Tag: artwork

Sanctuary Boutique Linens: global art on bedding

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 26, 2015
No Comments on Sanctuary Boutique Linens: global art on bedding

Run by Anne Cook and her two daughters Sophie and Simone Rennard, Sanctuary Boutique Linens is the culmination of three creative, interior-obsessed, design addicts! With backgrounds in colour consulting and degrees in interior design, the family trio were desperate to join forces and bedding seemed to tick all the boxes!

“We wanted to create something completely unique and deliver a product that was a little left-of-centre,” explains Sophie. “Something a little edgy, while remaining simultaneously elegant. Art and nature hugely influence our creativity and are reoccurring themes in our own homes and in anything we try our hand at. This spurred the idea to collaborate with artists to effectively put art on bedding.”

Their recently launched inaugural collection, El Dorado, saw the girls team up with San Francisco-based artist and illustrator, Llew Mejia. Designing refined yet eclectic patterns that showcase skulls paired with roses and toucans matched with tigers, the collection is an ode to the mythical kingdom of gold they read about in urban legends and is inspired by the flora and fauna of jungles and rainforests.

Featuring luxe cotton sateen quilts, doona covers and pillowcases, the cosy quilts come in standard queen-size and are the ultimate comforter for the cooler months. And the best part is they’re not just super comfy, they also double as artworks! “We wanted to put art on bedding as an alternative from other decorating tools such as wallpaper or soft furnishing,” says Simone. “In this case, the bedding is the hero of the room.”

While they plan to work with Llew again, their aim is to collaborate with an array of artists to continue to print beautiful designs on bedding. Their 2015 Spring/Summer collection is already in production, and for this range they’ve teamed up with local Australian artist, Alana Bayley, to bring eye-catching, colour-popping designs to life. “We’re very excited to have a few more patterns and designs in the pipeline and our second collection is close to going into production,” explains Sophie. “Alana Bayley’s work is who you will see feature on our next range, it will be available in silky throws and velvet-backed cushions and will still be along the nature-inspired theme.”

For more information.

Tags anne cook, art, artwork, bed linen, bedding, interiors, Llew Mejia, Sanctuary Boutique Linens, simone rennard, soft furnishings, sophie rennard

Art Designers Homewares

Page 33 and Blacklist collaborate on a unique light box

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 21, 2015
No Comments on Page 33 and Blacklist collaborate on a unique light box

Don’t you just love it when two of your favourite brands collaborate?!

Page Thirty Three, creators of functional artworks and objects, have taken their 2010 release, the Cinematic Light Box, and given it a fresh new twist thanks to their partnership with Blacklist.

As one of Australia’s favourite stationery, prints and paper goods companies, Blacklist have provided custom lettering and iconography for the Cinematic Light Box.

Entitled Artist Collaboration No.1, once the limited edition run is sold out, Page Thirty Three will partner with a range of other artists to continue to create truly unique artworks for the home.

The Artist Series Cinematic Light Box goes on sale 25 May (though is currently available for pre-order) for $440.

Shop online.

Tags art, Artist Series Cinematic Light Box, artwork, blacklist, Cinematic Light Box, design, interiors, page 33, page thirty three, paper goods, prints, stationery, the blacklist

Art

Original art by some of the world’s best artists… starting at $9!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 21, 2015
No Comments on Original art by some of the world’s best artists… starting at $9!

Georgie Marks: the artist AND the interior designer

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 11, 2015
No Comments on Georgie Marks: the artist AND the interior designer

It’s not often you hear of someone who has scored two of their dream jobs, but Georgie Marks has!

Working as an interior designer (for Mim Design) by day and as an artist (under the pseudonym Art by George) by night, she has just released her first body of work: It started with a house. “My current series was a response to spatial planning, the story behind designing and building my mother’s and my home. The geometry, the overlay, the patterns, the stories sparked a really exciting narrative, so I choose to convey this journey through canvas.”

When she’s not busy working or renovating, Georgie spends all her hours creating art. “I can’t turn off. I am forever designing the next work. I close my eyes and design pieces in my head. I have a notepad beside me wherever I am, new ideas, new concepts, and the delivery processes are forever playing on my mind. It’s a really exciting time for any new artist or designer.”

