Cut Paper & Watercolours - ongoing work
In early 2012 I began experimenting with the creation of silhouette-like images set in 'windows', by using a fine cutting blade and medium- weight watercolour paper. My first efforts were shown in the 'Windows and Doors' exhibition in that same year, but I subsequently produced (in 2015) a much larger body of work on a particular theme, depicting a number of orchids which grow in our region of Victoria. Most of these early pieces featured a cut layer of white paper, with the cut work throwing shadows on to a white background; these two layers were separated from each other by approximately a centimetre.
My largest cut paper work so far is the 'Tiny Treasures' piece (part of the Orchids collection) which utilises a full 750x650 cm sheet of watercolour paper. This piece won first prize in the Works on Paper section of the 2016 Man from Snowy River Festival Art Show. An earlier work, 'Australian Cross' was featured in the 10th Anniversary Book for the Chapel on Station Gallery, Box Hill, in 2015.
Over the years from 2015 to 2019 I have added colour to my pieces through means of a background painted with watercolours. Because watercolour pigments are almost all translucent, the element of light that I feel is so essential to my work is retained.
In January 2017, four of my new works were on display at the 31st Rotary Art Show at Yea, in Victoria, north of Melbourne. These works were images of roses created with cut paper set over watercolour work. In that same year, my 'Water Hen' - rendered in the same media - was Highly Commended by the judge at the Mansfield District Auxillary Art Show.
The North East Fine Artists group in August 2019 is holding its first exhibition in Swanpool, Victoria, alongside the second Swanpool Creative Recycled Art Prize (SCRAP). Amongst the varied collection of 2D and 3D work on show are four of my recent cut paper and watercolours pieces: 'Californian Poppies' (a set of three works) and 'The Young Princess' (a large work, depicting a Eucalyptus caesia).
Tiny Treasures: Orchids of the North-East - exhibited November 2015
'Tiny Treasures' is cut-paper work that features orchids from North-East Victoria, where I live.
Orchids have a small 'window' of time in which they flower; for the remainder of the year they cannot be found, because they rest underground. This adds to their mystique and the challenge of discovery; when they appear (mostly in Spring), there is great excitement amongst lovers of the Australian bush. Many of them are unobtrusive and finding them requires great patience and keen observation. All the species illustrated in this exhibition grow in our part of North-East Victoria and my artwork is based on direct observation of them.
For this body of work I chose to create a set of Artist's Books and boxes, every one hand-formed and cut by hand from watercolour rag. A box may be plain or include a painted cut-paper image that identifies its book's featured orchid.
The books are in concertina form, each one made from a strip of paper 10 cm x 670 cm folded into 8 pages 8 cm wide. Every book showcases a particular orchid via several cut windows, watercolours, and pen-and-ink work on acetate. Care has been taken to represent the character of each orchid and the silhouette images are approximately life-size.
The 2015 exhibition also showed framed works, all cut-paper images, again utilising watercolour rag; just two include a little watercolour.
'Tiny Treasures' – my major work - consists of three cut windows in a vertical presentation, representing the three main 'storeys' of plant life in the bush. The lowest window holds the orchids - at least a dozen; the middle window shows eight larger plants with their flowers; the top window features several species of eucalypt plus an acacia. This work won First Prize in the Works on Paper category of the 2016 Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Art Show; the theme of the show was 'Through the Eyes of a Horse"
My thanks go to the friends who have allowed me to walk on their properties and have shared the known locations of their tiny treasures!
'Tiny Treasures' is cut-paper work that features orchids from North-East Victoria, where I live.
Orchids have a small 'window' of time in which they flower; for the remainder of the year they cannot be found, because they rest underground. This adds to their mystique and the challenge of discovery; when they appear (mostly in Spring), there is great excitement amongst lovers of the Australian bush. Many of them are unobtrusive and finding them requires great patience and keen observation. All the species illustrated in this exhibition grow in our part of North-East Victoria and my artwork is based on direct observation of them.
For this body of work I chose to create a set of Artist's Books and boxes, every one hand-formed and cut by hand from watercolour rag. A box may be plain or include a painted cut-paper image that identifies its book's featured orchid.
The books are in concertina form, each one made from a strip of paper 10 cm x 670 cm folded into 8 pages 8 cm wide. Every book showcases a particular orchid via several cut windows, watercolours, and pen-and-ink work on acetate. Care has been taken to represent the character of each orchid and the silhouette images are approximately life-size.
