Award Finalist
It’s been a busy few weeks in the studio of late.
Firstly, we wrapped up the Du Rietz Art Awards exhibition in the beautiful School of Arts building in Gympie.
What a pleasant surprise it was to be included as one of the finalists in this year’s Du Rietz Art Awards. The exhibition ran between 5th August until 5th September and included all forms of Art including 2D and 3D and i must say, the standard of work was exceptionally high. I felt honoured to be selected and to be able to exhibit my ‘Dys-Tortion No:9’ amongst this selection of talented artists.
For judging details and the list of winners, click the image above.
I am really working hard to get ready for the upcoming Noosa Open Studios Art Trail… really looking forward to opening up my space and welcoming visitors for the first time.
For more details click the image above
Paintings about new life…
Recently the bush and national parks near my house have been undergoing ‘hazard reduction’ or burning-off the excess undergrowth to reduce bushfire fuel loads for the coming summer. As we take our doggies on their daily walks, the changes in the bush are increasingly apparent. Density, colours, textures and forms of the bush have changed dramatically. Rather than show these changes as a negative impact, I wanted to show them as a positive for the natural environment. Although the forms are blackened and charred, we know that in Australia, a ‘cool’ fire will generate new life and in fact, is necessary for plants to set seed. Using a new colour palette and painting style, these paintings explore the idea of new life as represented in the environment.
No title yet…
You may have noticed I have updated the website… (again). Why would you do that when you’re getting ready for another exhibition? I hear you ask. Just wanted something simple, streamlined and adaptable that won’t need too much tweaking to keep it looking good.
In the meantime, there are still a few Photographic prints and original paintings available.
This series explores the idea of distortion or man’s impact on the environment, through an original photographic technique .
How much of the environment will exist in an altered state in the future due to man’s impact? Imagine taking a walk through a garden expecting to see perfect specimens of all sorts of flowers, instead, you find these dystopian, mutated forms, still beautiful but not as you knew flowers to be.
To achieve the distortions, I developed a multi- faceted photographic technique using a combination of devices, including a macro lens, long exposures and light-painting. The result is delicate colours and a sense of dark mystery. The variable nature of these techniques mean that they cannot be completely controlled or repeated in subsequent shots, and as a result, each image is entirely unique.The images are made in camera with minimal cropping and levels adjustment in editing.
Oil on Canvas
122 x 92 x 3.5 cm
This painting is a celebration of colour and organic forms. Banksias were the inspiration however, as it progressed, it quickly morphed into something quite lush and tropical. It was inspired by a family event- an international house relocation- back to a familiar country but to a new environment. Now I am surrounded by national and state parks; vast areas of lush green foliage and vibrantly coloured plants and, like all artists, the environment you find yourself in has a big influence on your work.
Botanica Flamboyance is extravagant in it’s colour palette and application as well as flamboyant in its composition. It expresses the beauty and abundance of the environment that I am so thankful to see every day. Look closely for intricate details that represent the minutia of organic structures often unseen in the natural environment.
“Until next time, stay safe everyone!”