Primarily using acrylic on canvas – though she also uses mediums such as gesso, impasto and crackling medium – Georgie creates her artworks in quite a controlled manner. “I design the artwork on the computer via Photoshop, as this allows myself or my client to picture the artwork prior to its manufacture. Then all of my artworks’ colours are custom mixed and colour matched to the artwork I create via the computer.”

Having studied interior architecture at university, by all accounts Georgie is a self-taught artist; though art has certainly been a longtime passion. “My love of all things design and art started at a young age. I had an obsession with drawing faces, I drew until I perfected the perfect portrait, it was my daily obsession. It started with pencils and crayons and finished with acrylic on canvas. My obsession was based on the perfection of the human form, which is such a contrast to the work I am producing now.”

While Georgie has big plans for the future, she is confident she won’t be giving up either of her loves anytime soon. “In five years time I would love to say that Art by George would be a known name in the art industry and my passion for the design industry was still growing daily. I will forever stay an interior designer, I think the two work really well hand in hand.”

For more information.

Tags acrylic, art, art by george, artist, artwork, George marks, Georgie marks, interiors, mim design, painting

Art Designers Homewares

Markit@FedSquare, showcasing the best in Australian design

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 7, 2015
No Comments on Markit@FedSquare, showcasing the best in Australian design

Melbourne always has the coolest events and Markit@FedSquare is one event I’m very disappointed I won’t be attending!

Occurring twice a year, Markit@FedSquare showcases the very best in Australian independent design. On Sunday 24 May, from 10am-to-5pm, Federation Square will become a shopping mecca with 100 of Australia’s most talented creatives selling their own ranges of homewares, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, stationery, and limited edition artwork and prints.

All products are handmade by the designers themselves or ethically manufactured in limited runs using sustainable production methods and locally sourced materials. Entry is free.

For more information.

Tags artwork, ceramics, clothing, design, federation square, FedSquare, homewares, interiors, jewellery, market, markit, Markit@FedSquare, melbourne, prints, stationery

Art Interviews

Artist’s unique work: inspired by travel and starting as photography

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date March 25, 2015
No Comments on Artist’s unique work: inspired by travel and starting as photography

It took artist Anastasia Parmson many years to realise that when it came to her life’s two greatest passions – art and travel – she could never choose just one. Born in Estonia, studying in France and now living in Australia, her upcoming body of work was created in none of these places, but rather, Fiji.

“In 2013, I tried settling down in my hometown of Tallinn (Estonia’s capital) to work on my art full-time,” explains Anastasia. “But after nine months of being in one place I became restless and miserable. I had to find a way to do both art and travel, so I embarked on a voyage to Fiji to create my first cohesive body of work that would be consciously informed by my travel experiences.”

Spending five months travelling and sailing around the tropical islands of Fiji, the encounters and experiences reimagined themselves into a series of drawings entitled Glimpses of Fiji, which will be launched online on 2 April. “A majority of the “glimpses” are portraits of local children from small villages all over the islands. It wasn’t an intentional choice, I just really enjoyed photographing them because they were always so curious and happy to see foreigners and they absolutely love posing for the camera. In hindsight, I think it’s a great way to tell a story about Fiji and the South Pacific region because the earnest expression in a child’s eyes is so disarming, it strips us of any prejudice and political bias, leaving only empathy and a feeling of true human connection.”

While Anastasia’s artworks begin as photographs, the final pieces are far from it. “I bring my camera wherever I go to capture my adventures and to gather material for future drawings. Then, once I’ve taken all my photos, I select one and use it as a template. I start by tracing the black outlines with the help of a graphic tablet and stylus. I create the drawing in several layers, separating people, buildings and backgrounds. Then I add the colors, picking them from the photograph or by intuition.”

The end product is then printed using archival quality ink on acid-free paper and face-mounted onto a sheet of acrylic glass with a hidden aluminum hanging system, creating a stunning, frameless, glossy artwork. The artworks are unique and contemporary, a style Anastasia discovered in a contemporary art lecture at university. “During high school we had only been taught boring art history, nothing less than a century old. Then at university I discovered that there was a whole big world of contemporary art out there, created by living artists! With breathtaking clarity I knew then and there that I wanted to be part of that.”

Since then, Anastasia hasn’t looked back, holding exhibitions in France, Estonia and Tasmania, as well as having one of her travel sketchbooks in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Gallery. Creating art that aims to inspire others to take the time to live their own adventures, you can keep up with her art and travel via her website.

