Thursday 24 November 2011

Sketches from my journal

Here I have some sketches which will hopefully be the beginnings of my next exhibition in February. Tre exciting!! Not sure if its getting anywhere but after watching the luscious 'Midnight in Paris' it brought back a million memories! The architecture, elegant clothing and the poise of the whole city makes me so nostalgic. Anyway I have decided I want to base this new exhibition on both my travels to Paris and also my imaginative escape back to the 1920s!!

Here are just some quick little sketches of flapper dresses. 

I have just started drawing this image onto a plate and it is starting to look pretty cute. Allot of these ideas are inspired by 1920s actresses including Louise Brookes.

Here I started getting excited about using architecture within the dress. I suppose this has become a bit of a signature of mine. I love using the European architecture but I also love how it refers to Tasmania.

The Cloche.

Here I have also used the combination of portraiture and architecture.

Sweet bob.

Here I have put the columns on the figures dress. I think it brings such a new dimension to the dress. It makes it look really quirky!

Here I did a quick sketch of a woman sitting on a step with her ye old fashioned suitcase!

Thursday 10 November 2011

Works at INKA GALLERY

Here are just some quick snaps of my little works at Inka Gallery. 

Here are some of my quirky ladies- including the Sewing Lady, the Music Lady and the Cello Lady.

Here is a print of a bird and his cage. Its a sort of stylised, yet simple design which I think is quite effective.

This print is called the Hair Of Medusa. Its a self portrait and her hair turns into these beautiful autumn leaves.

Here is the front counter at Inka Gallery. I have put a couple of my large images on display as well.

This image is called The Bird Who Carries Lace. It is one of my favourites because there is a simplicity about it, yet it is so intriguing.

Here is another snap of the shelf where my works are. There are also a couple artists' work beside mine.

Here is another snap of my image with a new exhibition in the background by Liz Salt. Her works are beautiful as she is looking a microbiology.

Here is the Nostalgic Owl. I love the rustic look of the collagraph.

Here are some works by the other artists in Inka Gallery. It has been really great the past few months sharing images and seeing other artists and their ideas.

Monday 7 November 2011

THE GRAD SHOW!!!!!

Here are my latest works from my grad show! It has been a challenging year but alas I feel that the end result has been a success. Although there are a million things I could change, I think I have come up with a good series of images which reflect my concept.



Printmaking Statement

As a first-generation child of Polish migrants, I am intrigued by the paradoxical relationship between feelings of belonging and detachment.  Born and living in Tasmania, with family and ancestors in the Northern Hemisphere, I have explored the link between my contemporary life and my Polish heritage.  I have done this through a visual examination of objects that, for me, act as vessels connecting the present to the past. 

The sewing machine, gramophone, mannequin, shoes, and fabric are largely domestic objects that also relate to my sense of self.  They also refer to a time past and therefore have poetic and nostalgic associations.  These objects have been incorporated into the prints to suggest the feminine connections I share with my Great Grandmother, who was once known as Beautiful Helena. 

I have deliberately isolated the objects within my images by creating undefined spaces in which they float in an attempt to express the longing for my heritage and feelings of disconnection.  Layering colour has become essential for creating depth and enhancing feelings of nostalgia and references to memory.  References to my Polish heritage and traditional values have been expressed through colour and lace details. The images of birds and trees symbolize nurturing, fertility and a sense of home.

My travel to Europe earlier this year gave me inspiration to engage with different methods of mark-making in etching. I found the exposure to different artists and movements, of great benefit and Modigliani’s elongated faces and Dali’s abstract proportions particularly fascinated me. After exploring different techniques and a variety of artistic expressions, I found success within my own style, portraying emotional connections through the prints.  This body of work reflects on these travels to Poland, and my journal and sketches have been integral to the development of my images. Through all of these symbolic processes, it has been my intention to connect to a place where two worlds join together, with the hope of further discovering my cultural identity.