Meet Rhiannon Pegler

Meet Rhiannon Pegler IAVA’s newest member. We asked Rhiannon a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My earliest memories of interactions with art are quite blurry. Some of these include being pushed around in a stroller at museums and galleries and being in awe of taxidermy, sculptures and massive paintings depicting what I now know as “chasing the sublime”. Other memories include an early fascination with natural history, and being lucky enough to be inundated with natural history books and posters with amazing illustrations which Influenced me. I specifically remember creating my own insect poster naming and depicting insects I found when I was 6. This is now laminated and kept at my mothers.

How would you describe your art practice?

I consistently return to painting. I love painting and playing with form, light and balance. Though, often I swing from painting into other forms such as drawing, textile, printmaking, mixed media, small sculpture and I have many thoughts about installations utilising programmable microcontrollers. My arts practice is continually driven by the space that I have available to me. I currently do not have a specific studio and I am working on a computer desk space where I accrue my nature specimens, draw, lino cut and sew. I then use a small pergola area where I make natural dyes, print my lino cuts and generally make a mess.

Things that influence my work could be just about anything at the moment, from objects, animals, innards, plants, landscapes, physics and architecture. I like to think of my current evolving works as a “Cabinet of My Curiosities”. I choose my subject matter because it is something I find of interest and have a need to learn more about and explore. Creating these works is a way of recording information, a way of learning for me and sharing my interest in these curiosities. These curios and information gathered can end up being examples of the physical to the psychological, or maybe just some interesting illustration.

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork? What is it that makes them your favourite?

I would not say I have a favourite, though I have a list of many artists that I find incredibly inspiring. Caravaggio and the use of chiaroscuro. Leonardo’s need to know how things worked and the use of art to figure out those processes. Hieronymus Bosch’s surreal painterly symbolism style. Albrecht Durer and his technical animals. Artemisia Gentileschi subjects, style and history spoke to me when I was younger. Turner’s amazing ability to manipulate atmosphere and making the atmosphere the subject matter. Constable, came to constable for the clouds, stayed for the markings. Vincent van Gogh ... I have theories. Kandinsky takes balance to a beautiful place. More receint influences include; Jade Pegler, forever an influence on my life as a whole. Jades use of media, enthusiasm, idea bouncer and all round amazing art imagination explorer. Jade is probably the biggest influence on me over my whole creative life. Mirian Jazmik is a textile artist I came across by chance who, I was astounded to find out, takes a similar process towards her textiles as I do towards my microscopy paintings. Using macro photography on organic structures to observer, then create, Mirian is particularly interested in in the effects of decay which, I too, love.

Most recent adventure or achievement?

My most recient adventure related to art is literally joining IAVA. I live with disability and it has held the handbrake on my life for a lot of it. I am really looking forward to taking part in anything I am able, but most of all I am looking forward to community! I think my biggest achievement, at least for myself, in the art industry has been my time working at Accessible Arts where I trained organisations such as The Australian National Maritime Museum, Art Gallery Of NSW, and an international Korean art firm about how to make their buildings, exhibitions and media more accessible as well as how to be a disability ally. I was also lucky enough to train younger artists living with disability how to advocate for themselves.

Any current goals you’re working towards?

Just keep creating (I cant stop!), also trying to make my life a balanced one.

View Rhiannon’s Artist Profile

Meet Vanessa Barbay

Meet Vanessa Barbay IAVA’s newest member. We asked Vanessa a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My Magyar father and his family were all creative so their art was my first exposure to painting, drawing, photography, jewellery making, taxidermy and tapestry mediums. My father Tibor and grandfather Geza would set me creative tasks as they said I possessed a natural aptitude to represent objects and subjects in the world I could see around me.

 How would you describe your art practice?