Tags Anastasia Parmson, art, artwork, design, drawing, Estonia, fiji, france, Glimpses of Fiji, interiors, photography, tasmania

Art Interviews

Meet Pamela Irving, the artist behind some of Australia’s most iconic public art

Post author By Guest Poster
Post date March 24, 2015
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By Freddy Grant

Remember when Larry La Trobe, the popular bronze statue of a dog in Melbourne’s City Square, was kidnapped? Well the woman behind some of Australia’s most iconic public art is revisiting our canine friends in her upcoming exhibition Doggerel Dreams. But even though she is famed for her humorous imagery, she says she is serious about her art.

Pamela Irving has been telling stories through art since 1982. “I have always been a creative person, I can’t help myself. I have a compulsion to create. I love stories, my work is very narrative, so instead of writing stories I tell them through my artworks.”

WFUvgivXyD1b2BUkxteUVtNOXaxK1dNbqdzrRmYIOmo — Kick Up Ya Heels Harry (from Doggerel Dreams)

One of Pamela’s favourite works is Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden, the monumental mosaic sculpture park in Tuscany. She has even created her own version on a smaller scale in her courtyard. “My courtyard is completely covered in mosaics. It’s called the Birds of a Feather Courtyard. The roof top ledges are covered in bird figurines and all the walls are covered with mosaic birds. It’s really joyous; it’s a celebration of kitsch.”

3DnQmnG8R9vou3UoIMINsgmM4VLiaobJCC5Z_MsOlWM — Birds of a Feather Courtyard

So kitsch in fact that when the director of Luna Park (one of the kitschiest places in Australia!) saw it, she wanted Pamela to create something similar for the park. “Luna Park was a wonderful commission which took four years to complete. Making works for the public domain is very satisfying. I have been very fortunate to get some wonderful locations for my work like the City Square and Luna Park, both iconic locations.”

Throughout her career she’s needed to do both commissions and her own exhibitions to make a living, but says she wouldn’t take on a project that didn’t feel right. “It’s actually quite a challenge to do some commissions and you learn a lot from doing them. Commissions make you problem solve. I don’t take commissions that require me to work in a way I am not comfortable with, for example, I would not take on a commission to do realistic portraiture, I could do it, but it’s not my natural inclination. Doing that is not fair to the client nor to myself.”

bEdLdAdZ7nOTIq-Zy8ejm39iNEYOG3ubyiDzNRE1yjw,NsPhssRUlpc0nx2C44MuY_3cMcAeQMOEe7jhbee5Fzg — Luna Park

Although she uses humour in her pieces, she insists she takes her work seriously. “I use humour to tell my stories. I like to be happy, I try to surround myself with things and people who make me smile. Just because something is playful or humorous does not mean I am not serious about what I do. I trained formally, but my natural inclination is to work playfully.”

She also realises how motherhood has changed her style. “My work has grown and changed over the years. I have been making art full-time since 1982. Having children lightened my palette and approach to making art.“

Pyhy-Xq68FXY6CZMSrdLAH6_yiczN5TkcK9kjBJiO_4 — Luna Park

Pamela’s achievements just keep on building. Not only has her sculptural mosaic Mr Logomania, the Man who Loves Words recently been acquired by the Museum of Art in Ravenna — considered the most prestigious mosaics collection in the world — she is also being exhibited alongside one of her art heroes, Sidney Nolan, at WG Art Consultants’ show Works on Paper II 2015: an exhibition of important works. Sidney is a toss-up with Arthur Boyd for Pamela’s favourite Australian artist.

“Both were very inventive, both created iconic Australian images and constantly developed their styles right up to their deaths. Both Nolan and Boyd were narrative artists too. I love the stories their works told: Australian myths, biblical myths and the Australian countryside. They both captured quintessentially Australian themes. I really admire their work ethic, their commitment to art making and their imagination. Their works still excite me after 30 years of looking at them.”

Doggerel Dreams is on at the Gallery on Sturt, Ballerat until 21 April. If you can’t make it and want to own a piece of iconic Australian art, her work is also available at Bluethumb.

Shop online.

— Freddy Grant is from Bluethumb, an online art gallery that makes buying and selling art easy.

