Categories
Art

Belynda Henry’s upcoming Sydney art exhibition

Abstract artist Belynda Henry will be opening her latest exhibition on 14 March, at Sydney’s popular Koskela store.

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Higher, 198 x 152 cm, acrylic and pastel on canvas

Entitled Higher, after her showstopping 198 x 152cm painting of the same name, the collection is in keeping with her style of acrylic and abstract landscapes.

OPEN SPACE belynda henry interiors addict.
Open space, 152 x 198 cm, acrylic and pastel on canvas

Inspired by her home in Dooralong Valley, NSW, the artworks are created using Cezanne-like blocks of colour to construct the rolling forms of the countryside.

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High to the mountain sky, 122 x 122 cm, acrylic and pastel on canvas

Belynda has been a finalist in the prestigious Wynne Prize for landscape twice, and held over 20 solo shows.

Until 26 April. For more information.

Categories
Art

Original and affordable art from Temple & Webster

If you love original, high quality and affordable art (and really who doesn’t?!) you’ll love Temple & Webster’s Australian Art Series, launched this week.

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Emily Besser

Responding to the ever-growing demands, Temple & Webster have pulled together a program of limited time sale events featuring works from a diverse range of Australian artists. With the first sale launched earlier this week, featuring Sydney-based painter Emily Besser, the likes of Belynda Henry, Lisa Madigan and Lindsay Blamey will follow suit in the coming months.

Emily Besser interiors addict

With the sale events featuring a carefully curated blend of mediums including original paintings, limited edition prints, photography and assemblages, all art will be offered at a range of price points.

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Accompanying each sale will be a unique insight into each artist’s story, the development of their work, their inspiration, their technique and how they bring their works to life, all told through Temple & Webster’s blog.

Shop online.

Categories
The Block

Get the look: Last night’s Block bedroom and study reveals

What a week on the Block! Double room reveals always seem to send the Blockheads a little bonkers! However, they pulled through and there were some seriously gorgeous reveals last night.

H1 Rm3 C&M Bed Study EA 72

Get Michael and Carlene’s bedroom look: Armchair, side table, artwork (we featured artist Belynda Henry on the blog recently).

Michael and Carlene delivered two great rooms. The judges loved the exposed brick and strip lighting in the bedroom, as did I. Despite looking amazing, it’s on trend and being local to the area, I think they really hit the nail on the head with what buyers will be wanting. Neale loved the pendants and finishes and being a gold girl myself, I also gave them extra points for this.

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Get Michael and Carlene’s study look: Light, paperweights, artwork, desk chair.

Shaynna loved the light and I think it truly is the perfect light for the space they have created. The judges enjoyed the brass finishes and said the styling was spot on. However it didn’t pass the all-important working test. Neale looked like a little kid trying to sit with the adults when he sat in the chosen desk chair. Mind you, still a very strong effort this week if the only questionable thing was the practicality of the desk chair.

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Get Chris & Jenna’s bedroom look: Pendants, armchair, ottoman, bedside tables, artwork, stone vase.

What happened?! I’m sorry, I’m still trying to get my head around how someone goes from delivering an unbelievably amazing bathroom last week which scored perfectly to this this week (lucky for them, bathrooms sell houses)! Neale said he immediately felt squeezed in the room and he couldn’t believe it was from the same couple who delivered that magnificent bathroom last week. The judges thought the shelving wall was ugly and were confused if they were in a bedroom or a garden centre. Shaynna couldn’t believe how many plants were in there and thought they made expensive timber look cheap (in reference to that bedhead). On a more positive note, the judges liked the linen cupboard, and I for one am glad they are continuing those amazing black steel beams throughout the rooms.

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I am a fan of storage and think the attic will be a good value add for buyers. Let’s be honest, it’s not the prettiest room on The Block but hey, who actually spends too much time in an attic?! Darren thought Albert (the hideous deer head) was the ugliest thing he had ever seen in his life. But points to Chris and Jenna for hiding it in the attic, seeing as they had to use it in one of their rooms this week. The judges were concerned they were missing a study though.

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Get Max and Karstan’s bedroom look: Bedhead, wall lights, artwork.

Shaynna said the art was gorgeous, which the other judges agreed with. Neale said it was the first instance of personality he had seen in the apartment; however the rest of the room left him cold. Neale is worried they are trying to leave a blank canvas to appeal to the buyer but they are leaving it too blank and I couldn’t have said it better myself! I love the whole minimal look but this takes minimal to a whole new level. I do however like their choices of finishes and cabinetry. Shaynna felt it needed an amazing light and I have to agree it would definitely make it look less bare.

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Get Max and Karstan’s study look: floor lamp, arm chair.

Darren thought the study looked sleek and cool, however I don’t think the others were as convinced. Neale thought it was very functional but felt dated. All the judges were fans of the floor though, and thought it was a great choice, and storage queen Shaynna was a fan of all the storage in the hallway.

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Get Simon and Shannon’s bedroom look: arm chair, pendants, paradise artwork, XO prints, bed, floor lamp.

The boys are back in town! I was impressed with the boys’ effort this week on both rooms. Neale said they are going to be the ‘bedroom kings’. Darren thought the tangerine bedspread and leopard towels really worked. All three judges loved the recess for the curtains and the storage in the wardrobe. I loved the off centre bedhead and those prints (told you I was a gold girl)!

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Get Simon and Shannon’s study look: desk chair, love club wall flag.

There was a trademark cactus from the boys in their study this week and Darren liked how they played with the ceiling heights, believing it will create interest with the buyers. All the judges thought the study was really well done, cosy but not claustrophobic.

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Get Darren and Deanne’s bedroom look: Side table, artwork, grey throw, indigo cushion.

I was a little concerned all week with the whole canopy idea and what not, but didn’t they pull off it off? Shaynna said this is their signature style and everyone needs to take notice of what they are doing. This couple certainly know textures and how to layer and I’m with Shaynna: they are ones to watch!

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Get Darren and Deanne’s study look: tree photograph.

All the judges thought it was a very sophisticated and contemporary space. Darren said he loved the herringbone floor. Shaynna liked the study and said they did a small space very well but she wanted to see a cavity slider hidden in the bulkhead for the storage. I for one think buyers are going to be too busy going gaga over the floor to be pay attention to cavity sliders! Neale said this couple was exciting him as they are showing him things he hasn’t seen before on The Block and I have to agree, I am loving their style! Considering Dee was complaining about their apartment being smaller in size, they certainly know how to plan as it felt bigger than the others’ spaces. I would have to say this was definitely my favourite space this week!

It was a close call but Darren and Deanne came out on top with Michael and Carlene and Simon and Shannon following closely behind. Do you agree with who won this week? I know I sure do!

Kathryn is our girl on the ground in Melbourne and Block correspondent while Jen and Olivia are overseas (the globetrotters!). You can follow her design adventures on Instagram @thedesignrookie.

Categories
Art Interviews

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

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.

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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.