At home as a child my practice began as figurative and this has remained a core feature of my work due to a natural compulsion to represent subjects I could see. I would also write narratives so I could illustrate them. They always featured animals due in part to my father Tibor's fascination with them and my admiration for him (he called me his shadow). At school I was exposed to Surrealism and loved the work of Gleeson and Pugh. I was also profoundly influenced by Koori peers and mentors, in particular George Brown and Laddie Timbery. Later in life I met and produced illustrations for Pauline McLeod and then travelled to Western Arnhem land to learn painting with ochre on rock and bark from Kunwinjku artists, in particular Graham Badari, Glen Namundja and Thompson Nganjmirra. The Anthropocene and its devastating impact on wildlife is a key concern and drives my current practice and my development of the shroud process (animal decomposition printing) during my PhD at ANU.

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork? 

What is it that makes them  your favourite? I admire many artists, particularly those who harness the cultural and conceptual power embodied in materials themselves, rather than reliance on the subject for meaning. Examples such as the site specific animal paintings of Najombolmi and Bardayal Nadjamerrek painted with delek on rock shelters from, on and about their country or the materiality of Beuys, Keifer and Burri featuring the substances of their wartorn countries.

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

This winter I was successful in receiving a CASP grant to run free wildlife art workshops with fellow artists in my community and travelled through remote WA for the first time (learning about and seeing rock art with a TO in the Kimberleys was a highlight).

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

I have applied for a residency in Margaret River WA as I am keen to explore the southern parts of the state in 2026.

View Vanessa’s Artist Profile

Vanessa in her art studio

Meet Tina Pitsiavas

Meet Tina Pitsiavas IAVA’s newest member. We asked Tina’s a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My two earliest memories of interacting with art was firstly in 1st grade, when we were asked to draw ourselves to hang the drawings on the back wall of the classroom. I remember initially drawing the typical triangle for a body but then realised for the first time that there were these things called shoulders so I amended the triangle and drew shoulders with arms hanging from them. 

My second interaction with Art that stands out was later in primary school. I was captivated by a picture that hung in our living room showing a silhouetted windmill at sunset. As this was a print, for some reason, one day, I decided that it needed to be a painting.  Rummaging around in Dad's shed, I found a board and proceeded to copy the image using some basic paints. On presenting it to Mum, she immediately hung it in the living room, replacing the print.  Nearly 50 years later, I found that same painting.  Mum had diligently stored it for safe keeping.

How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)

My art practice swings between traditional subject matter and more contemporary text based work.  I am drawn to colour and enjoy the process of exploring how colours interact with each other to engage the viewer.  My main media of choice is gouache but I also enjoy acrylics.

As a trained Art Therapist, I believe art has healing qualities and gives voice and clarity to contemporary issues. In my patchwork series, the combination of bright colours with upper and lower case text, hopefully causes the viewer to pause and carefully de-code its meaning, both serious and tongue in cheek. My work is only a small drop in the ocean of political and social commentary in art. 

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them  your favourite?

Whilst I predominately work using bold colours, I am drawn to the work of Käthe Kollwitz, a German painting and printmaking artist . What draws me to her work is how she portrays her subjects with amazing clarity of emotion, particularly during the world wars. Her social commentary speaks to m

View Tina’s Artist Profile

Meet Josephine Hill

Meet Josephine Hill, IAVA’s newest member. We asked Josephine a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

To this day I can recall being drawn to the painting easel at Preschool. The colours and paint gliding across the page. The scale of the page compared to me and feeling like I could create something big. It always felt like a space where I could just be, the noise the activity around me seemed to disappear. When I was complete I had a sense of contentment and achievement. There is a black and white photo of me at the Preschool easel in Mum’s photo box, I have always wished it was in colour.

A favourite piece of artwork which still hangs in our home today is a field of poppies, a watercolour filled with movement and colour, significate as it is the first piece of art I purchased some 30 years ago from a gallery in the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands. Whilst its frame has changed in that time, I still love the artwork as much as the day we bought it.

How would you describe your art practice?

Having studied colour and continuing to explore the way colour can interact with light and influence mood and life, a colour palette is primary to my practice. When I begin a piece of artwork both form and colour are at the fore front of my mind. Once I have those in play the rest evolves as the artwork forms across the canvas. I work mainly with acrylics on canvas but have a number of bits and pieces in my studio I experiment with. Possibly the influence of my preschool years but I prefer to paint on a larger canvas than a small one.
 