Tags art, artwork, Birds of a Feather Courtyard, bluethumb, design, Doggerel Dreams, Larry La Trobe, Luna Park, Pamela Irving, Tarot Garden

Art

United Artworks branch out into cushions and outdoor

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date March 10, 2015
No Comments on United Artworks branch out into cushions and outdoor

Beautiful homewares that empower women in developing countries

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date February 25, 2015
No Comments on Beautiful homewares that empower women in developing countries

When husband and wife Rick and Annette Carter took a trip to India and the Philippines, a seed was planted for what would grow to become their ethical lifestyle label, One Another. With the products very beautiful in their own right, the fair trade component is just an added bonus as far as the consumer’s concerned!

Then working for not-for-profit Opportunity International, the couple were welcomed into the villages and homes of many inspiring women using amazing skills to support their families. So, with Rick’s background in design and photography and Annette’s in fashion, they decided to combine their love of modern design with the traditional artisan skills of the talented women they had met.

Creating a collection of ethically made cushions, throws, clutch bags, yarn bowls, yarn pendants, scarves and artworks, their products are less trend driven and more focused on handmade qualities and unique textures. Their latest collection, Intersect, which is now available online and will be in stores early May, combines structural grids, classic checks and 3D quilts using their trademark hand embroidery and hand-woven T-Yarn.

“We love all things mono so for this collection, we kept the base palette pretty neutral so that the textures did the talking,” says Rick. “We have used lots of charcoal marle, cool grey and crisp white, but added touches of denim, pale blue and blush for subtle colour or a hit of tangerine for some zing! Ultimately, the collection is where modern design ‘intersects’ with traditional artisan skills to create products that help empower women to rise above poverty.”

Currently working with three collectives – that combined provide work for 20 women – One Another has partners all across the developing world. “The perfect hand embroidery is stitched in India, the beautiful loop weaving is from South Africa and the new hand loomed wool throws are from near the Nepal border,” explains Rick. “We are also starting to develop some wall art with a new collective in Africa which we hope to release in a few months.”

Working with women who may be widowed or have parents too sick to work, they provide fair pay, safe and clean working conditions and the option to work at home, should they need to care for their family. “For example, they work normal hours and have a weekend, which is practically unheard of in India. By using their unique skills, we are helping empower the women, transform their communities and create a better future for their families.”

What is also incredibly special about One Another, is the personal touch they add to each final product. “The women are at the heart of everything we do and that’s the reason why every product we make is hand-signed by the embroiderer or weaver who made it. This signature is a source of much pride for the women as well as letting the customers know the actual name of the person who has put their hands and heart into making the cushion or throw they have sitting on their couch.”

With the hope to increase their impact and work with more and more groups of women, One Another’s end goal is to open up their own store. “We’d love to showcase some of our favourite ethical brands from around the world and be a place where consumers will know every purchase makes a difference.”

Shop online.

Photography by Rick Carter | Styling by Bettina McILwraith

Tags Annette Carter, artwork, clutch bags, cushions, ethically made homewares, furniture, homewares, lighting, one another, Opportunity International, pendants, Rick carter, throws, yarn bowls, yarn pendants

Expert Tips RENO ADDICT Styling

Hallway decorating ideas with Alisa and Lysandra

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date February 11, 2015
No Comments on Hallway decorating ideas with Alisa and Lysandra

Reader Natasha says: “I’d like Alisa and Lysandra to help me with a design question. We have a narrow hallway that is accessed as soon as you walk into the house. It’s only just a little wider than a standard single front door entrance and goes for about six metres. We painted it Dulux White on White and we have regular hardwood floorboards. What can we do to decorate the space so it doesn’t just look like a long white hallway?”

Lysandra says: “This hallway is screaming for some pieces of artwork. This is a great way to inject some colour into this rather lifeless space. If you can find a console (around 300mm wide) then that is going to help break up the length of your hallway. Above the console (which you’d obviously place on the lefthand side) you could place a mirror. This will make the space feel wider and will also reflect any natural light, giving the feeling of space.”

Got a question for one of our Resident Experts? Submit it for consideration here.

Tags advice, alisa and lysandra, artwork, console, decorating, entrance, hall, hallway, mirror, styling, twins

Art

Stone tile coasters: we’ve found the coolest ones online

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date January 14, 2015
2 Comments on Stone tile coasters: we’ve found the coolest ones online

Having worked at one of Australia’s largest sports betting agencies, it’s safe to say Leonie Psillis’ life took a huge change of pace when she had her daughter Elle, two and a half years ago. Becoming a stay at home mum, Leonie was on the hunt for a project to launch herself into, and so her business Stone Inspired, was born.

