Celebrating the results of just three years of painting is Christine Edwards, the featured artist at The Gallery in Mogo until September 11. Her artworks show her enthusiasm and commitment to experimenting with media and learning about painting techniques.
Always up for a challenge, she says, “If something catches my eye, I’ll have a go at it.”
As a youngster her artistic talent was recognised, but like many a budding artist she was sidetracked into earning a living. In her case a secretarial career in the corporate world. She rediscovered her passion for art when a friend encouraged her to go sketching. She has since attended many workshops by both visiting and local artists.
Common inspirations for her diverse paintings are her love of nature, and Australian colours, namely the reds, browns and purples. Precise and always prepared, Christine is a regular with the ‘All Weather Artists’. She says, “Painting out of doors, you have to be quick and not too fussy”.
Her painting ‘Release’ needs to be seen in the flesh to do it justice. The only abstract in the show, it is a mixed media work on Yupo paper – a Japanese synthetic paper. Christine says, “I love Yupo! It is a very difficult paper to work with, requiring a lot of control. When the paints are released onto the paper, the colours spread like an explosion, forcing me to work loosely.” She adds, ”While I am normally a realistic painter, I love the accidental effects achieved by pouring inks and paints.”
At the other end of the spectrum is ‘Solitary’ a watercolour landscape showing a single tree dwarfed in a panoramic landscape – perhaps an allegory for the human condition. But Christine says, “I find the image very relaxing.” She is particularly proud of the sky.
Another painting on show, ‘The Big Drop’ pulls these two approaches together. Paints have been dribbled down a textural surface. The finished painting is an unusual and imaginative yet totally realistic work.
Christine has received commendations for her works at the last two Annual Exhibitions run by Creative Arts Batemans Bay Incorporated (CABBI).
The Gallery is a co-operative venture of CABBI, a society open to local arts and crafts practitioners. People interested in finding out more about CABBI should drop in to The Gallery or phone 02 4474 2243.