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?
It is absolutely impossible for me to name a favourite artist as I’d feel it was a betrayal to another artist I love and another. I am very drawn to the work of the Masters of Modern art – Monet, Cezanne, Herbin, Manguin, Derain, Kandinsky and the list goes on.

Most recent adventure or achievement?

I am extremely fortunate that I have had the opportunity to travel to experience foreign lands, gain insights into cultures and see many great artworks across the globe. At the beginning of this year I sat with The Woman in Gold at the Neue Galerie in New York. The portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klim has intrigued me as has its story of how it came to be at the Neue on permanent display.

Any current goals you’re working towards?

More travel, more exploring our world in an attempt to learn and understand. 

More experimentation with my practice and less fear. 

But before all of that, completing my works for my solo exhibition in November to bring much colour and joy to a world that seems extremely dark and troubled.

View Joesphine’s art on her profile page.

Meet Kristen Mason-Elliot

Meet Kristen Mason-Elliot, IAVA’s newest member. We asked Kristen a few getting to know you questions.

What is your earliest memory of an interaction with art?

My earliest memories of art revolve around arts and craft. I remember raiding the arts and craft cupboard and creating a massive mess in the kitchen with my siblings. One of my other favourite things to do was to build sculptures out of playdough and houses out of toothpicks. Aside from arts and crafts, my all-time favourite thing was to create pencil drawings of our home growing up.

 How would you describe your art practice?

My art practice primarily revolves around experimenting with monotypes and monoprints. Majority of my artworks involve landscapes and local scenes, in particular places of sentimental value. I get my inspiration from observing and immersing myself in an environment, I then incorporate this personal experience into my artwork. I enjoy working in a monochromatic colour palette as it allows me to focus on the highlights, shadows, texture and the basic elements in the image.

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

One of my recent favourite artists is a London printmaker Fiona Fouhy. The detail and complexity within her work amazes me. She creates monotypes of woodland scenes with numerous layers to create perspective. I have also drawn a lot of inspiration from Edgar Degas, a famous French printmaker whose work is incredibly emotive and gestural.

Most recent adventure or achievement?

My most recent achievement would be completing my bachelor’s degree in creative art. This allowed me to develop my art skills and helped me to establish my own unique style. I am also proudly part of a group called the Illawarra Art Collective and will be having an exhibition at the community access gallery in Wollongong Art Gallery on the 2nd of August.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

I am currently working towards the IAC exhibition in August. I also have a few commissioned works lined up that I am working on completing which is very exciting. This year I am working on being able to find the time to create new works and to continue to experiment.

View Kristen’s Artist Profile.

Meet Marg Dubowski

Meet Marg Dubowski, IAVA’s newest member. We asked Marg a few getting to know you questions.

What is your earliest memory of an interaction with art?

The memory of my maternal grandfather painting in his studio goes back to my very early childhood. He and my grandmother would also take me camping in Australia’s eastern bushlands to paint ‘en plein air’; my grandfather with his easel, pencils and paintbox, and she with her watercolours for hours at a time.

I also remember my mother painting watercolour flowers and birds, and my father painting landscapes in oils when we lived on Lord Howe Island for a time. In that beautiful childhood environment, my own love of drawing plants and shells began too. 

How would you describe your art practice? 

Strongly influenced by my grandfather and father’s example, detailed graphite drawing has long been my first love and underpinned my art practices. It led to me doing botanical drawings for the text ‘Native Trees of the Central Illawarra’ in 1985.

I then developed an interest in painting Australian flora though oils and acrylics on papers, linen and board - moving away from the detailed monotone nature of my earlier work.

Most recently, I’ve adopted a much looser and bolder approach to my art making - exploring a range of new subjects through new colour palettes and an increasing level of abstraction.

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork? What is it that makes them your favourite?

My favourite artists are the Sydney Moderns; namely Roy de Maistre (his ‘Rhythmic Composition in yellow green minor’ 1919), Grace Cossington Smith (‘Trees’ 1926), Margaret Preston (‘Banksia Cobs’ 1933) and Roland Wakelin (‘Botanical Gardens, Sydney’ 1926). Studying their ground-breaking ideas around colour harmony, and the movement and light within their works has been a constant source of inspiration as I develop my own understandings of these elements. 

