Elif Sezen (b. Melbourne, 1981) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer/poet. She holds a PhD in Fine Art from Monash University and lives and works in Melbourne. Her current projects focus on multiple series of landscapes with abstract, surreal, ethereal and psychedelic impressions. Her broader multidisciplinary art practice engages with interwoven themes of trauma, grief, displacement, homecoming, reintegration, love and transcendence. She reconceptualises and poeticises memory traces and existential states through diverse media including painting, sculpture, photography, digital art and poetry-based installations. She experiments in creating artistic expressions that are imaginative and spiritual, yet also grounded in contemporary thought, exploring the universality of the human experience. Sezen’s work is held in private collections, and she has exhibited nationally and internationally, with recent solo show at Five Walls (2025); and group shows at The Museum of Australian Photography - MAPh (2025), The Museum of Art and Culture Yapang (MAC Yapang Art Prize 2025), Yarra Sculpture Gallery (2025), Project8 Gallery (2024), The National Portrait Gallery Canberra (Darling Portrait Prize 2024), CICA Museum Korea (2024) and the Metro Tunnel Creative Program (2023–2024).

Helen Heywood born and raised on a farm at Bowmans Forest, is best known for her native flora paintings. Building on still life tradition, Helen’s works are depicted in striking realism while revealing a controlled simplicity of composition and arrangement. Helen first studied Visual Arts, majoring in Photography at Charles Sturt University in Albury and then later painting and drawing in Gippsland where she spent many years. She has exhibited across Victoria including the Gippsland Art Gallery, Meeniyan Art Gallery, The Hive Gallery and East Gippsland Art Gallery. In 2010 she was a finalist in the John Leslie Prize for Landscape Painting at the Gippsland Art Gallery. Since returning to North East Victoria two and a half years ago, Helen has begun working from her studio in Eldorado. Her first local exhibition, “Bloom” was held at Wangaratta Art Gallery – WPACC in 2024. She is also a regular entrant in the King Vallery Art Show and the Rutherglen Tastes of Art Prize. Currently, Helen is working on a series of paintings inspired by her travels, for an upcoming exhibition to be held in 2026 at the Heathcote Winery, VIC.

Carl Ardron is a Melbourne-based artist and designer whose practice explores the intersection of technology and tradition. Through Living Artifact Design, he creates bespoke portrait sculptures that blend 3D scanning and digital sculpting with the timeless craft of plaster casting. Each work is hand-finished, ensuring that while technology provides precision, artistry brings warmth, individuality, and emotional depth. With a background in both systems architecture and creative experimentation, Carl approaches sculpture with a methodical yet deeply human perspective. His pieces, ranging from intimate single portraits to expansive family friezes, are designed to capture presence, memory, and connection in enduring form. Carl’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that art should be both accessible and meaningful. By streamlining the technical process without compromising craftsmanship, he makes portraiture a living artifact: a celebration of identity, family, and legacy.

Bendigo based visual artist, Kim Lowe blends her traditional painting skills with a career in marketing, bringing about a perfect marriage of her two passions. Working in watercolour, acrylic and digital mediums, Kim’s style is colourful, bold and contemporary. Her studio is based within Valentine's Antique Gallery, View Street Bendigo. Inspiration comes from her surroundings and passions including animals, nature and local history.  Kim finds beauty and joy in painting sketchy historic buildings, pet portraits, and even finds something special about abandoned buildings and urban decay. Well established in the Central Victorian arts community, she is passionate about bringing people together through art for happier, healthier communities.  ​Her weekly Art for Wellbeing Classes in Bendigo and are popular with local residents wanting to learn new skills or techniques and connect with other creatives. Kim also enjoys supporting creative organisations and groups through the provision of marketing services, such as Bendigo Open Studios, the Bendigo Rotary Art Show and the Rotary Christmas Market. Kim is a Member of Rotary Bendigo, Bendigo Artists Inc. (BAI), Regional Arts Victoria (RAV) and Melbourne & Victorian Artists inc. (MAVA).

A contemporary visual artist producing contemporary figurative and fauvist style artworks that often tell her personal narrative. Julia’s work captures unguarded emotions that enable connection with viewers. Favouring the palette knife and she works in gestural movements, with intuitive bold colour palettes. Her works often feature other women and symbolism, she says “I borrow faces. They are not me and yet they are all me, telling my story”. Julia has a background in Case Management/ Social work and has always been fascinated with body language and visual communication.

I am a Melbourne-based abstract digital artist. My work is an exploration of abstraction through the versatile medium of digital art. Using digital tools, I engage deeply with color, form, and composition to create layered, non-representational pieces that go beyond straightforward depiction. The digital canvas offers a unique balance between precision and spontaneity, allowing me to play with both control and unexpected moments. I’m fascinated by how texture, light, and brushwork can come together digitally to evoke emotion and invite viewers to find their own meaning. Abstraction, for me, is a way to express ideas and feelings that words often can’t capture. Through this process, I embrace the freedom that digital technology provides to push creative boundaries. My goal is to open a dialogue between the artwork, myself, and the viewer—celebrating abstraction as a living, evolving language of visual expression.

I am a figurative sculptor working mainly in clay. My works explore how our life experiences shape our faces, features and bodies. In particular I am interested in time's impact on our bodies and how it changes us. I use a variety of clays, casts and surface decorations in my work and I am constantly learning and experimenting with new tools, materials and techniques to make interesting and relatable artwork.

A long career of representation in some major prizes including the Archibald, Salon de Refuse and the Portia Geach and occasional solo shows in Balmain, Clovelly, Braidwood and Collingwood. Won the One Torrens Street, Mitcham. Adelaide Self Portrait prize in 1922 and the ‘Who’s Looking At You’ Portrait Prize in 2018 at the now closed Cambridge Studio Gallery. And in 2024 a finalist in the John Villiers outback art prize, Winton, Queensland, and 2025 a finalist in the SHAG (works on paper) in Robertson, NSW. Also in 2025 a selection in the Olive Cotton Photographic Portrait prize.

Ten years ago, I embarked on my artistic journey by enrolling in a 'Painting for adult beginners' class at the Brunswick studio of the Fitzroy Painters. Under the guidance of skilled instructors Adriane Strampp and later Kez Hughes in the Atelier class. I started with humble beginnings but soon discovered a passion for oil painting. With their expert tuition, encouragement, and valuable advice, I honed my skills and gained valuable insights. This progress led me to participate in various group exhibitions, including those with the Fitzroy Painters, Print Maker Gallery, Victorian Art Society, Melbourne and Victorian Artists, Sherbrooke Art Gallery and Rotary Community Art shows.

DENISE KEELE-BEDFORD MFA A major influence on my art practice is history, being a combination of long and short-term collective events, rituals, or personal memories. Interests include diversity of cultures and environments, particularly customs within personal and cultural belief systems. My conceptual based production includes multiples that form a series or a single artwork. I utilise a wide variety of media. Passionate about installation, print making and recycling preloved items, my installations, site-specific works, and individual artworks include materials such as textiles, paper, organic elements, found objects, ceramic, glass, and marble. International artist residencies, exhibition curatorship and cultural exchange projects have extensively broadened my career.

I am a freelance artist passionate about exploring various artistic styles. Currently, my focus is on creating dreamscape art that resonates personally with me. I enjoy delving into different forms of subliminal and liminal art, while also challenging perceptions to engage with human nature and emotions. My goal is to produce work that is both unique and inspiring, inviting open interpretation.

Lynette is an Australian artist based in Melbourne, where she creates ethereal wildlife and equine artworks from her tranquil studio. With a deep connection to nature, she finds inspiration in the Australian bush, where long walks through the rugged landscape fuel her creative spirit. Her love for travel and photography allows her to capture the beauty of horses and wildlife, transforming fleeting moments into luminous, otherworldly paintings. Infused with celestial light and rich symbolism, Lynette’s art bridges the realms of reality and mythology. Her work embodies the magic of the natural world, featuring mythical unicorns, transformational butterflies, and radiant wildlife that invite viewers to explore their own emotions and inner truths. Passionate about storytelling through art, she weaves elements of mysticism and spirituality into her pieces, creating a sense of wonder and enchantment. Lynette’s artistic journey is guided by her deep reverence for animals, a sentiment reflected in her studio companion—her loyal dog, Atlas. Her ability to capture both the spirit and soul of her subjects has made her work sought after by collectors who resonate with themes of beauty, transformation, and the unseen magic of the universe. “I believe my art is defined by a deep connection and love for the natural world, with my subjects ranging from the powerful grace of horses and mystical unicorns to the mysterious beauty of foxes, ravens, and other animals alike. My work is seen as evocative and my hopes are to always capture the essence and soul of the subject, where I am often transforming them into dreamlike and emotional portrayals that seem to resonate with viewers worldwide.”

Ray enjoys tonal realist oil painting, the study of light, in the tradition of early Australian artists, particularly those influenced by Max Meldrum. He paints all genres (Still Life, Portraiture and En Pleinair). He mostly paints from life and aims to keep his work simple and ‘painterly’ conveying the image before him with as few brush strokes as needed. He began lessons at the Victorian Artists Society (VAS) in the late 1990s having tuition from Margaret Cowling (water colour), Max Wilks (oil) and Gregory Smith (oil - for 9 years at his school in Strathmore). Ray Hewitt (3 times VAS Artist of the Year) has been a long term mentor having taught Ray at the VAS for several years, as has Stephen Doyle (Twenty Melbourne). Ray has had many successful solo shows at the VAS galleries in East Melbourne, Moonee Ponds (Incinerator Gallery) and the SurfCoast (Art Space, Anglesea/Eaglesnest Gallery, Aireys Inlet). He is an accomplished portraiture artist and has participated in live painting events painting prominent Melbournians. His work appears in collections in Victoria, interstate and overseas. Ray is a Fellow and Signatory Member of the VAS.

Giuseppina is a Melbourne-based abstract artist from Italy who creates vibrant and intricate abstract paintings mainly in acrylic, which aim to uplift and energize any space. Inspired by her inner world, life experiences, and the beauty she sees in nature, her work features bold colours, expressive lines, shapes, splatters, drips, gestural marks, and rich textures. Painting is both a cathartic, meditative, and liberating process for her. With her paintings, Giuseppina aims to share beauty, joy, and explicit or hidden messages that resonate with the viewers. They are invited to find their focus and personal meaning within the artwork’s emotional intensity and visual richness.

Hi, my name is Sharie, originally from Europe, living in Melbourne since 1997. I am a health care professional and an amateur art maker who enjoys painting and drawing. I have always loved creating especially in my childhood. My rediscovered creative side emerged during long Melbourne lock down. Living close to Heidy Galery, Montalvat and NGV, I am spoiled for choice to enjoy viewing art works and art spaces. I enjoy any art form and expression especially modern art, naive art, indigenous art and art works with vibrant colours. I love work of Mirka Mora and later art of Yayoi Kusama. My inspiration comes from colours, patterns, shapes, nature, emotions and life events around me. I like to use mixed media - acrylic paint and ink pen for still life. I make large abstract paintings using pointillism and at times I make large symbolic naive paintings. Creating makes me feel happy, calm and in a " flow". I would like to share my creative making with wider community and colleague art makers and artists.

I am a mixed media/fibre artist living in the leafy outer suburbs of Melbourne. I am inspired by what I see in my wanderings and travels, photographing colour and texture as I go. I'm wild about rust, decline and old abandoned buildings that have walls that speak of the past. Photography is a huge part of my process. I also love printing my own collage papers, eco dyeing my fabrics and incorporating sewing and embroidery into my work. The joy in discovery is my favourite part of my creative process.

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” – Van Gogh “Everything you can imagine is real.” – Picasso Paris Pinky is a free-style contemporary artist based in Melbourne, Australia, where creativity fuels her passion for painting. Inspired by her mother, an art teacher, and her grandfather, a self-taught artist who crafted wooden interiors for Mercedes-Benz, Paris’s artistic journey began at age 12. She explored Still Life, Portraits, Landscapes, and Realism before breaking free to develop her own unique style. Though she built a career in Human Resources, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Service, her heart always belonged to art. Three years ago, she made a life-changing decision to pursue it full-time, embracing happiness, freedom, and creativity. Paris now brings her imagination to life on canvas, inspired by nature’s colours and the emotions they evoke. Each piece tells a story, inviting viewers into a world of vibrant expression. She believes art connects deeply with people, sparking joy and wonder. Through her work, she builds connections and welcomes others into her colorful world, where every shade has a voice. Prizes Winner First prize/ Best Multicultural (Calvin Bell Art Show) Melbourne 2024 People's choice Second/ Bragging Rights (Spring Salon Art Exhibition) Hawthorn 2024 Winner First prize / Best multicultural (Provenance Artist inc.) Melbourne 2023 Winner First prize/ Best Abstract (Provenance Artist inc.)/Melbourne 2022 Finalist Biblio Art Prize 2023

Ever since I can remember, artistic expression has been an integral part of my life, despite my career and education being rooted in IT. Art has always been my go-to place to reframe my thoughts, recharge, and express my creativity. Inspired by the beauty of local visitors, the serenity of nature, and a profound love for flora and fauna that I have encountered both in India and Australia, I focus on creating simple yet provoking artwork using acrylics. My work aims to encapsulate the essence of my subjects in vibrant, bold colours, coupled with expressive and often exaggerated brush strokes. This technique strives to deliver the feeling and heighten the viewer's appreciation of the scene transformed into art. I don’t paint literally; I leave that to photography! Acrylics bring me immense joy to work with. Their rich, deep, bold colours and the quick-drying nature of the medium perfectly complement my intuitive approach, helping me deliver imaginative pieces with a unique perspective. Now, taking a side step from my career in Tech, I am keen to expand my profile and share my creativity with the world. You can find more of my work on Instagram @colormecrayzee. I draw inspiration from pets, nature, wildlife, and captured moments. Feel free to check out my Instagram profile @colormecrayzee and reach out if there is an art project I can help you with! Instagram profile @colormecrayzee Email: seemar.rao@gmail.com Website: https://seemaraoart.myshopify.com/

James McLean is a self-taught Melbourne based artist who uses a mixture of markers, inks, and digital imagery to express his passion for observing people and making social and political commentary. James strives to address topical social issues such as war, political corruption, asylum seekers, mental illness, poverty and the mistreatment of others. He draws inspiration from the people he sees amongst the community and the world around him.  James naïve style brings together elements from a number of Artists most notably Jean-Michel Basquiat and Pablo Picasso, He creates strong bold lines, giving weight to the abstract faces, focusing on the unique and individual expressions and emotions they have. The addition of bright and vibrant colors further adds to highlight the tension and mood. He aims to challenge viewers to step back and engage in the issues he addresses taking time to consider others in their community and society in general.  His award-winning work has been exhibited both locally and internationally in gallery and online shows and he has exhibited two successful solo shows ‘Reflections’ and ‘The City Series’   James’ art as a whole attempt to address the issues in today’s society and how as a community we need to support each other in a challenging and forever changing social, political and economic landscape.