In the words of Leonie, Stone Inspired is, “basically artwork on marble.” Taking an image she sources from anywhere around the world, she uses a self-taught technique to transfer it onto the stone. The end result is art perfect for the table (be it decorative or as coasters) or the wall as tiles. Her latest addition are hexagonal tiles/coasters made of carrara marble.

Handcrafted in Sydney using the highest quality marble sourced predominantly from Italy, they are finished with Australian made eco-friendly products. “There are many mass-produced ceramic tiles on the market and my mission is to educate clients on the vast differences between my product and these substitutes. There are zero nasties in the materials I use and I’m very proud of that.”

As well as making individual marble tiles/coasters, Leonie is very excited about her latest project: marble murals. “I really haven’t seen them in the market before. I use rustic natural tumbled marble and the beauty in the stone’s texture really makes the finished piece a standout. You can run your hand along the surface of the artwork and feel every crack and crescent, giving it a truly authentic look and feel. I’m also working on murals with smoother marble for a more streamlined effect.”

Her latest large stone artwork saw Leonie partner with Australian photographer Louisa Seton, whose stunning African Turkana Girl photograph graces the finished piece (above). For 2015, Leonie hopes to partner with more artists and designers like Louisa, as well as get some more stockists, expand her portfolio and the big dream… hold her own exhibition.

Shop online.

Tags affordable art, art, artwork, carrara marble, coasters, leonie psillis, marble, marble art, stone art, stone coasters, stone inspired, stone tile coasters, tile coasters

Interiors Addict

Retro style station signs for your wall by Johnny Spiller

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date December 8, 2014
No Comments on Retro style station signs for your wall by Johnny Spiller

Whether they’re a signage, retro, travel, transport or typography fan, these hand painted train station sign artworks would make a great, personalised Christmas gift for someone and there’s still just time to get your order in.

Artist Johnny Spiller’s idea stemmed from a drawing he did looking across the platforms of Sydney’s Central Station and passing the signs there every day for five years.

“I really wanted to make a replica CENTRAL sign for my wall at home. Once I did, I knew how striking and unique it looked, and how cool it would be to let people customise them with a destination close to their heart – station or no station! I showed a few people and they loved the idea. The bold monochrome look also fits well with the black and white theme of my drawings and works with any decor.”

Johnny knew he wanted his signs to be high quality and command attention. Each one is handmade in his Sydney studio with the signs and letters individually painted so they look just like the originals that inspired him. “It’s time consuming as each laser cut letter needs to be primed and carefully finished,” he says. “There is also a great deal of care in selecting the letter height for optimum spacing on the sign, and the hardest part – making sure the letters are fixed straight on the final sign!”

Each sign comes packed into a sturdy, hand-branded box for safe delivery. They can be hung on the wall or displayed free-standing on furniture or a shelf.

If you’re looking for a special Christmas, wedding, birthday or housewarming gift, look no further. You saw them first on Interiors Addict!

Large signs are 210mm high x 980mm long ($349) and the small signs ($159) are 140mm high x 640mm long.

Order online.

Tags art, artwork, black and white, central, central station, drawing, gift, handmade, johnny spiller, monochrome, personalised, signage, station sign, train station, transport, travel, vintage sign

Homewares

Urban Road’s first rugs will have you wishing it was summer already!

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 25, 2014

If you weren’t missing summer enough already, these gorgeous designer rugs by Urban Road and Emma Blomfield of Nest Designs, will make you incredibly envious of anyone currently enjoying the summer months (I’m talking to you, Jen!).

Urban Road are an Australian brand known for their original canvas art prints and cushions. The Emma Blomfield x Urban Road Designer Rug Collection is their first foray into art for your floor, collaborating with interior stylist Emma, who is passionate about making stylish interiors affordable.

Inspired by the cool, salty ocean breeze of a coastal Australian summer with a Palm Springs Californian twist, the collection is full of summery colours, tones and textures. With nine to choose from, there’s a rug to suit every home, with each rug telling its own unique story. “We wanted the range to be bold and bright with a sense of fun thrown in for good measure,” explains Emma. “After all, a rug is really a piece of artwork for your floor and each of the rugs in this collection tells its own artistic story.”

Emma Blomfield (left) of Nest Designs and Suzie Atkin of Urban Road — Emma Blomfield (seated) of Nest Designs and Suzie Atkin of Urban Road

Made from a low pile, acrylic-based Chenille, using fade resistant, eco-friendly inks, the reverse of the rug features a dotted non-woven backing with anti-slip dots to keep the rug in place. Clever!

