SOLO EXHIBITION 2025
I'm excited to announce that in Jan 2025 I will be sharing my newest collection of artworks entitled "Earth Journeys".
Since my last solo exhibition in 2019, I have continued to explore the theme of "nature" working with several art-making techniques to express all the things I love about the ocean & earth.
Join me at The Old Fire Station, Kiama, in January 2025 (30/01/2025 - 5/02/2025) to see what "Earth Journeys" I've been on, whats inspired me and how I have responded creatively .
Here's a sneak peek at some progress photos from my studio sessions so far....
PREPARATION: As well as creating artworks, I also enjoy designing & constructing my canvases. This allows me the freedom to choose the size and shape, without the restrictions of store bought canvases, and saves me money. It's a really physical, creative process, vastly different from the delicate and intricate nature of the art and creative techniques that will be applied to the canvas surface. In the July school holidays this year, I have produced 8 new canvases to use for my new collection. Here's what some of them look like.
INSPIRATION, RESEARCH & PLANNING are important aspects of art-making. I usually start with photography but I also make drawings, collagraph blocks and lino cuts which can be used to create artworks in their own right and also form a part of my mixed media pieces. Here is an example of a finished mixed media piece on canvas - "views of the lake". This will be available to view and purchase in January 2025.
"Views Of The Lake"
Acrylic & collage on canvas with stitching details. 40cm x 40cm
Available in Jan 2025.
When it comes to the collage elements of my work, most of the papers I use, I create myself. When ever I have leftover acrylic paint, I enjoy a session of abstract free flow painting. Using palette knives or old plastic cards, my fingers and sometimes sqeezey bottles to splash, smudge, drag and smear the paint onto large sheets of paper, l allow the marks, lines and patterns to evolve, the colours blend and mix until I I'm left with exciting results that make me smile.
CREATING SHAPES: All of the collage elements in my work are hand cut with either scissors or a craft knife. Sometimes I draw the shapes onto the paper first or I free-hand cut when the composition is in its developing stages. I really enjoy working with the idea of positive and negative space so when I cut a solid shape out of the paper, I keep the negative cut-out and re-use it in the same artwork or create a new piece. Here are two sections (below middle & right) of a recently finished collage on paper where I have only used the negative cut-out paper elements left over from a previous piece with some new shapes added to create a pair of long format works on paper. Check out my social media for a full reveal.
A close-up section of a mixed media canvas piece, showing positive cut-out paper pieces.
Arranging paper collage pieces to create a composition.
Adding machine stitching to create linear detail and texture.
Finish Artwork: Here are a few of my latest finished artworks that will be a part of my solo exhibition on January 2025.
These original pieces have all been professionally photographed so that I can produce quality art prints that are an affordable option for all.
​"Standing Tall"
Acrylic & Collage on Arches 300gsm paper with stitching detail.
Available in January 2025.
"Standing Tall 2"
Acrylic & Collage on Arches 300gsm paper with stitching detail.
Available in January 2025.
Under The Sea With One Fish"
Acrylic & Collage on Canvas with stitching detail.
Available in January 2025.
"Kelp With Red Coral Fan"
Collage on Arches 300gsm paper with pen details.
Available in January 2025.
Progress shots: Starting with the original photo I took on a beautiful evening in August, 2024 in Kiama, NSW.
The early stages of painting a large canvas can be overwhelming, knowing where to start, getting the colours right etc.
Sometimes you have to let go a little and allow the layers to build and tell yourself...it's your response to a photo,
it doesn't need to be an exact copy. Taking a little time away from an artwork and focussing on something else can also help, then go back to it when you feel ready.
I had to problem solve and experiment with techniques to create the grasses for this painting. I tried a few different things and settled with one that gave me the consistent effect I was looking for. Even when I had decided it was finished, and I put a layer of varnish on,
I went back and added a few more grass elements until I was completely happy.
"At Peace"
Acrylic on canvas.
1.2m x 1.2m
Available in January 2025
Ceramics: This year I have been able to get back to working with clay to create ceramic art pieces for my solo exhibition. These clay fish form a particular part of my new collection, representing some of the "found objects" I have recorded when exploring the amazing environment I live in, on the south coast of NSW.
Close-up of an Angel Fish in its raw form After the first firing (Bisque) coloured underglazes
called "Greenware" . have been brushed on.
These two fish are finished following a 2nd firing (mid-fire cone 6 1220 degrees)
You can see how the underglaze colours have developed.