Dawn Rieniets is a New York born Melbournian, soulful observer and mother. She weaves intricate narratives into her art, exploring motherhood, feminism, paganism and nature. She has been exhibiting professionally since 2018 contributed to volunteer committee roles in Thou Art Mum and MAVA (Melbourne and Victorian Artists). She studied studio art at University but graduated with a BA in English. Dawn challenges that to be an artist, just make art. Degrees and courses in the world can't teach you what you learn when you put a brush to canvas. She is the co-founder of Creative Wild Co an exhibition/ mentoring company for emerging artists who identify as women.

As both a formally and self-educated artist, my practice has always been deeply rooted in an exploration of the social and political forces that shape our lives. From a young age, I have been drawn to the ways in which these forces impact the individual's struggle for survival and transcendence. I had my first solo exhibition at the age of 13, a pivotal moment that sparked my ongoing pursuit of artistic expression. Inspired by the surrealist movement, my work blends surrealism and symbolism to offer a visual dialogue between reality and the subconscious. I am continually experimenting with different mediums, yet my primary expressions remain oil on canvas and ink on paper. These mediums allow me to create works that invite viewers into strange, dreamlike worlds that challenge conventional perceptions of space, time, and identity.

Lee is a mixed-media visual artist and art tutor. Her work is primarily landscapes, although she ventures into florals. Lee uses acrylics and to add more depth and texture, she uses various mediums including charcoal, oil pastels and inks. Lee finds inspiration out of her backdoor at home and her home studio, "Art in the Garden Room". Where she lives, she is fortunate to back on to a beautiful vista that showers her home with nature, bird life, changing weather, sunrises, and sunsets. This area looks out onto the vista which enjoys great sunlight and some fabulous breezes in summer along with inspiration for bush artworks. Lee runs free monthly paint outs in the local City of Kingston using the natural beauty of parks and reserves. En Plein air painting is a favourite pastime of Lee’s. Art inspired by nature.

Itta is an Victorian artist greatly influenced by her extensive travels around the world. Colour and texture are important to her work as well as movement with large strokes or bold palette knife strikes. Oil and pastel are her main focus and her travel journals capture moments in watercolour. Nature and travel guide her hand.

Maria Fernandez is an Abstract Painter born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Her technique is based on building textures as well as layers of colour of different depth. Maria uses different media; mainly oil, acrylic, cold wax and encaustic, and only experiments with techniques that allow her to express herself with freedom and without any boundaries. By travelling around the world Maria was inspired by the strong artistic culture of all the countries that she has visited, especially by the surroundings in Spain, tango music in Argentina, as much as by the Spanish painters, like the Modern Catalán Masters Miró, Tapiès, Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

Yukiko Abe-Kruithof is a visual artist, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her practice spans painting, line drawing and cutout, primarily utilizing the translucency of watercolour. She has always been a bridge between different cultures and perspectives, working as a language teacher, translator and personal assistant as well as living in various environments as a child. Captivated by life’s impermanence and its inherent beauty, Abe-Kruithof is interested in human connection. How we transcend boundaries of separateness and feel truly connected with others, including objects, and our authentic selves, part of the Universe, by being present in the fleeting moment. Abe-Kruithof's works have been exhibited at the Consulate General of Japan in Melbourne multiple times as well as in group exhibitions.

Claire Tennant is a Central Victorian based artist, with a varied background in industrial design, film, TVC, Stop- motion animation, foundry casting and education. For close to 20 years, Claire has operated her own mould- making and casting business, Claire Tennant Workshop;  where she has built a reputation as one of Australia's leading mould-making and casting specialists.   Claire’s personal practice features the complicated process of 'Life-casting'; creating a mould directly from a person. All elements of the compositions are cast in place, as they appear.   Through her work, Tennant invites the viewer to focus their gaze on the deeply intimate, ephemeral moments in life as they appear to a cross-section of unique individuals.

Dee Rao helps art enthusiasts transform their spaces with soulful, meaningful art. Working in both acrylics and watercolours, her creations capture the tranquil beauty of nature and abstract forms, offering viewers a chance to pause, reflect, and connect with their inner calm. Inspired by landscapes, oceans, and natural elements, Dee’s art seamlessly blends tranquility and movement, infusing spaces with serene energy through vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes. Born in India and now based in Melbourne, Dee’s artistic journey is shaped by a rich fusion of cultural influences and personal experiences. With over two decades of diverse expertise as a scientist, painter, and art mentor, she believes that creativity is a transformative pathway to holistic well-being. This philosophy drives her art & teaching, fostering meaningful connections through her work. Dee’s passion lies in creating pieces that inspire a sense of presence and harmony. Her nature-inspired artworks—ranging from serene landscapes to dynamic seascapes and evocative abstracts—resonate deeply with collectors and art enthusiasts. Her work has been showcased in prominent galleries across Melbourne and Victoria, earning her recognition as a versatile and emotive artist. Through her online collection at www.deerao.com, Dee offers original artworks, fine art prints, and custom commissions, inviting art lovers to elevate their spaces with her distinctive, soulful creations.

Creating Artwork is a journey of discovery for me....about myself and the world. My process is always exploratory. I try to follow where my marks and paint lead me, all the while "seeing" the natural world that moves me in my mind's eye . I am particularly attached to the Australian Bush and Seascapes. I want my artwork to imbue a "feeling" of being in those places. I started painting abstract works in 2018 and became hooked. I find painting abstract art both difficult and freeing every time I work. Exploring Shape and Colour and Contrast to create a visual image that speaks to the viewer is my aim. The process is important to me and the work that results. I want to create work that someone wants to sit with for a while and contemplate.

Laurel Sloan is a talented and celebrated contemporary artist exhibiting her unique vision in a surrealist style. Laurel’s education includes; Bachelor of Visual Art (BVA) Adelaide Central School of Art, Bachelor of Arts, (BA) Victoria University and Victoria College of Arts majoring in Painting and Sculpture. Following her formal studies Laurel has had the opportunity to take further tuition from Michelle Cathiness, Dan Butterworth and Greg R Smith and now allows herself to apply a versatile skill set and a deep understanding of artistic principles. Laurel’s current artwork is characterized by a blend of realism and surrealism. Her paintings often depict unique scenes and imaginative landscapes that transport viewers to other worldly realms. Laurel’s latest work explores automatic drawing techniques which often provoke medical forms into the compositions. These works evoke a sense of introspection, inviting viewers to contemplate their connection to the mysteries of existence. Laurel Sloan’s artwork has been exhibited in numerous galleries and art institutions around Australia and she has received many prizes and accolades. Laurel Sloan is also known for her commitment to promoting arts education and supporting emerging artists. She actively participates in community art initiatives, workshops, and mentorship programs, sharing her expertise and inspiring others. Influences: James Gleeson, Freda Karlo, Andre Breton Education Diploma Visual Arts (Majors; Painting and Sculpture)

Lisa Ferrari is a multi-media artist who experiments with encaustic wax, ceramics, and watercolour. She draws inspiration from the world around her. She lives on 100 acres in Christmas Hills, Victoria (Australia). Lisa is surrounded by trees, native birds, and wildlife. She loves to travel around Australia, a beautiful country she is lucky to call home.

Based in Brunswick, Victoria. Jas is an abstract expressionist artist who works primarily with acrylics, chalk, and ink. He paints on the unconventional materials of cardboard, plywood, and MDF. Materials reclaimed from shops and building sites. The focus of Jas’s artistic practice is on the translation of the ordinary elements from our daily lives into abstract paintings that evoke both the tangible and emotional facets of our surroundings. Through his art Jas blurs the boundary between the physical and the conceptual, prompting viewers to reflect on their own sense of place.

“I see the world and I paint it” Kathy Best Kathy creates bold, expressive acrylic abstracts and contemporary paintings based on observation of the world around her. She sometimes paints loosely from reference photos or memory. Other times she lets the paint and marks on the canvas guide her. Kathy’s works explore colour relationships, movement, shapes and layers. “Take a look, take a 2nd look and take a longer look – I love putting my work out there.” Kathy Best Kathy has been painting consistently since 2008 under the guidance of many tutors. She is continuously learning and thinking of new ideas. 2023 – Diploma in Visual Arts at RMIT 2021 – Certificate IV in Visual Arts at Box Hill Institute 2019 – Certificate III in Visual Arts at Box Hill Institute

Photographic artist Nadia Culph, manipulates & controls light. Keeping her composition simple, Nadia creates stunning photographs that aim to bring the intricate details of nature to the fore. Adopting low-key photography as her technique, Nadia creates drama & mood using natural light to accentuate our beautiful botanicals. With over 15 years experience in fine art photography, Nadia's images have made their way to homes & businesses around the globe.​ Nadia's artworks currently hang throughout Basscare Morgan Glen Iris, Rydges Melbourne and Capella Sydney. Her prints have been purchased for private collections & businesses globally and for property styling & interior design projects in Australia & abroad. Teaming up with Melbourne art wholesalers La Grolla, she has an extensive collection available in their showrooms throughout Australia and her work displayed at the '23 & '24 Decor and Design Show. TLC Hallam also hold a collection of over 30 of Nadia's limited edition pieces. London art publishers Rosenstiels have also acquired Nadia's work with her first collection of images recently released through their global trade & retail sites. 2024 has seen her provide images for Temple st. Clair, an artwork feature in Home Design magazine and interviewed for Photo Review magazine's 100th issue for their cover story. To close out 2024, Nadia's work will hang throughout Watermark Living and The Miller Hotel, projects through Janet Graham Interiors & Studio Barnes Design. Named as an 'Artist to Watch' & in the Top 10 Photographic Artists & Top 10 Still Life Artists of 2023, Nadia was awarded 2nd place in the 2023 MAVA Art Prize. She is a 5 star Etsy seller, and Art Prize finalist & featured artist at Bluethumb Gallery & Art Lovers Australia. Her work has featured on House Rules High Stakes & is also available in The Block Shop.

I was born in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh, and have lived in Gippsland since 1990. I travel frequently to the city where I draw inspiration from Melbourne's vibrant culture, but I enjoy the contrast of working from the quiet surrounds of my studio at home. My favourite subjects are pubs, cafés, shopfronts and dilapidated buildings. Some are iconic and very much a part of the fabric of the city, others are ordinary, non-descript structures, but they all reflect my passion for the urban environment. My preferred medium is acrylic on canvas, and I also incorporate pastel, charcoal and collage into my works to build up interesting textures, colours and layers. I am also very passionate about the local music scene which is a recurring theme throughout my work. Since 2006 I have held a number of solo exhibitions including Marios Fitzroy, Tacit Galleries, Burrinja Cultural Centre, Little Woods Gallery Collingwood, Warragul Arts Centre, and Mr. Burch McKinnon. I participate regularly in group exhibitions throughout Australia and my work has been purchased by clients in Europe and the USA. I have been shortlisted for several major art prizes throughout Australia including the Fleurieu Art Prize in South Australia, the Hornsby Art prize in NSW, and the Flanagan Art Prize, Cancer Council Arts Awards and Archangel Art Prize in Victoria. I have also completed a number of private commissions. In 2017 I collaborated with local musician Kim Volkman to edit and publish Kim's autobiography, "The Devil Won't Take Charity" and in 2019 we published another book together, “For Those That Dance With The Skeleton”. 2019 saw the release of my first book, “Blues Portrait - A Profile of the Australian Blues Scene” which was launched at The Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. Blues Portrait Volumes 2 and 3 were released in November 2021.

Penelope is a Melbourne-based artist with an abiding interest in nature, particularly plant life, and a love for patterning and Japanese design. She often combines traditional art techniques with digital technologies to create works with high aesthetic appeal and subtle layers of meaning. Born into a family of artists, Penelope grew up with a strong awareness of all things visual and this continued throughout her schooling and tertiary studies. She studied graphic design at Monash University and took up roles in visual merchandising with David Jones. While working, Penelope’s growing range of interests led her to complete a degree in textile design at RMIT University. As she began building her own design practice, Penelope lectured in interior design at Holmesglen Institute, with particular focus on colour for interior spaces, soft furnishings, materials selection, sustainability, and global trend forecasting. Her responsibilities included the development, delivery and assessment of certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma courses. She has continued imparting her design knowledge and skills, most recently directing and engaging primary school students in multimedia art projects. As well as designing her artworks, Penelope’s entrepreneurial spirit has led her to create designs for various products, including printed and embroidered T-shirts and her own range of quality cotton bed linen for young children. The items featured appealing contemporary graphics expressing the shapes and colours of the world we live in. Penelope’s art explores the shapes within floral forms, utilising colour and texture to differentiate tonal values and add intricate detail. Further abstraction through digital effects and manipulation of the forms invest each piece with additional layers of meaning.

