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.
Last year I created a range of tiny embroideries inspired by various structures found in nature. You have probably some of these works before on my Facebook page (if you follow me there), but I thought I would share them here as well.
Some of the sources of inspiration for these 'stitched specimens' should be pretty obvious, others are a little more subtle.
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.
I have always had a deep fascination with Ammonites. This fascinating group of extinct marine invertebrates have a beautiful spiralled shaped shell that resembles the curved spiral of a rams horn. Most fossil collectors would have a specimen or two of one of these horn shaped stones, I know I do.
My studio is a very special place for me.
It is my place of creation and solitude, where I can escape everything and just focus on myself and my work. It is really important to me that my studio is a comfortable place, like a second home. So I have filled the space with things that I love. Plants grace the windowsill and hang from the roof, collections of natural curiosities and family heirlooms crowd the shelves, often arranged under glass domes. Everything has it's place and purpose.
Adding finishing touches in the studio to some pieces for 'Small Medium Large'
It's always lovely to have an exhibition in my hometown of Newcastle Australia so I am very excited to be involved in 'Small, Medium, Large', an exhibition curated by the Newcastle Gallery Collective. The unique thing about this show is that it is being held across four different galleries in Newcastle; C Studios, Nanshe,
The inspiration for my new piece Coast Pennywort (hydrocotyle bonariensis) came from a plant I picked up on a walk around my local area. This plant, commonly known as Coast Pennywort or Kurnell's curse, is a weed in most parts of New South Wales but I have always loved the shape of it's fleshy leaves with their intricate internal vein patterns.
As a result of winning the 2014 Emerging Artist - Craft minor award from Craft NSW I have been invited to exhibit my work in their wonderful showroom in Sydney for six months. I am delighted to have the opportunity to exhibit in such a prestigious gallery and wanted to make some work that extra special for the event. I wanted to create something that was a bit different. Something that would challenge me. Something that would be exclusive to Craft NSW.
Last month I entered my 'Amazonian Water Lily' in the inaugural Emerging Artist - Craft Award at Craft NSW. I don't usually like to enter my work in competitions but I figured I would throw my hat in the ring with this one because I have always been a big fan of Craft NSW and love visiting their gorgeous showroom in the Rocks.
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.
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.
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 study (2014) Embroidery thread and pinups paper.
Square leaf studies (2014)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You may have already picked up on this but .... I really love coral!
It completely fascinates me and I find it to be tremendously beautiful. Whenever I scuba dive I find myself transfixed on the coral formations I see below the surface rather than the beautiful fish and other creatures that we seek out when diving. Don't get me wrong I get excited when I see a shark or ray just as much as the next diver but I get so much out of just looking at the coral itself. While most people surface from a dive and exclaim... 'Did you see that huge groper/shark/ray etc!' I am more like 'Did you see the massive brain coral bommie!!!'