Most recent adventure or achievement?

Exhibiting my paintings publicly for the first time has been a big step this past year but I am enjoying the adventure.

My most recent achievement was being granted a scholarship to study with Fiona Hall in August this year. Seeing her beautiful and fascinating work ‘Paradisus Terestrus’ 1989 is still one of my most memorable exhibition experiences.

Any current goals you’re working towards?

Growing my beginner classes for older women is my current goal.

It is a delight and a privilege to be able to usher others into the wonderful world of creative expression and practice later in life.

View Marg’s Artist Profile.

Marg Dubowski in her Studio.

Meet Wendy Fogarty

Meet Wendy Fogarty, IAVA’s newest member. We asked Wendy a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My early experience with art was with my parents who had an artist knock on their door oneday asking for an appointment to showcase his art.  My parents ended up saying yes, as they had a wall space empty in the living room that needed something special.  When the artist came back one evening shortly after with all his art on display in our living room, I was invited and encouraged to actively be involved in the selection process which I found fun and interesting.  After much deliberation and shortlisting, we chose an oil mix media landscape image of trees in a lush forest with a waterfall that is still to this day on my parents living room wall and in the same place as we first hung it on that night we purchased it.   I remember being impressed with the range of his artwork (which were mostly semi abstract landscapes), how it could be styled within the home and how he talked about his art with such passion and detail.

My first interaction with creating art was during my primary school years where during school holidays and winter months I would occupy myself exploring all sorts of art and craft projects including sewing, knitting and crochet.   My parents had a library of books and somewhere on art and craft so I would actively experiment and teach myself.   I was always making a mess and creating something new.

My interest in art grew deeper though in my high school years where I had the opportunity to study art as my main elective for a number of years.   While I was interested in learning about art history and exploring lots of different art techniques and materials, it was drawing, painting and photography that appealed and stuck with me the most.  In fact I often reflect upon creating my first large abstract painting as a major works and how far I've progressed since then on my artistic journey.

 How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)

I'm an abstract artist with a strong environmental statement.  I'm influenced by nature (colour, tone, texture, depth and light) and its interaction with seasonal change, weather conditions and structure.

With a curious and adventurous mind, I enjoy foraging and gathering inspiration from nature which could be sketches, photographs or samples collected.  I take my foraging back to my art studio and collate and develop my production plans. 

My art is produced through collections in various mediums such as oil mixed media paintings, Photographic limited edition archival quality giclee prints, collages and textiles.  I create and deliver my art with broader design and styling in mind.

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them  your favourite?

My favourite famous abstract expressionist artist is Jackson Pollock who is known for Action Painting, a style that emphasizes the process of making art often through a variety of techniques that include dripping, dabbing, smearing and evening flinging paint onto the surface of a canvas directed by the artist's sense of control interacting with change or random occurrences.  It’s about direct, instinctual, and highly dynamic kind of art that involves the spontaneous application of vigorous, sweeping brushstrokes and the chance effects of dripping and spilling paint onto the canvas.

I particularly like his artwork 'Convergence" (1952) as it’s a brilliant textured abstraction featuring a wide array of contrasting bright and dark colours intertwined with intricate shapes, creating a captivating and mysterious visual experience.   His art is interesting, intriguing and mesmerising, it can be individually interpreted and turned around to be displayed in any format and across many types of mediums.

Jackson Pollock's art inspires me to be creative in how I approach my art, push boundaries and not worry so much about structure and conformity while focusing more on my own creative self-expression without worrying so much about what others think as art appeal is something that is very individual for everyone.

Actually, I'm interested in anything and everything abstract so there are many great artists in the abstract and visual arts space that I follow who constantly inspire and motivate me.  With an eye for colour, texture and light coupled with a curious mind I'm constantly searching, experimenting and learning as an artist.   The more I learn the more I love being creative and developing my own unique stye within the abstract category of art.