Peta Tranquille is a multidisciplinary artist from Western Australia, who has called Melbourne home since 2013. Peta's work is shaped by her background in Cartography and her experience with Aphantasia, a condition that prevents her from visualising images and reliving past experiences. Drawing from personal perspectives and the everyday environment, Peta transforms the world around her into thought provoking visual expressions through photography, painting, drawing, and sculpture. Peta’s art invites reflection, offering new ways to engage with our surroundings and building on skills to continually learn and grow her practice.

My name is Pian and I am a financial analyst and a self-taught abstract artist based in Melbourne, Australia. As an emerging artist, I mostly use alcohol inks to showcase the essence of nature in vibrant colours with flowing layered techniques. Occasionally, I turn to acrylic paint for my love of geometric form.

Pratibha is a contemporary artist living in Melbourne since 2016. Mostly self-taught, her work has strong reflections of culture and traditions from India, a place where she was born and brought up. She was trained as an occupational therapist and has worked with people with developmental disabilities for over fifteen years in India. Art and expression had always been an integral part of her work. Pratibha loves exploring various techniques on a variety of media, from oil and acrylic paints on canvas to pen and watercolour on paper. Pratibha has had a keen interest in Indian folk art forms namely Madhubani, Warli and Gond. She finds herself continually drawn to the intricacies of these age-old Indian folk art forms and enjoys retelling the stories through her contemporary renditions. Pratibha continues to immerse herself deeper into Indian artistic heritage, by furthering her understanding of the evolving perspectives on these art forms. She hopes to inspire art enthusiasts by increasing the reach of traditional folk art in the Australian community.

My name is Rachael Charalambous and am a watercolour and acrylic painter and live in Melbourne. I am moving forward constantly with my painting by attending and exhibiting in as many art exhibitions as I can. I mainly focus on botanical art but am constantly experimenting on other subjects.My inspiration comes from the world around me and my interpretation of it. I have always had an interest in art and studied art and studio production and also art theory during my Victorian Certificate of Education where I completed a folio on fashion design illustration. I completed a ceramics course in 1980 which primarily focused on a folk art style of painting on greenware plates and other ceramic items. I also worked in my school holidays at both screen printing and embroidery companies which were both great learning experiences. Painting is my passion along with my family.I get so excited seeing my artistic creations in the homes of people who have purchased my artwork.I hope to enter many more art exhibitions in the coming years and continue my art journey. I hope you enjoy my artwork as much as I love creating it. Kind Regards Rachael.

Rachel is a self taught artist, who discovered a passion for painting during the COVID-19 2020 lockdowns. Rachel primarily works in oils but also loves painting with watercolour and gouache. Rachel's work is primarily focused on portraiture and studies of nature. She is inspired by the way that light changes the way that we perceive the world and tries to capture a sense of that magic in her figurative work.

Hello, I'm Rachel Williamson. I live in Melbourne, Australia with my husband and two children. I was born here, but grew up in Canada and moved back on my own in my mid twenties. I started ChazownCreative in 2020 after carrying this dream in my heart for a long time. After a time of soul searching new growth, I stepped out in fear and faith to share my acrylic and water colour paintings. I started my business, Chazown, meaning 'to dream, to have a revelation or vision', which is what is at the core of this venture. My work primarily focuses on capturing an element of nature that inspires or a human interaction. As a creative, it is my joy to reflect the beauty I see around me and try and emulate a snippet of it, in turn, creating my own commenting piece for others to enjoy. My aim is that my Art would inspire others creativity and affirm their identity, while you enjoy the artistry of nature.

Rhonda Owen is an Award Winning Australian Artist. Nature and all it’s wildlife are both her inspiration and her teacher. References are made during her extensive travels around the country as en plein air sketches and snapshot photography. Rhonda interacts directly with the environment and it’s inhabitants and it effects her art profoundly. Upon return to her studio Rhonda’s love of realism and surrealism is reflected in her work. Rhonda’s observance and eye for detail is led by the subject to where the painting takes her, sometimes with delightful surprises. Working in Acrylic paint allows the fine detail present in almost all her work and gives her subjects, including birds and animals a character and personality of their own whether as a single creature or in a group setting . Rhonda enjoys many different surfaces to paint on but prefers the texture and luxury of linen canvas and the extra dimension of beauty it brings to the final painting. A strong desire and ambition for self improvement and continual learning drive Rhonda to be quite prolific at a very high standard of quality. Recent Career Highlights and Exhibitions include: Solo Exhibition Malvern Artists Society Gallery 2022 Kinglake Virtual Art Show 2021 online Knox Virtual Art Show 2020 online Mornington Art Exhibition 2020 Rotary of Mornington White Horse Art Show 2019 rotary of Boxhill Camberwell Art Show 2019 Rotary of Camberwell Group Exhibition 2019 Malvern Art Society. Malvern Camberwell Art Show 2018 Group exhibition 2018 Arvy’s Gallery Olinda Bayside ArtShow 2018 Whitehorse Art show 2018 Rotary of Box Hill Warranwood art show 2017. Rudolf Steiner WarranWood Warrandyte Art Show 2017. Rotary of Warrandyte Group Exhibition 2017 Arvys Gallery Knox art show 2017 rotary of Bayswater Warrandyte Art show 2016 Rotary of Warrandyte Knox art show 2016 Rotary Club of Bayswater Exhibition 2016 Red Gum Gallery Olinda Group Exhibition 2015 Arvy’s Gallery Certificate of Achievement for drawing Nature and Natural History illustration 2018 Newcastle University

Rishu Kapoor is an Indian Artist living in Melbourne. For her, art is a powerful medium for sharing her thoughts and ideas and to inspire and stimulate the viewer's intellect and emotions. Formerly a lecturer with a Double Masters Degree in Commerce and Business Administration, Rishu took up painting as a full-time profession in 2005. Soon, God-gifted as she was, she became a budding artist in her city. She has spent the last 2 decades nurturing her love for art and painting. Believing that learning never stops, and enhanced her expertise and versatility under various Art Masters in India, the Philippines, and Florence, Italy. Rishu is a portraitist and a mixed media artist with a distinctive style of fusing gold leaf work into oil and acrylic paintings. Her subjects are drawn from her past journey and linking to the present. Her inspiration comes from the varied and diverse cultures of the different countries she has lived in. She works full-time from her vibrant light-filled studio, her "Happy Creative Space" in her own words. Rishu regularly displays her work in solo and group exhibitions. Her work is included in collections in India, Hong Kong, The United States of America, Canada, The Philippines, and Australia.

Melbourne based, born and raised creative, Rhys Cousins, works transdisciplinary across design, art and landscape architecture. He works in installation, sculpture and digital, with a particular interest in exploring texture, surface and materiality in urban cities. He intends for his work to be felt and touched more than seen.

Robyn Canning (artwork signature Robyn Louise) April 2023 I discovered my love of painting and sketching in 2018. My connection to artist groups and my Instagram account, together with workshops and tutorials with professional artists, gives me an opportunity to learn from experienced artists, and those like me, who are starting their art journey. This exposure provides wonderful opportunities to learn about a large variety of creative mediums in an environment of generous and encouraging people. I lived most of my life in the City of Darebin, Melbourne, and currently live in the City of Whittlesea. I am a member of the Northern Suburbs Artists Collective (NSAC), the Whittlesea University of the 3rd Age (U3A) Art for Fun Group and the Melbourne and Victorian Artists Inc. (MAVA). Watercolour painting is my primary passion. I also have an interest in acrylic art and mixed media. My inspiration comes from my environment - the urban and country landscape, nature and an ambition to learn and improve my skills. Exhibitions/Art Shows City of Whittlesea Community Art Exhibition (South Morang) “Blue Butterfly” - Watercolour-2019 “Together Again” - Watercolour -2020 “Online@robynlouise5 - Acrylic - 2021 (sold) “White Light”- Acrylic -2022 (sold) “Harmony” - Watercolour -2022 (sold) Northern Suburbs Artist Collective Open Studio Art Exhibition (South Morang) “Centerpiece”- Acrylic -2022 “Bold Blooms” - Watercolour-2022 “Breakthrough” - Gouache -2022 “Cascade” - Acrylic -2022 (sold) Roberts McCubbin Primary School Art Show (Box Hill South) “In My Garden” - Watercolour-2023 (Art Prize, Inaugural “Sunshine” Award) (Sold post exhibition) “Pollen Haze” - Acrylic -2023 “Mutual Attraction” - Acrylic-2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (Carlton) - MAVA Collective Exhibition “Sentinels” - Acrylic -2023

Eltham (Melbourne)-based artist, Rochelle van der Merwe, has been a fine art, intimate events and portrait photographer since 2013 and a contemporary collage artist since 2020. 

Born and raised in a small Zululand town in South Africa in the mid-70's, she found solace and beauty in books, and the surrounding wild beaches and bushveld, a constant whilst growing up in a political landscape she could never make sense of. 

From her studio in Montsalvat, Rochelle's work creates a portal to a wondrous, fantastical world that celebrates the powerful healing nature of simple, mostly every day pleasures, transcending external societal values, such as status, race and gender.

 Apart from national South African newspaper, The Rapport, Rochelle's portraiture photography has also been featured in Australian media, such as The Age, The Weekend Australian Review and The Big Issue. 
Rochelle's been a two-time winner of Montsalvat's Art Festival Photography competition (2015 & 2017), has taken part in numerous group exbibitions and had her first solo exhibition at Montsalvat in Nov 2022.

Before he became a singer and songwriter in the late ‘70’s and ‘80’s, Roger was an art student at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Of that time he says: '... the trouble was I was too young. I didn't have the maturity to understand what I was trying to do with my visual work … which is why, after leaving art school, I switched focus to the more facile satisfaction of drawing cartoons for various underground publications, and singing and writing songs for my bands, the most notable of which was The Little Heroes ... but though I was quite successful with my songs, the margins of all my song books kept getting filled with drawings ... so it was always there, waiting, the most pure expression of my heart ...' After leaving the music industry in the late ‘80’s, Roger went into a period of review, spending a number of years practicing Vipassana meditation in monasteries throughout SE Asia: '... it was during this time that a fascination began to form itself in my core, an inarticulate aesthetic urge that I needed to pursue, which could only be expressed visually. Trouble was, I got diverted into writing books, which took up the next couple of decades ...' Over the next two decades, Roger wrote four books - two non-fiction books about meditation, and two novels – the two novels being ‘Levin’s God’ and the most recent, 'Sweet Emptiness' - and the two books about meditation, ‘Happy to Burn’ and 'Being Still'. '... maybe I had to get all the words and ideas out of my head so I could settle into the more intuitive process of making pictures.' Roger now devotes himself to making pictures and writing his final book, a memoir titled 'This Perfect Life'. He divides his time between living in Chiangmai in Thailand, and living in Denver, a small town in rural Victoria, Australia. Of his picture making he says: '... each image leads to the next, in a journey to an intriguing place. The underlying aesthetic has been with me so long its embedded in my intuitive mind, so I figure now, all I have to do now is keep going. '... as far as selling my pictures goes, I try not to think about it too much. So I've taken the simplest route, selling them through personal relationships and online, largely because I'm not good at dealing with business things, and I hate asking for money. I learnt from my experiences in the music industry that when it comes to creative work and the energy that drives it, it's fatal to combine it with business. So I just make the pictures and they go where they go, and that's that.' When asked why his recent focus was on drawings instead of painting larger works, he says: '... well, the drawings are quite large, but yes, they are no substitute for the comparative gravitas of a larger painting. Thing is, I've been living out of a travel pack for over twenty years now, and with no studio to work in I've had to keep everything portable. But having said that, my over-riding intention is to begin a series of canvas's as soon as possible ... but I first have to settle into a place where I can make a bit of a mess. And that hasn't shown up yet ...'

Sally is a multi–disciplinary artist, working with collage, drawing, painting, stitch, and print to create artwork in several formats including artist books and framed works. Sally’s work explores place and the relationship that we have with place. She particularly enjoys exploring new places, observing both the natural and the built environment. Sally collects ideas on her journeys using a variety of methods which are then used as inspiration or are included in the completed later works. She uses a variety of media combining fabric, photos, maps, text, and various printmaking techniques, using machine and hand stitch to draw, bind and link.

I have been an arts educator for nearly 40 years. My love of printmaking started during my degree course and was nourished over the following years through my engagement with many artists, many of whom ran workshops for my visual arts classes. I always include a printmaking unit in the courses I teach. Most of my works are based on the people and places around me or that I have visited. I use drawings as well as photographs, which are manipulated in photoshop to reduce their tones and lines for the linocut process I like to use. I have used reduction as well as multiblock methods to create my final works. I love the linear, almost graphic style of Lino printing printing and it’s fair to say that my ‘signature style’ is the addition of a ‘pop’ of colour in a work to make sure that icon or landmark is instantly recognisable. I love the process of linocut printing: carving the block is cathartic and revealing the print is exciting!