Measuring 2m x 3m, the rugs retail for $749 and will be officially launched to the trade in Melbourne at Life Instyle next week. The public can pre-order them from 4 August on the Urban Road website, making them the perfect accessory to add colour, scale and character to your space as we head into spring.

Tags art, artwork, design, Emma blomfield, interiors, life instyle, Nest designs, rugs, Summer, urban road

Art Homewares

Affordable, unique artworks from New Henry Design

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date July 17, 2014
1 Comment on Affordable, unique artworks from New Henry Design

After a diverse life filled with varied jobs, study, creative ventures and motherhood, Brisbane-based Jade Goulding has finally found her calling: New Henry Design. Primarily offering a range of artwork and photography prints from her online shop, Jade also offers artwork commissions, interior design services and product styling.

“New Henry is an outlet where my ideas and ability to create connect with people who desire and appreciate beautiful and interesting spaces,” explains Jade. “My artworks have evolved over time to become an eclectic mix of styles. Whatever is taking my fancy at the time is what I experiment with, from ink, watercolour and acrylic, to photography, digital and graphic design.”

With three collections featured in her online shop, my favourite has to be the Bowerbird Vintage Style Collection, an artwork series which had been an idea of Jade’s for quite some time. “I have this collection of encyclopaedias that I have wanted to do something with, plus ink paintings, plus some graphic design, plus finding files and images that I love. It just all come together to create this lovely tangible culmination of ideas that have been rattling around in my heart for a while.”

The Word Series is a highlight for Jade: “Words are powerful, and if you have something stated on your wall, it will influence mood and atmosphere and relationships.”

Jade also stages homes for sale as well as doing product styling. “I really enjoy styling because I love putting stuff together to create beautiful scenes, functional spaces, and visual harmony. I also love to help people find their own style and organise their lives better to make sure their space is comfortable and inspiring. It’s my dream job, and I just want to work on things all the time!”

Shop online.

Tags art, artwork, homewares, jade goulding, new henry design, photography, prints

Art

New Rachel Castle teatowels make the BEST limited edition, affordable art

Post author By Jen Bishop
Post date June 13, 2014
3 Comments on New Rachel Castle teatowels make the BEST limited edition, affordable art

Rachel Castle’s teatowels are a little bit legendary. At just $69, they’re designed to be framed as artwork and considering they’re limited edition, that’s a serious bargain. The latest designs are as fun and colourful as ever.

And you know me and art incorporating words: BIG fan! I think, as a chronic night owl, I need this one (above)!

Of course, you could use them in the kitchen, but I wouldn’t approve!

Buy online.

Read our interview with Rachel.

Tags affordable art, art, artwork, castle and things, i just need to sleep, night lovers, rachel castle, tea towels, teatowels

Art Interviews

“A few daggy cheap brushes, some rags and I’m happy!” says artist Belynda Henry

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date June 12, 2014

One of Belynda Henry’s fondest memories is the day she painted her first watercolour landscape, aged 10, armed with a red suitcase full of paints and the guidance of her artist father. She sat in a paddock for an afternoon and painted.

Years on, her love for landscape painting has not wavered, constantly being inspired by the colour and calm of tranquil landscapes, creating works that she describes as: “Very still but very alive.”

Working on both canvas and paper, Belynda uses a mix of acrylic paints and pastels. She uses lots of thin layers to build colour on colour, something that she believes is achieved most successfully through the simplicity of acrylic. For Belynda, using basic materials has certainly proved best: “I guess I could say after years of experimenting I have come back down to using just the basics. No fancy mixers and other paint effects to add, just a few daggy cheap artists brushes, a few spray bottles with water, some rags and I’m happy!”

This certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of her work though, with Belynda a finalist in the Art Gallery of NSW’s Wynne Prize both last year and in 2000. “To have your painting hung on the same wall as Australian artists that you have always loved and respected, is a wonderful feeling,” she explains. “And saying to my girls ‘look, that’s Mummy’s painting!’ It doesn’t get much better than that.”

PINK BUSH. Acrylic and pastel on canvas. 122 x 97 cm. $3400 — PINK BUSH. Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 122×97 cm. $3,400.

