Women Painting Women exhibition opening

Lovely afternoon at the opening of the Women Painting Women #4 exhibition at Burrinja in Upwey.

A selection of fabulous paintings by some of Australia’s best portrait painters are shown in beautiful bushland surroundings. I feel very privileged to show my work alongside these brilliant painters.

Featured artists:

Sarah Anthony (VIC)

Alanah Ellen Brand (VIC)

Dagmar Cyrulla (VIC)

Jaq Grantford (VIC)

Liz Gridley (VIC)

Amber Rose Hulme (VIC)

Emma Jennings (VIC)

Janne Kearney (VIC)

Vicki Sullivan (VIC)

Kathrin Longhurst (NSW)

Yvonne East (NSW)

Kelly Maree (NSW)

Desiree Crossing (WA)

The show is on until March 9th and there are activities during this time such as evening music and life painting demos. See the Burrinja website for details.

Kennedy Prize 2024 finalist

Happy that my painting ‘Love, Tolerance, Peace’ is off to Adelaide as part of this years Kennedy Prize. The theme is ‘Beauty’.

Artist Statement:

A photo of Jacinda Ardern hugging a Muslim woman in the aftermath of the Christchurch Mosque massacre radiated around the world in 2019.

Soaring above the street-art and graffiti-laden streets of multi-cultural, inner-city Brunswick, this painted Silo image beams a message of tolerance, love and peace. (Photo: Getty; silo art Loretta Lizzio)

Finalist in the Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize

Happy that my self portrait is off to South Australia for the Gallery One Smallacombe Portrait Prize.

‘Self in favourite scarf’ was painted at a time of necessary, but painful change in my life. My ambivalence comes through I feel.

The show runs from Aug 31st to Sept 25th. Congratulations to the other finalists.

Finalist in the Lester Portrait Prize 2024

Delighted to be a third-time finalist in this prestigious portrait exhibition with my entry entitled ‘Conversations with my mother’.

Oil on canvas, 2024

Artists statement: ‘How well I know these old hands. We have the same hands and feet, my mum and I. But hers are gnarled and knobbled with arthritis and her skin is translucent over bluish veins.

It is like looking at myself in the future.

Twice a week we sit in her garden and talk over a cup of tea. I notice how often we unconsciously mirror each other’s gestures.

It strikes me that in our reciprocity that this is a portrait of the two of us, as we sit in conversation, the shadows of the past ever present’

My subject is my mother, with whom I am very close. My idea in painting her was not to simply portray her physical being, but to illuminate aspects of her, viewed through the lens of our relationship.

We see our loved ones through our unique perspective. The woman I know is not necessarily the person you would experience, should you meet her. As mother and daughter we inhabit a slightly different space to other relationships. We know each other so well that there is less need to observe the usual social rules. While we chat I find my eyes running over aspects of her person that are so familiar - her always wonky hair clip, the lines of her skull, her hands which are so like my own. I am conscious how often we mirror each other in pose and gesture.

As her daughter these hands are loaded with meaning, intimacy, and history.

Gallipoli Art Prize 2024

Delighted that my painting ‘The Jigsaw’ has been selected as a finalist in the Gallipoli Prize this year.

Artists statement:

This work depicts my mother Diana, 83, doing a jigsaw with my son, 11.

The images on the jigsaw pieces are the few photos that we have of Diana’s mother, brother and father Sgt. Phillip Brain, an RAF engineer who was killed aged 27 in WW2 (himself the son of a Gallipoli survivor).

Subsequent to his death, my mother’s life changed unimaginably - the toddler siblings were separated and did not reconnect until their late 70s.

As with those trying to complete a jigsaw, my mother has spent much of her life trying to piece together her life storyfrom scraps of information – faded photos, other people’s memories; trying to fill the giant hole left by the untimely death of a father.

War children carry the grief and the sense of responsibility to share the story.  Three generations are present in the painting. I am the fourth absent but loud voice, trying to make visible the generational trauma of war.

The jigsaw is incomplete; can never be fully pieced together. But in many ways as Diana sits with her grandson Sam, talking about her father Phillip, there is a sense of closure.

 Oil on board with collaged letter, 2024

Highly Commended prize

Very happy to have been awarded a Highly Commended certificate at the Smallacombe Portrait Prize 2023. It was a pleasure to visit this lovely gallery in person and see the show. The winner Bruce Whately’s self portrait was stunning. Thanks to the judges and staff at Gallery One!

Finalist in the Smallacombe Portrait Prize

Very happy to have two works heading to Adelaide in a couple of weeks to participate in two separate award shows. The Smallacombe Portrait Prize theme this year is ‘Self portraits’ and for this I have submitted ‘Self with imaginary tattoo #2’

Finalist in the Kennedy Prize 2023

Very happy to have two works heading to Adelaide in a couple of weeks to participate in two separate award shows. The Kennedy Prize theme is ‘Beauty’ and for this I have submitted ‘Sam breastfeeding his babies’

Artist statement: This portrait depicts Sam, aged 2 1/2, playing at breastfeeding his babies.

Here Sam is in a liminal space between uninhibited toddler roleplay and societal gender expectations that subsequently shaped his perception of how boys behave.

It was a time of beautiful self-confidence where Sam’s understanding of his identity and potential was without limits.

Winner of the Baldock Family People’s Choice Prize

So thrilled to have been awarded the $15000 People’s Choice Award at the Lester Prize 2022. I feel very honoured that my painting resonated with so many people and received the most votes. Being part of the Lester Prize two years running has been a special experience. Thanks to all involved in running the exhibition and to the Baldock family who sponsor the award. Photo courtesy of The Lester Prize

Semi-finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize 2022

Very happy to have my painting ‘Frontline’ chosen as a semi-finalist for this excellent portrait prize. The painting depicts sisters Ange and Trish Kelly, both clinical nurses who worked together in the RMH Emergency dept during the Covid-19 crisis. I’ve portrayed them having just removed their hot and cumbersome PPE; the mask lines are deeply etched into their faces. These women and all frontline workers are absolute heroes and I’m glad that their faces and story are being seen by a wider audience.

‘Breathe’ in the ABC news

Interesting article about portraiture and judging of Portrait prizes in the ABC news on Friday. Lovely to see my portrait ‘Breathe’ as the fronting picture for the article.

https://amp.abc.net.au/article/101482046

Finalist in the Lester Portrait Prize 2022!

Thrilled to be a part of this show again this year. It is held at The Art Gallery of WA from Oct 1st.

This painting of my son Charlie is a felt response to the nearly two years that Victorian families spent under harsh lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was particularly hard for our kids who missed out on so many life experiences. At the end of the third lockdown we just wanted to throw off our masks and restrictions and BREATHE……

Small works on show in Brunswick

I have eight small works on show at Baba Hawker Malaysian restaurant at 148 Sydney Rd, Brunswick from 26/5/22 to 26/6/22.

The works respond to a loose theme of ‘light’; exploring the transience of atmospheric light and its effect on colour in the natural world.

if you are in the vicinity, pop in and see the art over a cocktail and some amazing food!