Welcome to my world of contemporary impressionist paintings. Bold, rich colour, texture, emotion and perspective are always key elements in my art. In particular, I am especially entranced by the sun’s effect on colour and love exploring shifts of light, movement and play between sunlight and shadow. You could say I'm a ‘scapist’ with a gallery full of treescapes, seascapes and cityscapes. In truth, though, I’ll paint anything that inspires me! If a concept sticks in my mind then I just have to paint it out of there! My works can be found in galleries, art exhibitions and private collections across Australia and internationally. One of my original caricature rooster paintings ‘Wild (Crazy) Donald’ even lives in Hollywood…I kid you not! Nearly a decade ago, painting became my foundation for a major life shift as I stepped out of the corporate world to improve my health and wellbeing. No surprise then, that conveying my gratitude and appreciation for nature is right at the heart of each painting. Witnessing each season’s uniqueness is like a tap on the shoulder to me; hence I strive to create a sense of ‘being there’ in every artwork. It still blows me away every time someone connects with my message and chooses to live with one of my paintings. Its something I never take for granted.

Education: Bachelor of Visual Arts (Photography), La Trobe University, Bendigo. Workshops and community outreach Sharon has conducted ‘writing your life’ workshops and floral brooch making workshops. As well she has mentored young visual artists for local community groups. Solo and Joint Exhibitions. 2023 Commissioned to exhibit work as part of the Castlemaine State Festival at #Buda Castlemaine. 2023. Climate Resilience, group show. Exhibit B, Bendigo. 2023. Castlemaine Market Building sunmer show. 2022 Kinetic Kennington commission. Commissioned by The City of Greater Bendigo, this outdoor exhibition featured art that moves from five professional artists. Sharon’s work featured large cotton banners with beautiful imagery of the local wildflowers of the region. At 1 metre x 3 metres these banners were hung amongst the gum trees that surround the Kennington reservoir. 2022 Over the Horizon, The Old Auction House Kyneton. 2021 Exhibited My Health Story, Bendigo hospital Oncology ward, Dec 2021 to Jan 2022 2021 My Health Story, The Capital, Bendigo. 2021 Space, Dudley House Bendigo. Group show with 4 other local artists, each exploring how the term Space meant to them, October 2021. Sponsored by The City of Greater Bendigo. Castlemaine Market Art summer exhibition Bendarts Group Show, Dudley House, Bendigo. St John of God group show Castlemaine Market Art winter exhibition 2020 Central Victorians Remember :WW1 War Memorials, Bendigo, Mount Alexander and Loddon shire. Permanent exhibition Bendigo RSL Museum, Pall Mall Bendigo. 2019/2020 Castlemaine Summer Market exhibition 2014 : Imagining Mum, beautifully installed at the Mildura Arts Centre. The opening was on Mother’s day where Sharon photographed mothers and their families on the day. 2019 Natural Connections, Artist and Co-ordinator, group show, supported by the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. 2019 Colab,BENDIGO, group show 2019 Write unto art Trail, group show, HEATHCOTE 2019 Gallery 22 upstairs group show, Castlemaine 2019 A4 Contemporary Art Show, Melbourne 2018 & 2019 Small works from a big place, travelling exhibition. 2019 Co.lab with poet Tru Dowling Write unto Art , two pieces, one wearable art piece, one poem in response to Elaine van Dyk’s painting. 2019 Contemporary Art Society brooch show, Melbourne

Sharron is currently exploring the theme of domesticity, be it notions of nostalgia through her interpretations of vintage glassware, or close observation of her pet Labrador(s). She has a six-year (ongoing) daily life drawing habit of her beloved dog(s). She loves linocut printmaking and the joys of oil paint mostly. Sharron has exhibited widely and received awards, prizes and accolades for her art. She thinks she is balanced........playing with direct black and white or wild bright colour in her works.

Growing up as a child and teenager I dreamed of being an artist. Drawing, painting, sculpture, pottery, designing, dancing, sewing, just about any way of being creative took me to my special place. However, somewhere along the way, everyday life took over & the path was different. In 2012 the yearning to express myself through painting came to the fore. The energy and feelings I experience when creating my artwork take me into a euphoric place, my unequivocal euphoria. Now, I see my creativity unfold step by step, layer by layer, image by image, painting by painting and I love it. I love sharing it and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share it with you. As an artist, I enjoy creating by combining photography, with drawing, to arrive at the imagery created in my paintings. The subject matter is nature-inspired, usually Landscapes & Seascapes, but also portraits, often derived from personal experiences and infused with awe. Compositions reflect my Expressionist style whilst creating the sense of a place you�d like to enter while your imagination is intrigued. My passion for painting is defined by exploring various techniques to create light, energy, emotion, movement and texture, using acrylic paints and various mediums applied with brushes, fingers, palette knives and sponges. Artsillusion, the name I use to encourage you to daydream, imagine and be immersed in my art. Dream of illumination, all your senses awakened, enlightened and free.

I have been doing creative things for as long as I can remember, encouraged by my old mum. From when I was a child, she helped me to see objects in clouds, in my bedroom wallpaper, in pavement cracks. Following years of doing crafts, I finally took the plunge some few years ago, to working in paint on a flat surface. It's a long continuing journey which I share through teaching adults and children in regular classes and workshops at my local community house as well as the Ferntree Gully Art Society of which I am an active member. I work mainly in acrylic paints (I like the quick drying time) and use tools that I make myself from industrial waste materials and old plastic cards, as well as using paint brushes, building rich layers of colour and shape. The subjects of my work reflect the joy I find in the world around me. There are animals and plants (lots of these!), real and imagined places, and sometimes people. My style can be summed up as 'colourful but recognisable'.

Ah, yeah, g’day, thanks for looking me up. I’ve been wielding a “proper” camera since retirement in early 2022 and an iPhone since early 2020 when I began haunting Sherbrooke forest during lockdowns. For someone with no art or photography training and I suspect I really didn’t know how to see it was quite surprise when people began asking for prints of my macro shots of the little things - mushrooms, insects, spider webs and so on. Initially, photographs taken to share with people on social media who were not fortunate to live near forests during the trying times of 2020/21. The macro world can be remarkably beautiful presenting macro images will make the tiny worlds more relatable and therefore valued in this day and age. I take less macro photographs these days, more often taking landscapes using intentional camera movement and other long exposure techniques combined with compositing to bring a creative twist. Inspiration arrives in a couple of ways. The first is in that state between being asleep and awake: visions (might be a scene, colours, or even words) seen there quite often guide what I do. Mind you, I might not have the skills to implement what I see immediately but somehow the skills come although it can take six months to become proficient enough to produce what I have seen in a print. The second source is walking in nature providing practice with the camera and more importantly “seeing”. After the shutter closes the work begins with editing, printing etc.
Come to think of it the MAVA Collective 2023 art prize entry “Anthroposcene” was the first time I recall creating for a theme.

The future holds an exploration of hand embellishing my prints and collaging.

Freestone’s work is primarily about process. It is about drawing, observation, colour, brush strokes and the use of form. With observation, he recalls the emotional moment of viewing the landscape emulating that into his painting. It is also about colour with the use of complementary colours to intensify areas and using these juxtapositions to enhance the value of the composition. This is partly influenced by the colour theories of John Constable, Eugene Delacroix and Vincent Van Gogh. Brushwork is also an important part of Steve’s work. He creates a feeling of music with a variety of energetic strokes juxtaposed to laboured detailed areas. This is order against disorder, which relates to human condition. Finally, the most important aspect of Freestone’s work is poetry and concept. He makes sections or quadrants of the work exist primarily separate from the rest of the painting, a type of abstraction. This creates a three-dimensional unity of the picture frame resulting in a strong tension between form and space. Steve’s use of composition and abstraction is influenced in part by abstract expressionist painters Hans Hofmann and Richard Diebenkorn. All these processes culminate to create the meaning of the work. Using landscape, Freestone enhances our love of nature. Primarily his work is driven by a strong spiritual connection with the landscape. The Northern Territory and Kimberley areas of Australia are some of, if not, the oldest land on earth. Anyone who has visited the gorges, rivers and deserts of our North and West would understand the magnificent vistas, colours and emotional relationship with our land. Landscape is universal, so it connects us to each other. As John Constable, the English Romantic landscape painter, said, “We see nothing truly until we understand it.

I am a Textile Artist specialising in free machine embroidery, hand stitching and mending. In my textile practice, I explore my surroundings and interpret what I see through embroidery. My work has been exhibited in the United Kingdom and Australia. My practice engages with the natural environment recreating images and shapes in my embroidered works in 2 and 3D form. My work combines photography, paint and embroidery. In my work I am able to portray social issues including environment, climate change and the treatment of asylum seekers. Textiles are the perfect medium for expressing thoughts using hand and machine stitching. I work with found materials and find joy in the unexpected uses that can be found for them. I love this unpredictability and enjoy the inventiveness necessary to transform them. I use materials that are reclaimed, things with a history that have been discarded and might otherwise end up in landfill. My recent projects include facilitating the Moreland Quilt- a community arts project, facilitating the Naarm Textile Collective, curating Creativesandmakers, exhibiting in Melbourne galleries and teaching workshops in hand embroidery, free machine embroidery, mending skills and garment reinvention. I also accept commissions to mend other people’s favourites. Karhina.com

Everything now seems so fleeting, nothing made to last, even the seasons betray us. But there is nothing like being outside in nature, watching the golden hour as the sun sets against the gum trees. So many colours and shapes and patterns around us. I walk as often as I can mainly at the local river, beach and parks, and every time I'm struck by the beauty and ferocity even the smallest weed can show. The fragility of nature with its immense beauty is intoxicating. The key is to feel a tiny part of nature's therapy, not a master over it. There's amazing pride to be found in seeing a seed grow into a plant, the sneak peek of a petal unfurling, watching a bee land on a flower you planted. It's not the pride of creation but the joy of being able to join in. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with nature. I'm a self-taught watercolour artist from Melbourne, Australia and I originally grew up in London. I have very few bindings stifling my creativity, I have no fear of the blank page but rather see it as an exploration into my mind and environment. I am so effected by being in nature, since I have developed a passion for botanical painting it's like a veil has fallen from I eyes and I see the rainbow of delights on every street, the treasure in a crack in the pavement, the resilience of life on a dead tree stump. My art journey will last my lifetime, it is now part of me, it connects me to my surroundings and gives me hope that things will improve with each changing season. I've never known this need and drive before; it's consuming and gets stronger with each completed project, my passion for nature in art feels indissoluble. Continuing to hone my skills and knowledge, learn natural history illustration and botany to better communicate what I see on to paper, always playing with colour and form, evolving as we all must do.

Exploring detail and light, Vanessa Maver draws inspiration from everyday life. Mixing abstract and still life, Vanessa’s artistic expression is always evolving. Over the years Vanessa has lived and travelled overseas but always finds her way back to Melbourne, Australia.  -- Painting for me really is an escape. A place where I can switch off from the outside world. I create art to capture the beauty of everyday life and hopefully bring joy to others. I have always been creative, and over the last few years have completely immersed myself in painting and realised that this is my passion.  I am constantly exploring new ways of approaching my practise to gain more knowledge of my subjects and experience in my techniques and continue to grow and learn.  My inspiration comes from getting out into nature, and my obsession with interior design and that plays out in my work whether through subject matter in my still life pieces or colour palettes used in my abstract work.

Viola’s art depicts natural forms from within our world and beyond, ranging from delicate water droplets to the shining stars. In particular, she is deeply interested in the human and spiritual connection to the night sky. She loves to think about how we came to be and how beliefs relating to celestial life forms have evolved throughout time. Practising on the Mornington Peninsula, Viola works with various materials including acrylic paint, coloured pencil and oil pastels.

Violetta is a self-taught artist who is inspired by nature, in particular by trees and flowers, to create something original without restricting herself to any particular style. She likes to create balance in chaos, movement in stillness and beauty in imperfection. She has a curious mind that likes to explore and find connections between seemingly unrelated things and concepts. She also has a keen interest in psychology and likes to explore feelings and subconsciously analyse them through the creation of an original image. Violetta arrived in Australia as a young adult and pursued studies in mathematical and computer sciences. She considers painting a natural part of her life having come from a creative family on her father’s side. Violetta has exhibited via various Art Societies and Art Shows.

I have a wonderful imagination it takes me to wonderful places- it lets me explore my art world. I am never happier than dreaming up my next artwork and getting in the zone. Labelling myself is never easy. I can't call myself just a painter or just a stippler as I scratch on scratchboard. I love to do portraits, both human and animal, Putting memories down on paper in a contemporary figurative way brings great satisfaction to me. Above all, if I bring joy to people viewing my work, it inspires me to greater things.

Self-taught artist based in Melbourne. Influenced by street art, 80s 90s pop culture and my Polynesian heritage. I do digital art and acrylic paintings then I slap my favourite artwork onto tees.

Melbourne-based Artist and Graphic Designer.

As an artist, Kylie Sirett draws her inspiration for her still life works from her immediate surroundings.; from items in her everyday life. Whether it be readily available produce, household items, or pieces from her vintage kitchen collection. The everyday. It’s accessible. Produce shopping at her local farm gate with her family, the neighbours fruit trees, the fruit gifted by friends when they come across produce that still has leaves or that they think she might find interesting. Kylie aims to inspire others to also appreciate what’s around us every day. Her current still life series focuses light and its’ effect on surfaces and textures. After completing high school Kylie began her fine art training at Foostcray TAFE, she completed the first year, focusing on drawing and oil painting. However she decided not to continue, instead accepting a Graphic Arts Apprenticeship, putting the brushes and pencils down for almost 15 years. Her passion for drawing and painting was re-ignited in 2008 and she hasn’t stopped creating since. Kylie’s time in the graphic arts industry has provided a solid background in colour, composition and traditional printing techniques as the industry moved into the digital world. Kylie works from her studio in Hurstbridge, Victoria

I’m a Melbourne artist and I create contemporary landscapes and abstract art. My work explores themes of connection (to places and people) and my own internal landscape. I've lived on three continents and my family is widely dispersed. This influences my work through recurring questions such as what it means to call a place home, and what it feels like to belong. I love the Australian landscape and I take much of my inspiration from the colours and textures of this amazing country I now call home. My work captures the experience and memories of being in a place - the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that it evokes. I love working with the immediacy of acrylics and mixed media as they help me respond quickly when inspiration strikes.

