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In May 2006 I held my first joint exhibition "A Passion for Portraits" at Mary Place Gallery Paddington. As a as a portrait artist, and jazz singer with twin passions of music and art, musicians were a natural subject choice for my first exhibition, which were portrayed in warm sepia tones and black and white.
After a trip to Japan during Cherry Blossom time, I photographed and was enchanted by Japanese Geisha, and prepared a body of work in watercolour, gouache, silver and gold paint and platinum and gold leaf. The exhibition was held at Gig gallery Glebe November 4th-9th 2008 with 2 Auckland artists, Chandra Marks and Allison Henry, titled "Pretty Girls".
My current series of portraits, painted in acrylic on canvas, are softened and shrouded through a lace facade, which pays homage to women's femininity and mystique, while both revealing the portraits' essence, yet paradoxically veiling the image in a tantalizingly eerie tattoo of antique gold design, exposing an analogy between the laces fragility and our own vulnerability and mortality. It also serves to highlight women's innate inner strength which manages to defy the odds and shine through despite life's negatives as does the remains of the portrait.
The gold iridescence lends the painting a constantly changing view depending on the angle of light, just as we continue to change in life and display many different faces to the world. I am delighted to have been chosen as a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Portrait Competition for 2009 held at S.H. Ervin Gallery , Sydney. My sitter - Ambre Hammond, a renowned concert pianist, is a friend who performs intimate soirees at out home for 70 - 80 people. She is beautiful and extremely gifted.
Biography:
I am self taught in portraiture, and work in watercolour, mixed media and acrylic on canvas. Exhibited at- The Royal Easter show, Doubly Gifted art show Waverley Library, Sutherland art shows, Galerie d'ART Wooloomooloo, Woodfire Cabaret Restaurant, Jannali Cafe and held 2 group shows . "A Passion for Portraits" at Mary Place gallery 2006. featuring Sydney jazz musicians, and "Pretty Girls" at GIG Gallery Glebe 2008 with Japanese Geishas..