Let me show you my illustrated travel journal
'Foliate'; My artist residency exhibition at the Glasshouse Port Maquarie
In early 2017 I completed an artist residency at the Glasshouse in Port Maquarie. This was the resulting exhibition.
Ja T'ho Faras feature
Thanks to the Catalan television program 'Ja T'ho Faras' my work has spread to the other side of the world. A little one and a half minute segment about my work was aired as a part of the program on 24/06/2017. It is wonderful to think that my work was seen by a whole new audience.
Artist Residency at Glasshouse Port Maquarie
Last week I completed an artist residency at the Glasshouse in Port Maquarie
What is an artist residency you ask? Hopefully this post can answer that question and also give some insight into what I did during my residency.
My new favourite marine critter - the Argonaut.
Recently I was gifted a particularly beautiful shell by a friend who knew that I liked to collect such things. The shell was paper thin, translucent, and covered in rows upon rows of little bumps. I was in love.
This curious specimen sparked a research rampage on my part until I tracked down the original owner of the shell and it’s story.
Natural Networks at Timeless Textiles Gallery
My solo exhibition at Timeless Textiles finished up a week or so ago. It was lovely to show with this wonderful gallery again. I have exhibited with the gallery every few years since I moved to Newcastle and they have been a great support of me and my art practice. This time around the exhibition was in their new space next to the Lock up on Hunter St.
Here are a few shots of the show for those who missed it.... or those who want to relive it gain.
Celebrating colour in leaves
It's no secret that I like leaves.
In fact I like leaves more than that I like flowers, which probably makes me a bit weird because I am sure it is the other way around for most people. Leaves have inspired my work for the last few years and I can't look at a leaf without zooming straight into its vein structure and tracking this delicate system.
Fan Worm Crown
This new piece is inspired by an ocean creature that has always fascinated and delighted me on dives. The fan worm, Sabella spallanzanii. This little annelid is otherwise known as the 'European Fan worm', 'pencil worm' or 'feather duster worm'. Sabella spallanzanii is found in the shallow, sub-tidal areas of countries such as; Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey and South America. It has been also been found in several regions around Australia over the last few decades. The fan worm has the potential to be a pest in our marine waters and their numbers are being monitored as a result.
Fiber Art Now feature
Very excited that my work made the cover of the Summer 2015 edition of Fiber Art Now magazine!
I was tickled pink to be featured in this great magazine and the article was written by no other than Mr X Stitch himself (Jamie Chalmers). Mr X Stitch features my work on his blog last year (you can see the post here) and it was quite an honour to have him write about my work for Fiber Art Now.
Specimen collections
I have always been deeply fascinated by scientific specimen collections.
Wether they are pressed plants in a herbarium, lines of insects pinned to a board or creepy things in jars of formaldehyde, I find great beauty and fascination in preserved specimens and I have been known to spend hours perusing these collections in museums whenever I can. In my humble opinion, the power of a specimen collection is in the repetition. By having several examples of the same thing displayed in a clear simple manner, the similarities and differences can be clearly seen and a much deeper understanding can be developed than what you could glean from a single specimen alone.
Interview with IFWA (International Foundation for Women Artists)
I was recently interviewed by the IFWA (International Foundation for Women Artists). The IFWA blog is a great place to discover female artists across all areas of the arts and from around the world.
I am tickled pink that they have decided to feature me.
Little Ginkgo studies
I love Ginkgo leaves … it's no secret. They have been the subject of many of my artworks over the last few years and they will no doubt continue to inspire my work for years to come.
This new trio of works are my newest interpretation of this golden plant. Each of the pieces are multilayered with overlapping leaves. This creates a lovely layering effect and adds a greater sculptural element to the work.
2014 Workshops
People often ask me if I teach workshops and the answer is … Yes, yes I do - and I love doing it as well!
I have developed a fun two day workshop packed full of techniques such as resin embedding, freehand embroidery and of course my signature sculptural embroidery technique. I will be running the workshop twice this year in two great locations. Both are in NSW (sorry for those that are further out, I will get to you one day) and I am really looking forward to both workshops.
Square leaf studies
Square Leaf study (2014) Embroidery thread and pinups paper.
Square leaf studies (2014)
Ginkgo Biloba
I have always loved Ginkgo leaves and have used their delicate fan like forms in several of my artworks. I generally create small Ginkgo leaves but with my newest piece 'Ginkgo Biloba' I felt I needed to go bigger. This piece examines the beautiful internal structure of the Ginkgo while capturing the vibrant yellow/orange that the leaves turn in Autumn.
Autumn leaf
While I have been working with leaf shapes and designs for a few years now I have always used very dark, muted colour schemes - like dried and dead leaves. But I do love the bright colours that leaves turn, especially in autumn, so I felt it was time that I used this as inspiration for some new work.
New small works
Yesterday was my first official day working in the new studio and to say I was excited was an understatement. I got up at 4am (yes 4am - what is wrong with me) and was so full of plans for the day that I got to the studio super early and threw myself into work.
Palau - an inspirational place
I recently married my high school sweetheart, and as a result of this fabulous bonding of two souls … I got to go on a honeymoon! Now a honeymoon is probably the most important holiday one ever goes on and you want to make it super special. Most people splash out and go somewhere extra special or extra fancy, blow the budget on a nice hotel and fancy dinners. Now while that all sounds lovely my new hubby and I prefer a more active kind of holiday which is why we chose our fabulous honeymoon destination. Palau!
Australian Art Show - Melbourne
Last weekend's I took part in the Australian Art Show in the Royal Exhibition Building, CarltonGardens, Melbourne. It was a great weekend ... I met some inspiring people and many of my pieces found great new homes. Thank you for everyone who came along and supported me.
Sea Spiral
Generally when I start an artwork I have a pretty good idea of how it's going to turn out. But every now and then a piece will surprise me. It will start as one thing and then evolve into something else all together. My 'Sea Spiral' was one of these pieces.