I was born and raised in Italy and moved to Australia in 2008. I am a lifelong learner, who is always curious about life. I love exploring, discovering, seeking and finding meaning, challenging and improving myself as a person, every day. I am multifaceted, genuine, introspective and spiritual, but also adventurous and passionate. I enjoy and need silence and me-time for reflection (I meditate regularly), as well as sharing, experiencing and exploring life with my meaningful people. I find inspiration both by looking within and at the world outside. I believe that we are part of a larger universe where everything is connected. When I create a new piece, I feel exactly that, connected, and I enjoy every step of the process. In my art, I express my passion, energy, dreams and perception of life and the world, in a constant exploration and evolution of myself and my journey. I love texture and using different materials, which I combine with vivid colours.

I was born in Paris, France where I received an Art education. I am from a family of artists- painters and one famous sculptor.
My work is mixing different techniques with metals, gold and acrylic and Oil..I worked on few series of maps and I have also a special interest in portraits. My influences are Symbolism and Realism.

I am an emerging artist predominantly working in acrylic paint. I paint landscapes and portraits, experimenting with expressionist and impressionist styles, impasto and bold colour palettes. My current body of work is a study of classical portraiture. I am recreating classic portraits with heads and faces of animals, modifying the original images. Through appropriating familiar works from past art periods including Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism, I am exploring the differences in light, tone and colour between the different styles.

What began as purely a hobby, has now become a passion to create colourful abstracts of our vast and captivating landscape and seascape. I don�t attempt to reproduce reality but rather capture the energy of the environment through its light, contrast and the ever-changing colours provided. by our diverse seasons. At times I like to paint pure abstract pieces that reflect a synergy of colour and movement aimed at bringing a sense of calm relaxation to the viewer. Born in Melbourne, I now reside in the picturesque region of Gippsland where I am surrounded by beautiful landscapes and seascapes. Although my background is in Human Resources and real estate, a self-imposed early retirement gave me the opportunity to explore the creative side of my personality! I am a mum of 2 wonderful young men, Samuel and Kristian who give me much support and encouragement together with my awesome husband, Rocco. They are my best critics! Selling a painting is like parting with a small piece of my heart............

Self-taught artist of 45 years, educated throughout high school and college years in art class and one non-award life painting course at the Canberra School of Art. It wasn't until 2019 my joy and love for creating through painting and sketching were resurrected. I felt that my skill was wasting away by not producing pieces that have special meaning for me, but more so for the buyer. I am also a prophetic artist. God shows me what to paint in my dreams and through visions and gives me commentary along with the piece and what it means with associated bible verses. My studies are usually nature or politically based. I enjoy different styles and themes. I'm generally never the same.

Lisa has been an artist/maker since her early years. Growing up in 70's Melbourne, surrounded by a prolific native garden, nature loving and creative parents, she developed a love of the beauty of the natural world and making things. Although Lisa initially trained in zoology, psychology and teaching, severe burnout saw her return to the creative life she had abandoned in her twenties. Seeing the profound effect of drawing and creating on her well-being she undertook studies in art therapy and later medicine doll making and acrylic painting. Whilst deeply inspired by nature's beauty, Lisa is also curious about the terrain of the inner world and the relationship between the two. She endeavours to explore these realms to uncover the unseen, poetic and often joyous moments. She brings these to life, mindfully working with her hands in whatever media assists her to achieve her creative vision. This could include textiles, embroidery, doll making, painting, book making and mixed media. Her overarching philosophy is to make do with what is readily available, and what is sustainable and caring for our planet. Lisa is an exhibiting member of the Housing First Arts Collective since 2013, and in 2021 won the People's Choice Award. She is also a member of the Women's Art Register and the Naarm Textile Collective. Some of her doll work can be seen in "The Healing Doll Way: A Guided Process Creating Art Dolls for Self-Discovery, Awareness and Transformation" by Barb Kobe.

Lisa has been dabbling in art all her life but has become more passionate about creating in the last 5 years or so, as her children have grown. She is primarily a watercolour artist, but also paints with acrylics, makes collages using recycled tea bags, and creates mixed media pieces. Her work is light, quirky and whimsical, and her influences are often the plants and flowers she sees around her. Lisa credits her love of art to growing up in a creative and enriching household, with her growth in artistic expression and range attributed to participating in online and local classes and activities. She has recently commenced selling her art online with some success.

Lise is a Geelong based artist inspired by the world around her both near and far. She has a background in fashion design and production, but her first love has always been all sorts of artistic pursuits with special interests over the years in drawing, jewellery making, watercolour painting, acrylic painting, mixed media, photography and most recently digital art. Lise often combines traditional art with digital to create all sorts of designs using her iPad Pro. Lise's creations are available on a great variety of products suitable for children, men and women through Redbubble and Society6. Products from these online stores range from prints, cards, accessories, clothing, device cases, furniture, bags and even yoga mats!

Lynne’s artworks are described as intuitive, meditations about issues and concepts concerning her. A favourite quote from Matisse is “Colour is your voice”. Lynne believes through her artwork she can communicate from deep within her soul that which she is often unable to put into words. Colour lifts her mood and stimulates her mind. Lynne has a focus on abstract and representative styles in in a variety of mediums including Acrylic, Watercolour, Alcohol ink and mixed media. Lynne has previously also exhibited Ceramics, Textiles and Sculpture. Due to her MS and MI, Lynne has had to change her style to accommodate her abilities. A member of Dax Studio, Nova Art and Studio A, MAVA Collective and Boroondara Creative Network. Untrained traditionally, a Diploma of Social Science/Arts from Melbourne University included Art, Dance, Drama, Literature, and Music and awakened an urge to further her art career. Lynne explores techniques and media, inspired by others such as the artists exhibiting and studios tenants at Kinross Arts Centre at Toorak, where she works one day/week as a Gallery Assistant helping with administration, promotion, curation of exhibitions and hosting events. Lynne has exhibited at: Hawthorn Arts Centre, Rotary Camberwell and Knox Art Shows, INCUB8R Prahran; The Track Gallery Mt. Waverley; AGRA Camberwell; Hawthorn Community House; 345ac Mont Albert; Duldig Studio Malvern; Kew Neighbourhood Learning Centre; Kinross Arts Centre, Toorak; Camberwell Civic Centre; Sacred Edge Queenscliff; MS Connect Nerve Centre Blackburn; Manningham Arts Centre, MC2 Doncaster; Augustine Hall Habitat Spirituality Centre, Hawthorn; Gallery 314 Richmond; Shop fronts in Burke Rd Camberwell; Mental Health Foundation Aust Vic, Sth Yarra; Federation Square; Southern Buoy Studios Mornington; The Hut, Fern Tree Gully; Art Red Hill; The Dax Centre Carlton and Roberts McCubbin P.S., Box Hill South. Lynne has works in the Neami and Monash City Council collections.

Born 1984, Saigon. In 2010, I graduated from the National Art School in Sydney, an experience that shaped my artistic journey. Since 2012, I have found my creativeness in the vibrant city of Melbourne, where I continue to work on artworks that strike a balance between realism and surrealism. Step into my world of imagination and be enchanted by the dynamics of colour coordination that bring to life through playful approach to watercolour. Watercolour has become my main expressive medium, allowing me to explore a delightful blend of real life and imagination.

‘Creating art gives bliss’ is something that she strongly believes in ,and wishes to help others experience the same through the world of art. She specialises in Mandala dot painting and paints mostly using dotting tools. She has a keen sense of observation and finds inspiration in everything she sees around. She is deeply connected to her art as it gives her a sense of happiness and calmness and through her creations she wants to spread the same. She paints completely by instinct but loves to present her vision in patterns in a systemic and organized way.

Solo Exhibition Metal & Paint 20 Nov - 1 Dec, at Red Gallery. For Presales see additional link. Margaret Christianson is a Melbourne-based painter and metal Sculptor. She uses a hand-held plasma-cutter to create her metalwork, which can be large wall panels, gates or decorative garden-stakes. In her art practices, she explores the connections between the natural environment whether it be in the city, outback or coastal surroundings which informs her work. This is especially reflected in her paintings.

After losing confidence in my painting ability at art teacher training college, I didn't paint for 40 years. I left secondary school teaching to pursue my interest in writing and literature, gained a PhD in English and ended up teaching Media and Communications at university. Early in my retirement, the tutor of a watercolour painting class I attended renewed my confidence and that's when I rediscovered my love of painting. I returned to acrylics and began exhibiting my work in 2009, soon developing a distinctive painting style incorporating vibrant colour, minimalism and hard edge abstraction. My formative influences include the Post Impressionists such as Gauguin; the simplicity and bold design of Japanese woodcuts and the organic, flowing line of Art Nouveau. My subject matter includes portraits, seascapes and more recently, iconic Melbourne landmarks including the Skipping Girl Vinegar sign, Luna Park and the Cheese Stick. The migration series which I began in 2015, was inspired by my parents' stories concerning our migration to Australia by sea in the 1950s and was developed in response to the ANL Maritime Award theme 'Humanity's Relationship with the Sea'. After winning a number of awards in local exhibitions, I began entering national award exhibitions and have been selected as a finalist in some of these, including the Portia Geach Memorial Award (2017) and the ANL Maritime Award (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019).

Working within a primarily contemporary impressionistic execution, in an effort to artistically yield the beauty and fragility of the organic environment, Marion’s work seizes its inspiration from open air spaces. High country backdrops, clifftop perspectives and parkland sceneries and foliage bear great influence over the subjects and scapes she depicts. When commencing at the canvas she typically begins with a series of reference sources, such as photographic imagery or written materials whose linguistic descriptions align with her conceptual ideas. After sketching a sequence of images and determining precisely which genre the work will lean into, she experiments with a number of colour combinations and earnestly generates the work across a multitude of layers. Broad in scope yet refined in subject, Marion amalgamates expressionism, with bouts of abstract and realism, to portray scenes of affluence, contrast and inquiry.

Marjory Gardner is a Melbourne based freelance children's book illustrator. Her style is rainbow-bright and happy, using detail and pattern to create a rich, vibrant and colourful world for her young readers. Marjory loves visiting schools and libraries to give workshops, share her drawings and encourage children to draw in their own style.

Matthew Schiavello (b.1972) is a Naarm/Melbourne born, self taught photographer and visual artist. In his photographic practice Matthew works in various styles, from abstract and conceptual work, to the more representational, and self-portraiture. Matthew often works from a place of engaged curiosity. Whether capturing urban scenes, or urban decay's transience, Matthew's focus is on finding the beauty in his surroundings. In his experimental work, he characteristically looks for the unique moment where skilled technique meets the more extemporized and uncontrollable aspects of the process. Known for working with 35mm film (with various techniques including film soup and multiple exposure), Matthew has more recently explored manipulating Polaroid prints. Using bleach, inks and other liquids, he looks for moments of beauty in the process of altering the physical print. Matthew has been a finalist in several art awards. Most recently in the Midsumma and Australia Post art prize (2023). Matthew’s works are in several private collections across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States.

I have always worked with my hands, from my first job in the printing industry, through to attending art school and my interest in painting and sculpture and then later in the allied health field as a Remedial Massage Therapist. Studying life drawing and the anatomy of the human body was a natural transition into the anatomy and physiology of massage. In the ten years since retirement, many surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I have been studying meditation and positive thinking whilst continuing to paint as many hours I can. I am happy to say I am now cancer free. Cancer is such a devastating disease to have but it taught me a lot that I probably wouldn't have learnt other wise. Witherspoon the combination of meditation, positive thinking and art I have been able to find my real self (soul) and find so much joy in life and work. I appreciate life much more now and I am grateful for ever day.

Dr Megan-Jane Johnstone AO is an emerging contemporary artist who resides in Melbourne. In 2017, after a successful career spanning over 43 years, Megan-Jane retired from her position at Deakin University in order to re-enage with her childhood ambition to be a visual artist. Self-taught, she works in mixed media using water-based paints (watercolour, gouache, acrylic), acrylic inks and soluble graphite. Her paintings encompass contemporary and abstract expressions of iconic landscapes found in New Zealand (where she grew up) and outback regions of Australia through which she has travelled extensively. Megan-Jane has recently completed a series of works informed by her favourite bush tracks located in Victorian State forests, on which she has ridden by horseback during the past 30 years. She is an exhibiting member of the Victorian Artist Society (VAS) and MAVA, and an exhibiting subscribing member of the online galleries Bluethumb and Gallery 24/7. She has also exhibited works at the following galleries: Bundoora Homestead (A3 Annual exhibition), Linden (select annual postcard exhibition), VAS (members select seasonal and themed exhibitions), CAS (A4 select annual exhibition), Art Aviso (members exhibition), Old Art Auction House, Keyneton (select group exhibition), and the select Banyule Art Salon 2020.

Creative Artist- Photographer Regional Victoria, Australia Melissa Jane is an award winning Photographic Artist who resides in Regional Victoria, Australia. Capturing emotion and storytelling is reflected throughout her work whilst the Camera is just an extension of her creative expression. Melissa Jane often finds the emotions of her subjects, a reflection of herself. Whilst her Photographic subjects vary widely. Melissa Jane is repeatedly drawn to Botanical (Flower) Landscapes Abstract and Nature. The power and magic of photography and its ability to capture a unique perception of a moment in a form is something Melissa Jane loves to be able to share with others.