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

In February 2023 I did my First Solo exhibition over 3 days with a series of artist talks as closure on completing my first collection that involved a body of work I undertook over 5 years.  I also started participating in 'artist markets' as a stall holder.  These were both goals and brave next steps to take as an emerging artist as you're really putting yourself out there as an artist physically in front of your own art and talking to people who tell you what they like about your art and style.  It was a great rewarding milestone achievement to push through.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

I'm currently working on releasing my second collection of works titled the 'Fluidity Collection' that focuses on abstract distorted water reflections.  It's not as big as the first collection so I'm hoping to have the collection fully released by the end of the year and then look to hold my second solo exhibition in 2025.  After that I'll be moving onto developing and releasing my third collection which is already in the very early stages of development. 

I'm also hoping to secure an artist residence opportunity to help me focus on producing a sub body of work within my current collection I'm working on that leads onto exhibition opportunities.  I'm interested in presenting my work across a broader range of mediums so it's something I would like the focused time and space to work on.

In addition, I'm also interested in getting a website up and running to showcase my art, enter and win some awards and gain my exposure through more online and gallery exhibitions opportunities with like minded artists.

View Wendy’s Artist Profile.

Wendy Fogarty in her Studio.

Meet Paola Birac

Meet Paola Birac, IAVA’s newest member. We asked Paola a few getting to know you questions.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My earliest memory of any art making was at school, where it immediately became the subject I looked forward to the most. Working with paint or any creative medium was something I was drawn to and loved.

How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)

Basically, I like to play with colour and form, creating artworks in an abstract style. I work intuitively allowing the marks to determine the direction of the artwork. I am constantly moving in and out of chaos, eliminating and rebuilding seeking a resolution. The endless possibilities and the challenges that are presented by this intuitive and instinctive approach, and the ‘unknowing’ of what will ensue provides enormous satisfaction.

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

There are many artists on my favourite’s list among them are the old masters like Van Gogh, Matisse, and the Fauvist movement, for their love and liberation of colour as well as Mondrian for being one of the great pioneers of the abstraction.

Elisabeth Cummings latest exhibition aptly named ‘Radiance’ was joy on canvas, and one I was looking forward to seeing.  Aptly named “Radiance” it was joy on canvas, the interplay with abstraction, the light, the feelings evoked… loved every piece.

Most recent adventure or achievement?

My most recent achievement was coming second in this year’s Bryan& Robyn Carr Art Prize. It was wonderful recognition particularly amongst such strong entries.

Any current goals you’re working towards?

To keep producing art, and to keep growing as an artist and to be represented in more exhibitions. I am also keen to play with papier-mâché and weaving to create some small-scale objects.

View Paola’s Artist Profile.

Meet Lynne Johns

Meet IAVA’s newest member Lynne Johns. We asked Lynne a few questions about her art practice.

Lynne with her art.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My grandmother, Foddy Woolley was very creative. She had original large artworks hanging in the lounge room which she had painted using oils on both wood and canvas. One of the images she painted and which fascinated me shows a field bordering the edge the cliff edge overlooking the sea. On the right there is a winding path that leads the eye to a thatched cottage. A young child stands in the field handing her mother a red flower. The mother’s apron already holds many picked red flowers and her attention is not on the child but on the horizon gazing out like Penelope, maybe waiting for someone to return. It fascinated me and I often gazed at it making up stories. Foddy also had a massive loom in her backroom where she made different fabrics for clothing, bed and household linen. Whenever I visited I was allowed to rummage through her drawings but I had strict instruction never to touch her loom. At home and school we were always colouring-in so I never really knew a time without art materials within reach.

 How would you describe your art practice?

I have always considered myself a painter & printmaker but recently I have been playing around with sculpture, mainly relief work, using wood or strong cardboard. I paint on the surface and draw into it with whatever is at hand. I am really enjoying the divisions the shapes create. Each division becomes a story or painting within itself and the challenge is to make them all work together.