Having studied both visual arts and teaching at university, Belynda never majored in painting, instead doing sculpture and printmaking. “I suppose you would say even though I went to art school, no one ever actually taught me to paint. Instead, it has taken me 20 years to work through experiments and mistakes, to work out the best way to use a paintbrush.”

VALLEY END. Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 87 x 87 cm. $2500 — VALLEY END. Acrylic and pastel on canvas, 87×87 cm. $2,500.

While Belynda has taught art at the local high school, lately she has been working solely in her studio, something she feels extremely fortunate to be doing. “Lots of commissions and lots of works selling, makes one happy artist!”

In her studio, she focuses on many works at the same time, often having four or five canvases and six to eight paper works on the go at once! “Just this year I bought some long tables and now I fill them with sheets of Arches paper,” says Belynda. “I find my smaller works often make interesting images and compositions that I can then use to attempt to create on a much larger scale.”

EMERALD, acrylic and pastel on arches 300gm paper, 57 x 38 cm — EMERALD. Acrylic and pastel on Arches 300gm paper, 57×38 cm. $650.

Currently painting day and night (often past midnight!), this year has seen Belynda produce a constant flow of paintings, many of which were exhibited in her Queensland exhibition earlier this year.

Contact Belynda via her website.

Tags acrylic, art, art gallery of nsw, artist, artwork, belynda henry, featured, painting, pastels, water colour, wynne prize

Art

Transform your Facebook and Instagram snaps into unique and personal artworks

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date May 16, 2014

I’m arguably too obsessed with my pets, so when I got the opportunity to review PosterCandy, which takes your Facebook, Instagram and hard drive snaps and turns them into prints, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to create a montage of my cats and dog. I’m not crazy, I promise!

The final result is beautiful and with PosterCandy’s easy to use website, affordable pricing and poster sizes that are designed to fit frames readily available at IKEA (that’s where I got mine from) and photography and discount stores, it is the perfect low-cost option for creating unique, personal art.

Coming in portrait, landscape or square sizes, you can create anything from a small poster with six images to a huge A0 size poster with up to 368 photos! PosterCandy also makes single prints, a perfect way to create a beautiful keepsake for a loved one far away or as an imaginative invite.

The website though, is what makes the experience so easy, with the application uploading your chosen images direct from your device or social media sites. The simple drag and drop system allows easy placement where you want, or you can jumble or randomise. You can even add text, crop images or save projects to return to at a later date.

Once you’ve finished your artwork, the PosterCandy team will take care of the rest, using the highest quality production materials and printing processes, before the poster is shipped to your doorstep.

In this digital age, treasured photos more often than not never come off your device, and in fact before receiving this poster I can’t remember the last time I held my photos in my hands! But with prices starting from 65 cents for single image prints or $15 for a poster, PosterCandy is making the switch to hard copy easy.

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Tags affordable art, artwork, Facebook, featured, instagram, photo, photography, poster, postercandy, review, social media

Homewares

Online art gallery featuring over 1,000 artists

Post author By Olivia Shead
Post date April 18, 2014
1 Comment on Online art gallery featuring over 1,000 artists

Buying art is hard. Believe me, I know. For my 21^st present, my Mum and I went on the hunt for an original artwork. I’m now 22 and still have no art, so let’s just say it wasn’t too successful. I was therefore very happy to stumble upon the Bluethumb Online Art Gallery.

FIRE AND ICE by Lynne Godina-Orme — Fire and Ice by Lynne Godina-Orme

A self-funded Adelaide start-up, Bluethumb makes buying and selling art easy, hosting and promoting an online community where artists can directly display and sell their works. Customers can now buy straight from the artist and no longer need to trawl traditional bricks-and-mortar stores and galleries.

Even more importantly, the public can now support emerging artists, who through this online avenue are more likely to build a career selling their art. “I sell online because it reaches a wider audience, both in Australia and overseas,” says acrylics and mixed media artist Wendy Eriksson. “Different people get to see my work and it’s a non-threatening environment. Selling online also makes my art more affordable. I do not frame so freighting artworks is easy and inexpensive. Selling online definitely boosts my income.”

Gaining momentum exponentially, a week ago Bluethumb listed its 1,000^th Australian artist and the gallery is currently on track to sell $200,000 worth of art for the second year in a row.

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Tags art, art gallery, artist, artwork, bluethumb, bluethumb online art gallery, featured, Lynne Godina-Orme, online art gallery, Wendy Eriksson