My artworks are influenced by the Gippsland region of Victoria, where I live. I'm surrounded by bushland and have a creek running through my property. Therefore, bushland and water feature heavily in my artworks as they are a daily inspiration to me. In my artwork, I love to start with a loose and free foundation built upon to add detail and areas of interest with prominent bold and dark lines. My recent works show a glow area that helps highlight the mystery surrounding my local habitat, especially in the evenings when we are all usually secluded in our homes and are left to wonder what is happening in the forests at night. My passion has always been art, and I always dreamed of becoming an art teacher. Leaving work to raise my children allowed me the time to attain my teaching degree. Now I can happily say I am a Primary School art teacher and an artist.

Natasja van Wyk is a textile artist residing in the Dandenong ranges. She is influenced and inspired by contemporary art with a strong affinity for colour blocking and portraying the abstract forms of nature in her quilting. Her art aims to evoke feelings of comfort and warmth together with a strong social justice theme and often portrays her personal emergence from trauma.

An emerging artist who discovered a passion for painting in year 2015. Since then, I have learned under different artists and experimented with various art mediums. Most of my works draws inspiration from nature, culture and human experiences.

I am a Ballarat based Recycled Cardboard Creative, exploring a creative practice of making art from existing material that is largely considered waste. I focus on 3 Dimensional sculptures that are a celebration of cardboard, based on the idea of creative limitation, everything must be made out of the box. I explored this simple, and sustainable material in playful and theatrical ways, to exploit its creative potential with more often or not unexpected results. Looking to what can be achieved in texture, shape, colour, and form, I attempt to encourage the viewer to reconnect to their sense of play and their childhood memories of playing with cardboard. Yet at the same time I urge the viewer not to see cardboard in my art as a gimmick. Sculptures should speak for themselves, regardless of what they're made from carved marble, cast in bronze. Or from an old recycled cardboard box. I am aiming to show my versatility as a creator through a mindful use of materials and a reminder of the importance of addressing environmental issues, telling a story of sustainability alongside a story of their own. I was told to think 'outside the box' but I thought, stuff that, what can I make out of the box !

Hi, I’m Rukz One! I’m inspired by music, nature, the universe, and humanity. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. My art balances chaos with simplicity often accompanied by a complex backstory. Notable artistic influences include Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, James Reka, John Kricfalusi, Jhonen Vasquez and Pablo Picasso. My artistic style itself has drawn inspiration from skateboarding, hip hop, and the Melbourne street art/graffiti culture. Collaboration and support in the artistic community is a motivating force in my creative journey, creating work with artists around Australia and the World through avenues such as: #artdecypher @drawmearobot @thecreativestcp

Paulina was born in Chile South America , she trained in Graphic Art. In Australia she completed a Master's degree in Visual Art at the Victorian College of Art in 2011. Paulina's art practice engages with different media, collage, acrylic paint, drawing, moving image and large format printing. The starting point of her works is by using photo manipulation software in order to a particular effect and create almost an alternative reality in which at times, different timelessness merge with each other in a seamless manner. Currently Paulina is exploring the depiction of females who had a significant impact in her process of creating a meaningful life in Australia. However,she strongly believes that her work will be always be coming from the place of an outsider. Paulina has exhibited vastly and consistently in group shows as well as solo exhibitions. Further details can be found in her website www.paulinacampos.com

Elizabeth (Liz) loves to explore colour, shapes, texture, depth, and flow in her paintings and mainly paints abstract. Her style of painting is purely intuitive. She loves to paint from her emotions. She has had a difficult life, living with a disability, bringing up two sons by herself and the recent unexpected loss of her son. She hopes that her paintings stir emotions in the viewer. Elizabeth gets great joy from the pleasure her art brings to others as well as the fact that the owner of each piece can use it to connect with themselves and their own life experiences. To date, her commissions have included pieces to suit rooms and decors as well as those to reflect specific moods. After some formal art training in 2007 and 2008, Elizabeth painted prolifically in oils and acrylics. Art was an important and ever-present part of her life until a diagnosis of cancer, other autoimmune diseases and treatment turned everything upside down. After a long hiatus and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of synchronistic events occurred which brought her back to art. She began with alcohol inks then commenced art classes and began sketching, drawing and painting other mediums including pastel, charcoal, mixed media, collage and acrylic paint.

Faiza is a self-taught artist who mainly works with Acrylic. She has been working as an artist for the last three years. She is based in Melbourne, in the Northern suburbs. Faiza enjoys experimenting with different styles and techniques of painting and lingers between abstract and realism. Her subjects vary from figure painting to landscape. Faiza likes to remain curious and open to different styles which keeps her brave in exploring her capabilities. She gets inspiration from nature as well as photography. When she isn't painting she likes to go out and take photographs of people and nature. Faiza is always curious to explore new ideas and techniques and build her repertoire of skills in painting. She likes to push her personal boundaries. Faiza hopes to one day exhibit her work and work with other artists within the Australian community. She hopes to explore the Indigenous art within the community which she is sometimes inspired by.

I am self taught artist and I love painting using lots of colour. Mainly painting in acrylic. I love painting Australian scenes as well as animals, especially cows on brilliant background colours. Who doesn't love a cow?

Freya Skarsgard is a figurative artist who lives and works in Melbourne, Australia. Freya’s work introduces a personal dimension into the vastness and magnitude of imaginary worlds. Most of Freya’s research is concerned with the role of contemporary romanticism and ecology as a means of processing of personal experiences gained in the dialogue of human and nature. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, she transforms familiar realities by suspending bias and previous knowledge, exploring the qualities of liminal space between realilty and constructed genre scenes, making these tangibly present through the act of painting. Freya maintains Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts completed at RMIT University, Australia. Her paintings have been placed in private collections in Australia and Northern Europe.

My name is Gary Upfield and I have lived in North Warrandyte since 1991. I am married to wife Robyn. I am 68 years old and have been painting most of my life. My passion for painting started at High School when I was fortunate to have a very good Art Teacher who gave me a grounding in all aspects of Art. I was born and raised in Preston, Victoria a suburb of Melbourne. I attended Preston East Primary School and Preston East High School. I also attained an Advanced Diploma in Finance together with an Advanced Certificate of Banking and Finance at Box Hill TAFE. I am also a Senior Associate of the Australian Institute of Bankers (now Financial Services Institute of Australasia) I have won two Art Awards. I won the Commonwealth Bank staff Award in 1994 for a promotion of Tasmania, my prize was a trip to Tasmania. I have been back to Tasmania several times since. I also won the competition at National Australia Bank Collections in 2000 to create a Christmas Card.I have been selected as a finalist for the Australian Watercolour mister 2020. I was selected for the Knox Immerse 2019 Main Artist for Knox Car and Art Show 2019 I presented my work previously as a solo exhibitor in Black Cat Gallery, Collingwood in September 2018, and Darebin Arts Centre, Preston in OctoberNovember 2018. I also exhibited my paintings in various festivals and art shows including, Camberwell Art Show in 2007 & 2014. I am also a regular exhibitor in Warrandyte Rotary Art Show since 2013, and Linden Postcard Art Show since 2014. I was selected as part of the Knox Immerse art show 2019. I was asked to participate in the Knox Car and art show 2019. I have recently been a finalist in the Australian Water Colour Muster 2020. I have attended many workshops at the National Gallery of Victoria including, -Portrait painting with Lewis Miller -Pen and Ink with Jill Anderson -Charcoal Drawing with Peter Wegner twice -Plein Air Painting around Melbourne -Sketching in the Gallery with Marco Luccio My previous Art Teacher was Vicki McInnes. Her vision on how to find the essence of a painting is expressed rather than just a scene. I love working with VickiI have spent five winters in Alice Springs on week long camps outside Alice Springs with Deborah Clarke a noted painter in Alice Springs. Much of my recent works have been created or inspired from these trips. I have entered and been shown at the following art shows, 1. Warrandyte Festival Art Prize 2. Warrandyte Rotary Art Show. 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016,2017,2018,2019 3. Strathdon Community 10th, 11th, 12 & 13th Annual Art Exhibition 4. Camberwell Art Show 2007 & 2014 5. Hobsons Bay Art Show 2015, 6. Warrenwood Art show 2014, 2015, 2016 7. Linden Postcard Art Show 2014, 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019, 2020 8. The Bayside Art Show 9. The Knox Art Show 2015, 2016 10. Mornington Art Show 11. Australian Watercolour Muster2020 12. Knox Immerse 2019 13. Somers Art Show I currently have a studio at 171 High Street, Northcote with six other artists including well known Artist Marcus Wills. (winner of the Archibald Prize) Marcus and I have a strong relationship and he will often give pointers and assistance with my paintings. The Environment at the Studio is very robust with everyone able to give and take constructive criticism.

Geoff Cunningham is a Stencil Artist living & creating in Melbourne. Geoff has been a full time artist since 2007, whose paintings are held in collections world-wide. In recent years, Geoff has been a finalist in several Australian art prizes. His distinctive works combine the themes of streetscapes, nostalgia and humour to form a backdrop for his thought provoking narratives. “I love the challenge that stencil art presents, by bringing so many different artistic disciplines together; combining photography, digital art, hand cut stencils, traditional painting and spray painting techniques to create a finished piece that allows the viewer to step into a world that is familiar, yet somehow beautiful and unexpected. ”

It wasn't until I was in my mid 30's that I decided to take my interest in art seriously. I successfully enrolled in the arts degree course at RMIT at my second attempt in 1993. Just as well I didn't delay it any longer as the part time program ended not long after I graduated. I was still working full time back then. More recently I have been exhibiting at various venues around Victoria. Lately I have been exhibiting in inner Melbourne. I am exploring 3 themes currently in my oil paintings; seclusion - where I focus on Melbourne's Botanical Gardens, expanse - vast empty spaces, interiors - the psychology of interior space. In May I will be exhibiting at Tacit Gallery in Collingwood and I also have paintings out on loan to the corporate sector via Colourspace. I also have a blog attached to my website where I comment on matters artistic, both historical and contemporary.

I am an artist and educator based in Geelong in Victoria, Australia, with a focus on producing large scale works in both acrylic and oil, often working live as part of public events. My work depicts people and symbolic animals full of energy and life. Since 2013, I have been involved in many cultural conferences internationally where I have painted live so the audience can see the images taking shape in real time. In 2017, I published my first book and have been creating online art courses since 2020. I love this way of working as a complementary strand to my own artistic practice. I was a finalist in the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award and the Tatiara Art Prize (Winner of People’s Choice) as well as within Art Battles in Hobart and South Melbourne as well as artist-in-residence in Cairns, Sydney and Ballarat.

I have been fascinated with natural materials for all my adult life. Originally working with stone and clay, I discovered timber as a medium in my mid twenties and have never looked back. Much of my work draws from the shapes of the natural world. In my practice I find inspiration from the contrasts between surface and structure, organic and inorganic and perception and reality. I love how timber feels to the touch and much of my work encourages people to do more than just look. Recent works have started to explore combinations of materials, resin, ceramic, metals and glass within the framework of the timber pieces.

I am a self-taught, Melbourne based artist. My artwork varies enormously. Whilst I draw large hyper-realistic style portraits with graphite and charcoal, I also do abstract art, using acrylic paint and mixed media. Unlike the control required for my drawings, I have the challenge but also the joy of using colour, a loose application and interpretations of reality in my work. My paintings often comprise complex layers of brilliant colour, and lots of different tones and textures, and their subject matter is left to the viewer to interpret for themselves what they are seeing.

I am a Melbourne based artist who aims to tread as lightly as I possibly can on our beautiful planet. I've been painting and drawing ever since I can remember, coming from a family of artists and creatives, and in the last few years my art practise has become a full-time pursuit. I have always loved to draw, particularly portraits, flowers and patterns. However, it is when I am making abstract art that I feel most connected with my purpose. I like to experiment with different techniques and utensils to apply paint, and often end up using my hands, which further connects me with the piece. I have also recently begun working with upcycled textiles, particularly denim. I love the fraying that occurs overtime on the raw edges. I am totally inspired by nature. Growing up in the Southern Highlands of NSW on the edge of Morton National Park, I have always felt a strong connection with the Australian bush. I feel very lucky to again live surrounded by bush, now in Victoria. This connection is so uplifting for me and gives me great inspiration to immerse myself in the paints and canvas. In my childhood and early years my inspiration began with countless hours watching my Dad painting landscapes, seascapes, still-life and equine portraits and my brother paint Australian birds & wildlife, and so began an ever-evolving journey that has led me to follow my art dream. Thank you for your interest in my art.

The beach has always been with me, since my earliest memories as a child living in Point Lonsdale. This wonderful village lies at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay with the amazing and dangerous Rip, surf beaches, the iconic lighthouse and the pier - an artist's paradise. I studied at The Gordon, Geelong with qualifications in Visual Arts. I'm delighted that my art hangs in private collections internationally and in Australia. I have also exhibited in three International exhibitions in Bologna, Italy, Aix-en-Provence, France and a three-month residency in the Maldives. Painting has always been my way of making dreams a reality. My art mediums are acrylic on canvas and mixed media. Themes in my art are always grounded in the natural world - the ocean, vast skies, sunrises and sunsets, beautiful clouds, rockpools, sea creatures, underwater scenes, yachts and ships, and the playful, colour-saturated world of people at the beach. Before I settle to painting in the studio each day, I walk with my two Dachshunds in nature to ground me and to complete the day after work, I go for another walk to be inspired and refreshed by the ever-changing sea and sky.

