Portfolio
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The Artist
Hi! I'm Maree Hassall — a self-taught artist born and raised in Motueka, a beautiful little town in the Tasman region of New Zealand. I grew up surrounded by animals: dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs — you name it. That love of animals never left me.
As a child I was the kid other kids came to when they wanted a horse drawn. People called me stubborn — I called it determination. I'd look at photorealistic artwork and feel frustrated mine didn't look the same, but I knew I'd get there someday. And here we are!
My confidence grew when I was invited to show work at the Fire Air Water exhibition in Marlborough at just 18 years old. I sold a piece to one of the gallery owners that day — and that was the moment I believed art could truly be my life.
I specialise in realistic pet portraits and wildlife drawings using premium lightfast coloured pencils — Polychromos and Prismacolor — on archival-grade cotton paper. I work in carefully calibrated natural or 3600–3800K lighting so every colour is true-to-life and will remain vibrant for decades.
Every piece is built to last. No shortcuts. The result is something you can frame and pass down — a genuine heirloom of someone you love.
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This Privacy Policy describes how Maree Hassall Art (“I”, “me”, “my”) collects, uses, and discloses personal information from customers and users of my website located at mareehassall.art. I am committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the Privacy Act 2020 of New Zealand along with other relevant laws in jurisdictions where I operate.
I may collect and process the following personal information:
I use the information collected to:
I may share your information with third-party service providers that assist me in fulfilling orders, processing payments, and providing other services. I will ensure that these third parties comply with applicable privacy laws, including the Privacy Act 2020.
Your personal information may be transferred to countries outside New Zealand. I will take all necessary steps, including compliance with the Privacy Act 2020, to ensure your information is treated securely.
My website uses cookies to enhance your user experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us understand how you use my website. You can control or block cookies through your browser settings. For more details, please refer to my Cookies Policy.
Under the Privacy Act 2020 and applicable privacy laws, you may:
I maintain appropriate security measures in line with the Privacy Act 2020 to protect your personal information.
I may update this Privacy Policy periodically. I will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on my website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at maree.hassall@outlook.co.nz.
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This policy outlines my practices, and your rights related to refunds, returns, and exchanges.
At Maree Hassall Art (“I”, “me”, “my”), I take pride in the quality of my art pieces and strive to provide exceptional customer service.
Deposits for commissions or deposit-requiring products are considered non-refundable. Refunds of deposits are provided solely at my discretion. If I am unable to fulfill an order, and an agreement is reached between both parties, a full refund may be issued (including any deposit or funds already paid to me).
Due to the unique and personalized nature of commissioned art pieces, they cannot be returned or exchanged with me. All commissioned art sales are final.
Non-commissioned prints and other merchandise may be returned or exchanged with me on a per-case basis, subject to an agreement made at the time.
Please contact me at maree.hassall@outlook.co.nz to discuss the details of your return or exchange request.
Return shipping costs are the responsibility of the user.
Items must be returned in their original condition, and the user is encouraged to use trackable shipping services to ensure the safe return of the items.
Returned items may incur an administrative or restocking fee, which will be subtracted from the refund amount.
This fee will be communicated to you at the time the return or exchange is agreed upon.
Refunds will be processed using the original payment method within a reasonable timeframe after the returned items have been received and inspected.
Please allow 5 business days for the refund to be reflected in your account.
I may update this Returns and Refunds Policy from time to time.
I will notify you of any changes by posting the new Refunds and Returns Policy on my website.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at maree.hassall@outlook.co.nz.
Commission Process
Getting a commission is straightforward and personal. Here's exactly what to expect:
Reach out via Facebook, Messenger, or email. Tell me about your subject — who they are, the occasion, any ideas you have. The more you share, the better!
A high-quality, well-lit photo of your subject in your preferred pose works best. If the main photo is lower quality, extra images showing fine details, markings, or eye colour really help.
We'll agree on canvas size (A6 up to A3), composition (head only, upper body, or full body), and background. I'll provide a quote and, once approved, lock it all in.
Your commission gets scheduled. You can request progress updates any time — or leave it as a beautiful surprise. Either way, I know you'll love it.
Your finished piece is carefully packaged and shipped. I ship within New Zealand and internationally. I'm happy to advise on framing if needed!
📸 Photo quality matters. Sharp focus, natural light, and a clear view of the eyes all help enormously — the better your reference, the more detail I can capture.
⏱ Deadlines. If you have one — birthday, anniversary, Christmas — please mention it upfront. Urgent placement may be available for a small additional fee.
💬 I stay in touch. I love communicating throughout the process. You'll never be left wondering what's happening.
Investment
All prices are in New Zealand Dollars (NZD) and are starting prices for a single subject with a simple or no background. Final price depends on size, number of subjects, and complexity.
A6 · Extra Small
10.5 × 14.85 cm
4.1 × 5.8 in
$75
NZD · from
A5 · Small
14.85 × 21 cm
5.8 × 8.3 in
$150
NZD · from
A4 · Standard ✦
21 × 29.7 cm
8.3 × 11.7 in
$300
NZD · from
A3 · Large
29.7 × 42 cm
11.7 × 16.5 in
$600
NZD · from
🐾 Number of subjects — each extra subject adds time and detail. Smaller canvases suit one subject; larger can accommodate up to six.
🖼 Complexity — custom backgrounds, elaborate textures, and intricate detail all take longer and are priced accordingly.
⚡ Urgency — need it by a specific date? I may be able to fast-track your commission for a small fee. Always worth asking!
The best way to get an exact quote is to reach out and tell me what you have in mind — it's a quick and friendly conversation.