Thoughtful seascapes with Greta Cole

26 Aug 2025

It’s easy to get lost in Greta Cole’s paintings. The wistful seascape scenes and contrast of colours with Resene’s blues, greens and odd touch of gold leave you captivated.

“The majority of my paintings are of seascapes as I just love being able to play around with paint that can create atmosphere and moodiness,” she says. “My main painting style is abstract as I like for the viewer to fill in what they see or get out of the painting. This can always be different with each individual.”

Seachange, a striking painting by Greta, offers depth and contrast and is painted in a mix of Resene San Juan, Resene Seachange, Resene Blue Charcoal, Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Indian Ink.

Greta has always enjoyed painting and drawing right from an early age, and art naturally became her best subject while at school. “I paint in my spare time as a hobby and would love to paint full-time and make a living from it if I could,” Greta says. “Alot of my paintings I have done for family and friends but some are also done on commission.”

Greta’s painting, titled High Tide, offers feelings of tranquillity and calm. This piece is painted in Resene Bunting, Resene Jaguar, Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Indian Ink.  

As you might imagine, and as with many artists, Greta’s house is filled with plenty of her artwork, both in half-project form as well as completed. Living in the Tasman District, there is an abundance of inspiration from the natural environment and stunning coastline.

“I love painting large seascapes, and using Resene paints is ideal for this as the paint is consistent in colouring and there is such a great range of tonal blues and greens which I mostly use,” she says.

Tasman Southerly, which Greta put on Trade Me as a charity auction for those affected by the Tasman Floods, is painted in Resene Alabaster, Resene Bunting, Resene Indian Ink and touches of Resene FX Metallic Gold.

Along with using Resene hues – with favourites including Resene Bunting and Resene Indian Ink for their depth – Greta creates various effects and texture through using a number of different sized brushes, rollers and sponges, with the majority of her paintings being on boxed canvas.

There are a few pieces of her work that Greta is particularly fond of. These include 'Seachange', which is more on the abstract side, 'High Tide', for the depth and detailing of the sky, and 'Tasman Southerly', her latest piece which captures the mood of Tasman Bay on a dismal day.

Tasman Bay Vision is a warm and inviting piece, painted in Resene Whiskey Sour, Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Tangaroa, Resene Bunting, Resene Indian Ink and Resene FX Metallic Gold.

And although she has her own favourites, she invites the viewer to choose their own based on how each piece makes them feel.

To see more of Greta’s incredible painting and projects, visit her blog online.

Published: 26 Aug 2025