JB Knibbs is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Melbourne. Knibbs’s practice spans photography, sculpture, installation, scale miniatures, and textile works, underpinned by her background in lighting design for live performance. Her work explores themes and motifs of the uncanny, gothic, surrealism, domesticity, suburbia, and feminism.

With over 20 years of private artistic exploration, Jesslyn has sought to understand a diverse range of painting, printmaking, and drawing techniques. Joining an artist studio in 2023, she began to build a cohesive collection featuring thickened layers of acrylic paint, applied with palette knives and brushes to tell a colour-filled impasto story. Jesslyn's work simplifies the world's details into vibrant pop-art landscapes, capturing special visited places and often-overlooked local treasures. Each piece reflects meticulous planning of colour combinations, evoking nostalgia and joy in the viewer. Her playful, vibrant, and bold style garnered recognition,qhq including winning the 2D category at Artz Blitz in 2016 and earning People's Choice in 2017. Aspiring to showcase in exhibitions in 2024, Jesslyn is on a mission to explore even crisper and more fun colour combinations, while celebrating the beauty of her neighborhood.

An award-winning professional Fine Artist and an aspiring, creative interior designer who is able to come up with a range of original ideas, theories and fascinations through various artistic mediums such as oils, acrylics, texture, papers, plaster, oils, acrylics, pastels, stones and clay to create an original piece of artwork. Possess great admiration and visualization with colour theory to create aesthetically pleasing paintings of landscape, abstract, seascapes and genre styles. As Arts and Architectural Designs collaborate with each other, the impressionism is where an artist/ designer gives the first impression of what they are seeing. As an impressionist, I strongly believe in emphasising the effects of light on my designs and paintings. I am using clean-cut details to showcase the objects, create the illusion, and express my ideas, to go beyond what you would visualise if you took a picture from your camera.

Born in the Philippines in 1982 and arrived in Australia in 1997. Jonabelle is an emerging and multidisciplinary artist working with photography, printmaking, drawing and painting, dressmaking, and silversmithing. Jonabelle draws inspiration from her surroundings, whether from nature or urban, and finds and highlights the beauty in the mundane. Jonabelle received Certificates 3 & 4 in Visual Arts in 2021 and 2022 and is currently undertaking Certificate 3 in Photography. Jonabelle had her first solo exhibition with Level Up this year displaying works of collages of photographs. At the same time, she also held an extended exhibition at the Annex, assembling photographs in real-time for the public to see and interact with. She also held her first workshops in creating photo montages of Wyndham's local areas. Currently, Jonabelle is displaying work at the Annex as a part of a group exhibition called Recollection, as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, organised by Wunder Gym and in collaboration with Wyndham and Hobsons Bay Councils, as well as mentored by Elvis Richardson. Jonabelle is currently working on a new set of montages of photographs for the Brimbank Council for Feb/Mar 2024.

Abstract artist, inspired by nature, water, architecture, structure. Abstract topographies, nature's structure. Learning as I go, never sure which direction, or what's driving it, but enjoying the process, and ever fascinated by where the creative process comes from....

Julia Leontyev is a Melbourne based artist with a passion for abstract art. Inspired by the organic lines and shapes found in nature, she also delve into the depths of human emotion and the subconscious. Her favorite media include inks, watercolors and markers, which allow her to explore and express these themes with fluidity and vibrancy. Her solo exhibitions such as “Endless Motion”, “The endless” and “Endless Vibes” had a great success and feedback. Julia's works have been shown in a number of Australian exhibitions and abroad with prestigious awards.

I'm an artist living on Boonwurrung country Australia. I make art everyday. I enjoy exploring different media but tend to delve more in acrylic paints.

For Kalina Brew creativity has always been an important part of her life. This passion initially led her to pursue a career in Interior Design. Following an interstate move and the birth of her first child, Kalina decided to retrain as a primary school teacher, relegating her more creative pursuits to her spare time. One particular year she was given the opportunity to teach Art at her school and, while guiding her students with their own creativity, she realised that creativity needed to become a significant part of her life once again. Kalina’s creates larger paintings on canvas with acrylics and smaller works on paper using gouache and soft pastels. Her works span a variety of subject matter, with a main focus on landscapes. She draws inspiration from the sun’s impact on the sky and surfaces, and seasonal changes in nature. Expressive brushstrokes, saturated colours and dynamic composition exemplify her style. Kalina’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2021 saw her work turn inward, reflecting on the emotions and experiences of facing ones own mortality, and shifting towards more joyful pieces celebrating all that we have to be grateful for. The Myriad Life was also established as an outlet for her other creative interests, including writing and digital art for consumer products. In addition to her existing catalogue of original artworks and prints as shown on her website, she also produces a limited number of commission pieces each year. Please contact her directly via email if you would like to discuss commissioning an artwork for your collection. Qualifications Bachelor of Arts (Interior Design) RMIT 1998 Graduate Diploma in Education (Murdoch University) 2009 Awards Third Prize overall in KernArt Art Prize, October 2022 Exhibitions ‘Alliance’ MAVA curated exhibition, Marysville, September 2023 ‘Renew’, open exhibition at Cube 37 Gallery, August 2023 ‘Winter Solstice’, Curated Group Exhibition at ArtSpace Wonthaggi, June 2022 ‘Smorgasbord’, Group exhibition at The Hut Gallery, March 2022 ‘smART’, Small Works Group Exhibition at The Track Gallery, February 2022 ‘Change’, Group exhibition at Cube 37 @ FAC, November 2021 ‘Shadows at Play’, MAVA online group exhibition, October 2021

I am a freelance writer and artist, currently studying for a Master of Art Therapy. I have exhibited my work in shows across Melbourne and the peninsula and have received awards for my pen and ink drawings and acrylic work. I am an artist who loves to explore new styles and to push my own boundaries. I am most drawn to landscapes, contemporary and abstract works. I generally use my own photographs as reference material, inspired by places I have been, or I work completely from imagination, trying to encapsulate a thought or feeling. Much of my acrylic work features textured, impressionist and expressionist styles. As an artist, I am always learning and finding new ways to express myself. As the daughter of an artist, I feel that art and creativity run in my veins. I grew up playing in my dad's studio and now have one of my own to play in.

Utilising a process of distillation through photographs and watercolour pencil studies, Kate Murdoch plays with the essence in her subjects. Inspired by the purity of natural forms, her abstractions find an emotion beyond visual representation. Immersion in gradual and precise layering of pigment means the paintings feel like complete worlds. In this way, her process is as vital as the result. Her current work uses shapes and pure colour to form organic ‘shields.’ Kate invites the viewer to reflect on the solace and protection found in nature as our pace of life accelerates.

Having worked for many years as a Landscape Architect and Interpretive Designer, I have a strong sense of telling stories of place. I listen to the places and people who live and use them, and then creatively embed these stories in my work. My passion is extending this to fine and visual arts for the community. I love to experiment, and so each piece is developed with it's own style.

Hello! I’m Kelly Driver, I live in the outer South-Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, and am a mother to 3 young children. I come from a 20 year career in Sales and Marketing in the Tourism industry. I have always had a strong passion for art, beginning in secondary school where my skills in ceramics and painting began. In 2020 I decided to turn my painting hobby into a career. I love painting in a variety of styles which increases my skill set and challenges me, but I have a strong pull towards abstract art. I paint where my heart is taking me at the time. My artwork has usually been developing in my mind, often for a couple of weeks before I put paint to canvas. I like to share my painting creativity with others by posting tutorials on YouTube, IGTV and Facebook Videos, so be sure to follow me!

My vibrant paintings express a charming sense of optimism, reinterpreting the beauty I see around me as a colourful world of joy and whimsy. I combine the mediums of ink, acrylic paint, paper, and textiles on canvas to explore bold colour and emotion. Imagery is drawn from the natural environment around me, with birds and trees often featured as well as subjects inspired by my everyday life and home.

Landscapes and nature are Kelly's usual subjects. She is a self-employed mother of 3, a passionate renovator, a short-stay host and a creative spirit. Living between the Dandenong Ranges and the Mornington Peninsula Kelly is never wanting for inspiration. The misty mountains with their towering mountain ash, the rolling hills with verdant motivation, and the big peninsula skies and everchanging palette are always at the forefront of her creations. Currently working from her studio in Sherbrooke she depicts her beautiful local areas, landscapes from other's inspired locations and also places that are purely shaped from her imagination. Slightly impressionistic, tonal and occasionally intangible, her artworks tend to have both detailed and blurred windows. She now finds herself in her light filled studio more and more where painting allows her to remain positive and mindful. She hopes her pieces can transport the viewer to a place of introspective and inspired reflection. Never showing her work publicly until 2020, Kelly decided during the Melbourne lockdowns to apply successfully to participate in the Dandenong Ranges Open Studios program and is now a member of the Aerie Ecology Group at Burrinja as well as a MAVA member.

Kerri completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Post-Grad in teaching in her early twenties. She then moved on to signwriting and acting, but never stopped daubing with paint and pencil. She is now devoted to creating fine art and teaching pottery full time. Kerri's larger work is often textural with dynamic colours and contrasts. She currently works with acrylics, watercolour and clay in her spacious studio in Geelong on Wadda Wurrung country. Kerri likes to experiment with a mix of styles and techniques, often fusing realist images with abstract ideas. Many works challenge the viewer to impose their own ideas onto the media - making the viewing a highly personal experience. ... Then there's her whimsical style. Often using animals to lift our humour and explore love of living beings - and the nature of contradiction. Kerri likes to push her ideas a little further each day and hopes to revisit oil paints for larger works in the near future.

Kerryn is a Melbourne-based artist who loves color which is reflected in her bright cheerful paintings of flowers, landscapes, animals, and also contemporary portraits. Kerryn, who has an honors degree in economics has chosen to pursue her passion for art and particularly the medium of pastel. Kerryn loves painting with pastels as the pictures glow with luminous color and texture, unlike any other medium. Having studied with a number of pastel teachers she now has her own studio in Mount Waverley Victoria, where her paintings are available to view by appointment. Kerryn is treasurer and active committee member of the Pastel Society of Victoria. She welcomes commissions including portraits, animal portraits, and scenery, particularly of Italy.

I am a self taught artist enjoying my own creative journey in Gippsland. That journey started as a mosaic artist , but for the last 16 years, I have concentrated on watercolour and acrylics. Forever inquisitive and wanting to explore new materials and ideas I am excited to see where this journey takes me.

Kimberley is a Melbourne based Contemporary Artist, who takes her inspiration from exploring her environment. Raised in Sydney, Kimberley developed a love for adventure, appreciating large, small and unexpected discoveries through her travels and explorations. Moving to Melbourne in 2008, Kimberley continues to examine both urban and natural surroundings in Australia and when travelling internationally. A foundation of her artistic expression is the combining of form, symmetry, colour and her own resulting emotions and translating these to her works in both acrylics and oils. She has been quoted as saying that "Painting is a beautiful form of sharing and letting others see what I'm feeling". In her current Flower Series, Kimberley is exploring close-ups of flowers, bringing out the heart and hidden treasures of each. By celebrating nature's form she captures the beauty, simplicity and competing complexity of the flower. Size, colour and aspect contribute to the joy of participating in Kimberley's latest quest of bringing the outdoors inside through her works. Birds draw me in by their personalities colour and movement. Places I have visited are a big part of my inspiration. I have also started exploring people and their expression that I must capture. Flowers have been a big part of my works they truly intrigue me with there hidden gems yet now I find myself exploring a variety of subjects.

Kimberley Hughes in an artist and arts management project facilitator from Melbourne. Since graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Art, she has gone onto complete a Masters in Arts and Cultural Management from the University of Melbourne. With experience on community art projects and as a gallery administrator, she hopes to inspire more people to engage with the arts. Her creative practice is inspired by her love of visiting pubs and bars, gaining inspiration from watching people socialise, the glassware and the atmosphere, to tell stories of peoples' interaction through her art.

My work is an investigation into memories and connection, exploring emotion and boundaries and how these elements present to me visually. In my art practice I predominately use mixed media abstraction to create both 2D and 3D works. I enjoy working intuitively and use a lot of layering techniques to produce raw, organic and personal pieces that have a fragile dreamlike quality underpinned with a textural boldness that make you want to reach out and touch them. I’m influenced by my environment and am inspired by the composition, shapes and textures, both in natural and manmade objects and structures. I use an earthy, muted colour palette and materials such as wire, rust, fabric and printmaking that tie in with my feelings on the subject matter.

Alanah Jarvis is an oil painter whose oceanscapes are deeply inspired by her experiences as a scuba instructor & her love of the sea. Her work is immersive & reflect the serenity one feels being near, in, on or underwater.

Amanda Maree Glasson is a full time artist residing in Torquay Victoria. Amanda has always had a love for Art and has dabbled in many mediums of drawing and painting. Through her work with Acrylics and Watercolour, Amanda strives to create bold and colourful pieces.

Angela Kernick the Artist and Designer who creates under the name Antayjo Art pours all her overthinking into colourful, chaotic, maximalist works to de stress. She is based in Ballarat and spends her time drawing, painting, stitching quirky subjects that centre around Fashiony, Patterny, Flowery and Portraity themes. (When she isn’t caring for her first two loves, her children.) Her key focus is designing patterns and creating traditional art that can be used by fashion brands to make a bold statement. From “arting up boots to spending 40 hours on one painting Angela likes to mix things up but always has a strong vibe that ties all her work together. Her goal is for people to see her work and instantly know who’s it is!

Annie is a painter working from her studio in the Dandenong Ranges. Inspired by nature, the search for meaning and the transformative power of art practice, I follow the muse wherever she takes me.

