confidence to grow your practice and engage with the gallery system
Virtual exhibition of work developed during the programme, presented online through the Deciduus platform
About the Mentor
Santie Cronje is an exhibiting, professional artist and founder of Deciduus Gallery, bringing a unique perspective to mentoring that blends hands-on artistic practice with insight into the gallery world. Having navigated the challenges of building a professional art career herself, Santie understands the skills, confidence, and strategies emerging artists need to develop both their work and their presence in the art world.
Santie has mentored numerous artists through Creative Compass, a programme she co-founded with Vicki Fox (Quirky Fox), providing practical guidance and feedback for artists across New Zealand. Her mentoring draws on nearly 20 years of combined experience in the visual arts, guiding artists not only to grow technically and creatively, but also to understand how to approach galleries, write effective artist statements, and plan the next steps in their artistic careers.
Through the Artist Development Programmes, Santie integrates:
Technical painting support — helping you explore expressionism, abstraction, tonal work, and personal style
Professional development — mentoring you on portfolio development, gallery engagement, and building confidence in your artistic practice
Exhibition experience — guidance and opportunities to present your work in curated exhibitions, in-gallery or online
Whether in-studio or remotely, Santie’s mentoring is highly personalised, process-led, and focused on helping each artist grow at their own pace.
How the Programmes Work
The programmes consist of one-on-one sessions, tailored to your individual practice:
8–10 weeks for the 8-session Process & Exploration (in-studio)
12–14 weeks for the 12-session Development & Exhibition (in-studio)
12 weeks for the 12-week Correspondence Mentorship (remote)
Sessions allow some flexibility if needed. Before we begin, I take the time to understand where you are in your practice and what you’re hoping to explore. Each session — whether in-studio or remote — is custom-designed, evolving as your work develops.
The programme moves gently through phases of:
Grounding and direction
Exploration and experimentation
Refinement and resolution
This structure provides support while allowing space for your own pace and process.
Payment
Places are limited and secured with a deposit
Full payment is preferred to confirm your place
Two-part payment option available:
Deposit to secure booking
Remaining balance due early in the programme
Due to the limited availability of one-on-one sessions, payments are non-refundable once the programme has commenced
Enquiry
If you feel this programme aligns with where you are in your painting practice, you’re warmly invited to get in touch via the contact form below.
You’re welcome to briefly share:
your current experience
what you’re hoping to explore or shift
which programme you’re drawn to
Places are limited, and sessions are offered on a one-on-one basis.