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

Favourite artists, I have lots; Chagall for one. I loved his ‘floating people’, they always looked so happy; another is Matisse and his ability to communicate the essence of his subjects through simple brushstrokes and colour.  Max Beckman’s works always knock me off my feet because of their emotional intensity. John Percival is a particular favourite. His lyrically painted lines give me such joy as do his Australian subjects. Joy Hester has been a role model. In a patriarchal environment, she was true to her medium of choice (ink) when it was considered a lesser form of art. I was in awe of her strength as a free spirit who bleached her hair and dared to wear bright red lipstick. She didn’t worry how others perceived her. Two other role model/artists are Barbara Hepworth, a sculptor who produced exciting large abstract forms and Kathie Kollwitz for her drawings and prints of working class people, two successful women ‘doing a balancing act’ as mother and artist. I have many favourite paintings but one that really stands out for me is Brett Whiteley’s ‘Big Orange (Sunset)’. The saturated colour seduces me and the composition keeps my eye within the painting not allowing me to escape.

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

In 2022 I submitted for the first time an artwork into the Thirroul Art Festival and was awarded 2nd place. It was such a wonderful surprise. In that year I also received a 2nd place prize for the Woollahra 9x5 Landscape Prize. An outsider’s appreciation of a finished work sustains the creative soul.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

My current goals are to keep producing works that communicate and are resolved.

View Lynne’s Profile

Meet Kathy Karas

Meet one of IAVA’s new members Kathy Karas. We asked Kathy a few questions about her art practice.

Kathy with her art.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

About the age of four I drew stick figures on the first pages of my Blinky Bill book. I still have that book and it is one of my prized possessions. 

On leaving school I joined my family’s decorating firm. There I trained as a colour consultant and this became a good grounding for my future art practice.

 How would you describe your art practice? (

I paint in watercolour, pen and wash, acrylics and oils and enjoy sketch booking when travelling. My work is impressionistic and contemporary. I enjoy painting in the rainforest, by the ocean or in my studio. I also enjoy painting portraits and have completed many portrait commissions. 

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

Arthur Streeton’s landscapes and conservation work; Margaret Olley for her amazing life as an artist and her fostering of young artists. John Olsen for his abstract work; Sydney artist Julz Beresford for her lusciously textured landscapes; Vincent Fantauzzo’s hyper-realism.

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

Finalist in this year’s Doyles Art Award; work exhibited at Fabriano in Aquarello and Urbino in Aquarello for the second year. I have also had work in the international watercolour exhibition in Bulgaria.

A joint exhibition with my dad Jewel of the Illawarra was an exhibition of paintings and wood block prints on the history of boating on Lake Illawarra. This exhibition was shown at Shellharbour City Civic Centre.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

Currently I’m honing my skills in watercolour. I look forward to taking my group to Greece this September for an art inspired tour. Art travel is a huge part of what I do and I have plans for future travel within Australia and overseas. 

View Kathy’s Profile

Meet Gail Etheredge

 Meet one of IAVA’s new members Gail Etheredge. We asked Gail a few questions about her art practice.

Gail in her art studio.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My earliest memory was painting in high school and being told by art teacher to give it up as I couldn’t paint. I then did not go near anything artistic until many years later when my daughter and I joined a ceramic class and I enjoyed hand painting ceramics not long after joined my first art class.

 How would you describe your art practice?

I am an intuitive artist when painting abstracts going with feeling and imagination to create works. As well I create landscapes from photographs from my travels or out and about locally. I like to paint loosely with lots of mark making and texture, I also enjoy using collage at times 

 Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them  your favourite?

I love work by Elizabeth Cummings and Luke Sciberras, the way they describe our landscape and their use of colour is inspiring. I am also enjoying the work of Pauline Jans and Joan Fullerton they use a lot of layers and interesting details in their work. I admire English artist Mike Bernard for his collage works of his local area.

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

Travelling to Central Australia with 3 other artists in 2022 and painting that different environment. My most recent achievement was finalist in Kangaroo Valley Art Prize for an abstract in 2020.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

my current goals have been recently to do small works on paper then use them to work larger works on canvas that way I am able to explore and experiment with different techniques. Also I am pushing myself to use a journal more often with quick sketches most days.

View Gail’s profile.

Meet David Hull

 Meet one of IAVA’s new members David Hull. We asked David a few questions about his art practice.