Arana is a mixed medium artists who is inspired by her surroundings and events around her. An eclectic collaboration of opposites while she seeks balance within her own universe. Majoring in everything art and creative in her earlier years, Arana has a background in F&B and early childhood education with a passion for psychology. Relying heavily on her creative instincts, she started exhibiting art in Hong Kong where she was living and in 2014 did her first solo art exhibition. Feeling an overall lack of enthusiasm towards independent creativity and a very male dominated industry. Arana returned to Melbourne to discover the abundance of artistic creativity everywhere. Embracing her new surroundings, Arana picks up her paint brushes and begins to explore the rich and diverse city of Melbourne along side exploring regional plants and wildlife.

I create paintings, mixed media works and collages which evoke a sense of place or mood, appeal to the imagination and provoke deeper reflection. I rely on the power of suggestion, rather than depiction. My images are often multi-layered and reward the viewer who spends time with them. My acrylic and oil paintings tend to be heavily textured and incorporate various found materials. My collages are usually stylized landscapes, based on Australian country, built up from found papers and often using gouache, coloured pencils, ink and crayons. My artistic skills have been developed from short courses, self-guided study, and studying masterworks. I completed a Master of Arts Qualifying in Art History at the Australian National University.

"Let there not be a day that passes where my mind does not wander to art, where my pencil does not touch paper and my hands are not covered in paint" A life filled with creativity is all that I desire and my personal story intricately entwined with my artwork. Without this connection I cannot create and it follows the ebbs and flows of my life. At times I may create frantically for hours and hours and at other times, I will simply ponder life's meaning wondering how I can tie these ideas to new pieces. As a self taught artist, I feel lucky to be able to approach mediums and ideas with an open curious mind. I love the challenge of learning new materials and currently work in pencil, oils, watercolour, soft pastels and acrylics. I am continually inspired by life around me, from life as a mother, the female body and to my daily walks around where I live to an obsession with light and dark and how I can accentuate this play of light in my artwork. This artistic journey I am on is one of experimentation and continual learning. I find through all of it, this is what I love the most.

I am an artist working primarily in the medium of contemporary mosaic art- a happy union of painting, sculpture and the influence of an ancient art form. These artworks are often suited for outdoor display bringing art and colour into a whole new range of spaces. I also make micro mosaic jewellery with original designs laid into sterling silver pendant bases using tiny strings of pulled glass. More recently, I have been exploring oil and watercolour painting, focused on serene landscapes and storytelling vignettes.

Beatrice is a contemporary Australian sculptor whose work engages with a range of themes including mythology (particularly Norse and Greek) and migration. For the number of years, Beatrice has been examining themes of migration, journey and travel in her practice. The theme is inspired by contemporary events as well as more personal family histories. Her parents, like so many Europeans, in the aftermath of the Second World War, migrated to Australia. Traveling by boat, their journey took almost two months. Beatrice’s work explores the commonalities of the migrant experience: excitement, uncertainty and vulnerability. Her work is informed by her experience as a woman. Travel and life journeys are poetically evoked rather than described. The artist seeks to create a space for reflective and introspective dialogues, rather than simply engaging with clichéd narratives of migration (notably spectacular media images of suffering individuals and groups). The outcome of this reflection are the bronze sculptures. Beatrice also uses embroidery and needlework in her work. Traces of stitching and details of textures of fabrics - traditional female responsibilities - are visible on her bronzes and ceramics. The delicate gestures of hand-crafting soft and ephemeral materials (fibre and fabric) are by a series of processes (moulding, casting, and patination) changed into hard and permanent materials (bronze and ceramics). Her work is far broader that any specific migrant situation – it is about the human condition of most of the Australian population, and a global condition that crosses the centuries, a response to food scarcity, war and economic opportunities. Recently, Beatrice has engaged in a number of collaborative works.

Inspired from nature. I love being outdoors and paint from rich colours of nature. Never short of inspiration, It takes me to different realms of peace and tranquillity.

I am a Melbourne-based artist focusing on emotional transformations and empowerment. My figurative expressionism uses color, language, and media layering to engage viewers in internal reflections and conversations. Experimentation and evolution are central to my practice, allowing my work to grow alongside me. I currently explore abstraction, form, transparency, and opacity, using layering to establish emotional hierarchy. Depending on the piece, I start with either form or abstraction, building the narrative from there. As a mixed media artist, I utilize brushwork, palette knives, watercolor, acrylic, inks, Prismacolor pencils, and fine liners. Each medium reveals different aspects of the work. My marks range from controlled to abstract, depending on the process stage. My color palette varies with each piece but is always limited to maintain focus. Driven by the theme of emotional transformation, I aim to create connections by making the internal visible. Inspired by writer Jeff VanderMeer and American artist Carol Carter, my work emphasizes strength and empowerment, encouraging internal dialogue and connection. My art reflects a journey from an unstable childhood to personal growth, serving as a way to process experiences and inspire viewers to embrace their evolution without fear.

Melbourne based artist who is fascinated by the mundane. My work attempts to reimagine the ordinary into something new

My name is Camilla Grace, I am a mixed media artist and educator that has dedicated over three decades to the creation of art. My artistic practice emerges from a lifelong fascination with the natural world, the subtle details of everyday life and an innate drive to constantly engage with the artistic process. I began drawing and painting rocks, trees and mountains from a young age. I also spent countless hours in my father’s workshop watching him create out of wood, this fostered a desire to experiment and a love of things made meticulously by hand. Later graduating with a major in painting from the University of Melbourne I spent many years exploring the possibilities of how various media might come together. My current work challenges the artistic norms of artwork falling within a singular discipline, and questions, “What constitutes a painting?” Through my investigation and process, I have integrated painting, sculpture and photography to craft works that blur the boundaries between painting, photography and sculpture. These sculptural assembled forms thus exist as a fusion, a visual narrative where the organic, the textured and the digital coexist and interact. ​​’These constructs, exploring landscape, time, memory, and connection, are a fusion of texture and imagery, an ode to nature, a sensitive look at the details of our environment one might otherwise miss.’

Originally from the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, I’ve lived in Darwin and Melbourne. I work in digital communications - an often high stress environment - and I love what a relaxing and creative outlet painting is. Art was my favourite subject at school, but I stopped drawing and painting once I finished. It wasn’t until early 2020 when the pandemic first hit that I found myself, like everyone else, trapped at home, bored and getting a bit blue. I bought some paint supplies and just started to paint. And I’ve just kept going! I love painting bright, happy pieces - mainly still life, but lately I’ve been experimenting with abstract too and I’m enjoying the freedom of that very different process.

Cathy is a full-time artist based in Melbourne. Her work ranges from realism, with a high level of detail, to more abstract and semi-abstract pieces. The use of light has a pivotal role in creating impact and mood in her realistic landscapes and portraits. In her abstracts, she often paints intuitively, incorporating dramatic movement and organic forms to describe unseen places of beauty and mystery. Cathy has been a finalist in several national art competitions: 2019 Wyndham Art prize and the Ravenswood Women's Art Prize. 2018 and 2017 Kennedy Prize, 2016 Contemporary Art Awards. In 2019 she won first prize in the Australian Guild of Realist Artists' President's Challenge and in 2018, she won the best 2D artwork in the Swanpool Creative Recycled Art Prize. Cathy has also won the People's Choice Award in the Albert Park Art Show 2020 and become a finalist in the Art Lovers Australia Prize in 2021.

Visual arts allow me to challenge and explore creative possibilities. Along the art journey, I use resin, alcohol ink, water colour, acrylic and oil paint mediums. Most of my artworks are acrylic-based.

Chris Aspland is a Victorian artist, based in Torquay, on the Surf Coast of Victoria. She completed her Diploma of Visual Arts through Box Hill TAFE, 2014 with a major in Painting. Her work is mostly themed around people, personal interactions and community connections. She works from real life and photos and attempts to inject a sense of fun and nostalgia into her artwork. Chris had her first solo show in August, 2017. Group shows with Leah Mariani, 2018 and Christine Lewis in 2020. Her second solo show in 2021 was cancelled due to COVID. She was a finalist in EUTICK Memorial Still Life Award, 2017, 2018. She was awarded the Judges Choice at Albert Park College Art Show in 2020. She has exhibited in a number of other local and selected group shows such as EMSLA; Linden Postcard Show; Belle Arti; Albert Park College Art Show and a number of Rotary shows. Her work is represented in International and Australian private collections.

Creating is inbuilt for Christina wishing to instil a connection with the viewer. Christina held a solo art exhibition of colourful abstract oil paintings. Her evolving interests take her away from abstract to create flora and fauna art using a variety of mediums.

Christine has pursued her creative interests since her retirement from a career as a Palliative Care Nurse. Although having attended numerous informal art classes and workshops, she is largely self taught. Christine has enjoyed painting within many diverse genres, including Still Life and Portraiture. However, she continues to experiment and broaden her interests in other forms of artwork, such as printmaking and collage. Her most recent works are paintings involving abstracted, intuitive themes. Acrylics and oil and paper are her favourite mediums. Group Exhibitions include G3 Artspace and the Brunswick Street Gallery. She has also successfully entered many Art Shows and a number of her works are in private homes. Christine is currently based at Le Studio Artspace in Mordialloc, Victoria.

There’s an abundance of life and energy in Australian nature. By painting what I encounter, I pursue beauty, explore deep emotions and make connections between the heart and mind inside me, and the changing world around me. I share my work because I hope other people will relate to my experiences, and it will help them to understand themselves and their surroundings. I create personal, high-quality paintings that are close-up depictions of nature in Australia. I proudly display work that is bright and vibrant, and demonstrates skill, effort and passion.

My University studies concentrated on theatrical Costume Design. After graduating and moving to Chicago I realized I found as much joy in creating the renderings as making wearable creations. These renderings transformed into free standing mixed media (mostly collage and watercolor) pieces. Tearing up paper was therapeutic. I continued to develop that particular style for about a decade while working and showing with a group of extremely talented and diverse artists. Moving continents shook up my artistic practice. I started concentrating on children's book illustrations still mostly in the same vein of watercolor and collage. Then came my children and creating art really ground to a halt. I was a bit stuck for a few years, not making much art until my dad passed away and my mom came to stay with us for a while. My mother is a remarkably talented heirloom stitcher who had attempted many times to teach me her dainty, fiddly handwork and it never took. I was awful. Until the day she taught me the lazy daisy embroidery stitch. I was hooked. I haven't stopped embroidering everything I can get my hands on for the last six years. I mostly make wool felt toy patterns, dolls and ornaments as a commercial endeavor. Embroidered textile art wall hangings have become my way back into my own little world of fine art. Life has come full circle. I still love ripping up paper and I am back to working with thread and fabric.

I am an artist living in Melbourne, Australia. I have an Associate Diploma of Arts in Theatre Technology in which I studied theatre lighting and sound, stage management and scenic art. Art has always played a part in my life; for over a decade, I have been fortunate to work at a prestigious gallery of which I am constantly exposed to artists old and new, not to mention the variety of artistic mediums. My painting process expresses my passions, my thoughts and my curious wonderings about the world and how I feel in it and how it reflects on me. The imagery of my paintings walks a line between the real world and a world shaped by our emotional perception. I want the viewer to be taken in, to navigate their own emotional and psychological terrain finding power and strength within themselves. Art portrays so many messages. What I want to convey can range from sadness, joy, inner turmoil or finding something more. Basically, my life and all its facets is what I put in. When I put down colours of warmth I want an onlooker to feel that emulated from that painting, the same goes for dark colours of turmoil, vivacious colours of passion, and calming colours of peace.

I commenced painting in acrylics in 2002 to explore the theme of identity. It’s a theme that investigates the identity of self predominately, yet I am drawn to the concept of identity in others. I use mark making and pattern forming to express these ideas of identity. There’s an intention to use colours and associations to commit ideas to address this expression. The process of identity can be creative or destructive, yet my purpose is to be creative, using known concepts and mixing them with unique attributes to form positive outcomes. I’m influenced by ancient cultures, science fiction and popular culture and how these influences use ideas and elements to be identifiable. I have undertaken a journey of self-discovery through my art practice and from that journey, come the expression of the energy of colour and movement in the form of my art. My intention is to draw the viewer in to explore my works and to interpret as they view it. I have exhibited in Australia and the United States. My work is in private collections in Australia, New Zealand, The UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United States and in corporate collections in Brisbane, Australia.

Being a self-taught artist, I have undertaken a number of artistic endeavours over the years but have concentrated on painting in the last 15years. I work mostly in oils, watercolours and acrylics but have been exploring mixed media and alcohol ink. Exploring colours and textures, experimenting with different techniques and merging these to create original pieces of art. With each new painting I learn more of the excitement that comes from creating something special, with tonal values, colours. I started painting only on retirement from full time work, being fascinated by various different media and on the way each medium reacts. I show regularly in Melbourne and country Victoria. My subjects are influenced by my travels my garden and the photographs that I have taken, recreating some of, my favourite scenes. Lately I have done several commissions of paintings for children’s bedrooms, using images of their favourite things and places. Being the recipient of a grant from Melbourne City Council last year used this to have a group exhibition in the Docklands Library For this exhibition I did several pieces of my own and joined with others in the group to create mixed media pieces such as oil paint and embroidery and a background for an artist that uses junk. In February I exhibited several works in ”Sustainable Living Festival” in Geelong and North Melbourne these pieces all been made from recycled materials which were destined for land fill but are now recycled and hopefully will enrich somebody’s life With each new painting I learn more of the excitement that comes from creating something special, with tonal values, colours,

I’ve been drawing and painting all my life with various media. I particularly enjoy drawing and painting faces and the human form