The 2015 exhibition also showed framed works, all cut-paper images, again utilising watercolour rag; just two include a little watercolour.
'Tiny Treasures' – my major work - consists of three cut windows in a vertical presentation, representing the three main 'storeys' of plant life in the bush. The lowest window holds the orchids - at least a dozen; the middle window shows eight larger plants with their flowers; the top window features several species of eucalypt plus an acacia. This work won First Prize in the Works on Paper category of the 2016 Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Art Show; the theme of the show was 'Through the Eyes of a Horse"
My thanks go to the friends who have allowed me to walk on their properties and have shared the known locations of their tiny treasures!
Animals - exhibited in March 2013
'Animals', a set of fifty drawings in crayon on paper, took about eight years to create. It features fifty different creatures, from ant to elephant, in a realistic style.
Associated with this exhibition a set of cards, 'Animals by Art of Grace' , was launched showing all of the animal images. The cards have been designed so they may be used in a variety of ways by individuals and groups, such as conversation starters, as a focus for self-reflection, as teaching aids, or as eminently portable symbols for therapy. They may also be purchased simply for the enjoyment of small-scale, fine art pieces.
The exhibition was held at Chapel on Station Gallery, which continues to stock sets of 'Animals' cards - find out more through my Links page.
Associated with this exhibition a set of cards, 'Animals by Art of Grace' , was launched showing all of the animal images. The cards have been designed so they may be used in a variety of ways by individuals and groups, such as conversation starters, as a focus for self-reflection, as teaching aids, or as eminently portable symbols for therapy. They may also be purchased simply for the enjoyment of small-scale, fine art pieces.
The exhibition was held at Chapel on Station Gallery, which continues to stock sets of 'Animals' cards - find out more through my Links page.
Past ExhibitionsI have been exhibiting since the year 2000. Over those years, I have contributed to numerous group shows, both in Melbourne and in rural Victoria. My first solo show was held in 2001 and my tenth exhibition was 'Windows & Doors', held at Chapel on Station Gallery in November 2012. 'Windows & Doors' consisted of watercolour and cut paper works, some of which were displayed in innovative ways.
Major Exhibitions (solo) –
'Tiny Treasures: Orchids of the North-East' - Chapel on Station, Box Hill, November 2015 'Animals' – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, March 2013 'Windows & Doors' – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, November 2012 'Nursed by Time' – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, October 2010 ‘Intimations II’ – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, May 2006 ‘Intimations: female in the landscape’ – Hogan Gallery, Collingwood, 2005 ‘a natural wonder’ – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, July 2005 ‘Living History’ – Catherine Asquith Gallery, Melbourne, May 2004 ‘le jardin de roses’ - Maruska café gallery, Melbourne, August 2003 ‘no need to explain: glimpses of grief’ - Charles Smith Gallery, Fitzroy, May 2002; ‘Womanhood: Dancing Through Time’ - Box Hill Community Arts Centre, November 2001; ‘No More Tears: Visions of Hope’ - Fitzroy Gallery, February 2001 Awards/Prizes - Man from Snowy River Bush Festival Art Show, 2016 - First Prize in Works on Paper category Short-listed for Matt & Ben’s Collection of Australian Self Portraits, Artholes Self Portrait Show, 2003 Group exhibitions – ‘African Journeys’- Chapel on Station, Box Hill, 2007 ‘the light of life’ Centenary Religious Art Prize – Churches of Christ Theological College, Mulgrave, 2007 ‘In the Beginning’ Religious Art Prize Exhibition – Chapel on Station, Box Hill, 2006 Matt & Ben’s Collection of Australian Self Portraits, Artholes Self Portrait Show, 2005 ‘calling out’ – Oak Hill Gallery, Mornington, 2005 ‘Women’s Salon’ – Artholes Gallery, Fitzroy, 2004 ‘natural lines’ – at Fitzroy Gallery, 2004 Art Shows with Waverley Arts Society, 2000 - 2003; ‘Treasures’ - at Box Hill CAC , 2003 (convened by self) ‘Transformation’ - at Fitzroy Gallery, 2002 (convened by self); ‘Drawing You In’ - at Walker Street Gallery, 2001 ‘Black Rock to Hobart’ at St Kilda (by invitation) 2000; Highway Gallery, Mt Waverley, 2000; Isobelle de Soyres Annual Life Drawing, Brighton, 2000 |
'The Lover' - cut paper & watercolours, 345mm x 305mm - Sold
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