David Hull

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My earliest memory was of the Mertz barn wall exhibited at the University of Newcastle which my father took me to see. This experience was profound and it was this encounter with the work of Kurt Schwitters alongside the works of the American Abstract Painters like Robert Motherwell and the west coast painters Clifford Still and the Spanish Surrealists like Miro who have stayed with me longest.

I confronted the New York painters whilst playing hooky from school with my friend Robin.  

 How would you describe your art practice?

 My art practice is eclectic and ranges across many media.  Perhaps the gentlest processes such as silence; the experience of being totally absorbed in a drawing or dealing with the simplest of media captures my imagination above the complexities of contemporary media.

   Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

Van Gogh. He's a true stand out.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

I’m  working at the moment on a series of work relating to the fragmentation. of memory.

View David’s Profile.

Meet Karen Heffernan

 Meet new IAVA’s latest member Karen Heffernan. We asked Karen a few questions about her art practice.

Karen Heffernan in her studio.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

From a very young age I was obsessed with copying cartoons and entering the Sun Herald art colouring competitions. (Yes I have won these! ) I kept many scrapbooks of my work for years, however, in a mad cull they no longer exist.

My passion was using colouring pencils, “COLLEEN” which my mother purchased from Coles supermarket!

 How would you describe your art practice?

I have always adored drawing and painting. My drawing now is a means but the painting is the practice that is the end product. I am drawn to the liquidity of painting and enjoy exploring a variety of surfaces from wooden to the traditional canvas. My current practice is quite traditional. I explore my world through the camera lens, looking forward and up. My paintings are heavily influenced by the imagery captured and in particular, time of day and light. I prefer using acrylics and experiment with brushes, sometimes knives, and mediums to capture the effect I am aiming for. I have explored text and environmental concerns in large canvases, but now I lean towards a more intimate scaled surface with detailed forms, often quite historical in effect, in expansive environments. Beauty through my eyes is my goal.

Old masters factor heavily in my influences, also a reflection of my teaching which over the years included an overview of world art history and a knowing of what, where, when and how each influenced the latter. Current influences include Henson, Hearman, Howe, Boulter, Guppy and Min Woo Bang.. it is an endless list!

 Do you have a favourite artist or artwork? 

 I recall one of my earliest “OMG” moments when Rembrandt came to the ANG and my family did a road trip. Standing in front of a Rembrandt painting, “Portrait as an Old Man” and admiring his use of light and dark with such an economy of brush strokes …. just amazing. I will always be drawn to the deepest of dark tones, as the mystery and the melancholy in the composition spoke to me. I purchased the poster and kept this in my classroom for years and years!

 Most recent adventure or achievement?

Since retirement, and it is almost 2 years since I finished teaching, my life has been an artistic adventure. I am now focusing on my art practice. I am engaging with the local art community,  finding like minded fellow artists, looking, listening and experiencing moments of wonderment and challenge. My first art exhibition in over 30 years was an achievement last September. I held this at Red Point, Port Kembla. It was a moment of exposure and pleasure, and consolidated my desire to keep seeking the concept with an understanding of enhanced material practice.

 Any current goals you’re working towards?

Current goals are to exhibit and practice my craft. I have another significant exhibition in June, additionally, I look to being involved in group exhibitions when options arise. I want to see art. I seek out galleries that inspire me and visit them. Locally, nationally, and next year internationally….to look is to see and hence be inspired which impacts upon my craft.

View Karen’s Art Profile.

Meet Saxon Reynolds

 Meet new IAVA’s newest member Saxon Reynolds. We asked Saxon a few questions about his art practice.

Saxon Reynolds in his studio.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

Some of my earliest memories of interacting with art are with the large number of antique items, collections and old western paintings at my grandparents’ house growing up. Rooms filled, every inch of the walls, floor and even the roof in certain areas covered in the most fascinating items, I especially remember a painting of a runaway stagecoach with 4 horse’s charging away from an approaching storm through Monument Valley. Every Sunday lunch and afternoon was a wondrous exploration of these rooms and a huge dusty 6 car garage and loft constantly discovering and stumbling across old tools and machinery, books, drawings, maps, just everything… it was amazing.

