Tuesday, July 27, 2010

'BURNT HILLS" AND "WILD WOODS' INSPIRE ART!

In an exhibition of works "Burnt Hills", artist Sally Watson brings us a fresh view of her world inspired by burnt hills and the natural world. Watson has a strong sense of line and form and these are works with a 'zen' quality that will hold your attention.

Opening on Saturday, August 21 at 6.30 pm, everyone is invited to attend.

SALLY WATSON'S STATEMENT:

"I have always loved the round hills of the landscapes around Orange. There is something maternal about the roundness and they seem to hold things in place. A daily walk is often a source if inspiration for may drawings, whether it is the shape of a leaf or an abstract idea. In November 20009, there was an out of control grass fir e which burnt out paddocks for kilometres until it was finally extinguished within 500 metres of where I lived. The familiar round hills were blackened and marks with the tracks from the fire trucks and I was reminded of the drawings by Rover Thomas. I was inspired to make a series of drawings based on the burnt hills. The hills are beside the road which I walked for many days and which had served as an inspiration for artworks, From November until January, I created large and small drawings, which were based on those burnt hills and the emotions of anguish and release of fear. I let myself go so I could explore my feelings through the drawings.






This exhibition also includes works from my Organic Abstraction Series. In these drawings I have not been concerned with representing any seen reality. One method I have used is automatism where the act of drawing, painting or writing is based on chance, suppressed consciousness and free associations. The subconscious holds thoughts and feelings, which can be hidden from us. Drawing an be a spontaneous way of letting go of control and allowing the work to emerge. Meditation, Zen and solitude always influence my work.


My arts practice includes keeping a visual journal, the observation of life around me, the inclusion of meditation as a way of becoming conscious of thoughts and feelings, the development of mark making, along with the loosening up and letting go of control in drawing and brushwork. I also make drawings, which are composed entirely of words, which represent a spontaneous flow of my consciousness. To me this is cathartic. The Organic Abstraction Series has nature nature and human emotion as the source for inspiration and also makes the use of gestural drawing and brushwork.


The richest way for me to be with myself is to paint and draw."

JUDY WHITLOCK'S STATEMENT:

"I work on paper in a  variety of media, painting, watercolour landscapes and leaf studies; drawing trees in pen and ink; and printmaking: etchings, mostly of trees, and oil-marbling. I make miniature books and photography is becoming an obsession.


My finished work is studio-based using sketch book drawings and photographs. I visit specific locations to obtain this material; on such trips I tramp around with a pen, sketchbook and camera. Working in pen forces a decision and creates a confidence in line and style. It is a very productive method and I have filled dozens of sketchbooks.






My paintings and etchings all evolve from the sketches. In the studio, (painting or preparing an etching plate) I like to play with composition, quality of light and bring my own atmosphere to a picture.


My tree drawing begin in situ and are finished in the studio. I vary the substrate and style but always there are millions of lines.


I am constantly refining, rethinking; I am always at work."


On inspiration, Judy says "All trees evoke some kind of response in me. They are the quintessential landscape. Many of my specific travel locations are for the trees alone. Some preferred areas are, the Darling and Murrumbidgee Rivers, western NSW, that area round Lake mUngo and it' many dry lakes, southern Alaska, and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State USA.


Trees communicate a wealth of information relating to their environment and station in life; eg - White Spruce in southern Alaska are attacked by the brown beetle. This beetle has a degenerative effect and as a consequence, the spruce now stand sad, alone and forlorn.


Leaves are as interesting as their trees; all different and individual. I have vast collections of them, some, years old. They all have a story to tell. 


Some trees even grow on sand hills. Like leaves, who could not love them? - sand hills I mean. They lie waiting to be climbed, drawn and painted. The sun changes their colour; the wind, their shape. Alive, they creep slowly across the land devouring all in their path.


My printmaking specifically etching, is an extension of my drawing - studies perhaps rather than landscape as a whole. I like the atmosphere of a finished print and the whole printing process."


These two women artists both have insights and the love of this land that inspires many artists to express themselves. This is indeed a lovely exhibition with many pieces that will likewise inspire you, the viewer to a new understanding of Australia and the nature of this place.