Also, I have always drawn and sketched but my first successful interaction with art was in Years 1 and 2 where I would draw monsters, vehicles, and stories for other students … even making a profit at times.

The following year I won my first art competition for an assemblage sculpture created from found objects gathered from my family’s garage. After this I was truly hooked!

How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)

I am an illustrator, sculptor, and assemblage artist. I sketch and draw constantly filling journals with ideas, some come to be realised others are put on the back burner for another time. I am heavily inspired by the Cubists and abstract art with aspects of Steampunk also seen regularly in my works and I am currently working and carving a lot more with timber. Growing up through the 80s and 90s I was also influenced by the popular culture, cartoons, comics, and films from this era. My works draw from all these areas. My practice is often chaotic with numerous things happening simultaneously as I jump from one thing to another. Woodwork, metalwork, painting, collage, textiles… anything goes if it works for the sculpture getting where I need it to go. I often think of it like assembling a 3D jigsaw puzzle without any instructions or reference.

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them your favourite?

Such a hard question to answer as it constantly changes and new artists are added all the time, but Jim Henson, Brian Froud and Graeme Base have been a huge influence during my childhood and made me want to create art. Their playfulness, heavily detailed illustrations and use of colour and characters are amazing. Once I was in high school the introduction to Brett Whiteley’s use of line has always stuck with me in both my drawing and sculptures. Of course, loving the Cubists Picasso, Braque, and Juan Gris’ abstract and Cubist works to this day resonate in my practice and style, from materials to composition and use of colour and textures. Ron Pippin’s dark assemblages also play a huge roll in allowing me to push the limits of what can be used in contemporary sculptures and are just so original and inspiring. But really it is a list that changes all the time especially depending on the works and series I create or happen to be working on at any given time.

Most recent adventure or achievement or do you have any current goals you’re working towards?

To be honest adventures have been very minimal over the last 3 years since just before Covid. Whereas I use to travel regularly overseas every other year ending with a trip to Japan in 2018. Since then, I have thrown myself into making my artworks and setting up my home studio almost to the exclusion of everything else although I am getting the travel bug buzzing around me much louder recently. What I am currently working towards is gallery representation, and a 2nd solo exhibition. My first solo show ‘Wunderkammer’ in 2021 was well received and showcased 88 works completed over almost a decade. I am currently working on the last few works of a new series which when ready will make up this new exhibition. I have also been accepted into the upcoming The Other Art Fair in Sydney this May which I am excited about being a part of and looking forward too.

View Saxon’s Art Profile.

Meet Graham Sinclair

Meet new IAVA member Graham Sinclair. We asked Graham a few questions about his art practice.

What was your earliest memory of an interaction with Art?

My earliest exposure to art was through reading comics as a 6 or 7 year old, which sparked my interest in drawing. When I reached high school, an art teacher saw some of my drawings and encouraged me to study art as an elective for my School Certificate. It took a few goes over many years to commit to practising art, but my interest took off from those early classes at school.

How would you describe your art practice? (Media; influences, approach?)

I still like to experiment a bit with themes and styles within my art practice, although I have most success with landscapes and abstract small sculpture. I do start a lot of my paintings as sketches based on photos I’ve taken of the environment, although recently I’ve been incorporated some plein air practice (weather permitting!). My abstract sculptures admittedly develop as random ideas as I work with repurposed wood and steel.

Do you have a favourite artist and/or artwork?  What is it that makes them  your favourite?

My favourite artists are currently Idris Murphy and Luke Sciberras, and my favourite sculptors are Alberto Giacometti and Harrie Fasher. I find all their work visually appealing.  

Most recent adventure or achievement?

2022 has been very rewarding for my art practice. I was named a finalist in the North Sydney Art Prize, and won second prize in the Small Abstract Sculpture class at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. I also won first prize in the Thirroul Seaside and Arts Festival.

Any current goals you’re working towards?

I am currently planning and preparing works for my first solo exhibition at the Bowral District Art Gallery in May 2023, which is both daunting and very exciting. Outside of art, I’m working towards getting physically fit and perhaps seeing a bit of Australia.

See Graham’s profile.