Autumn Studio News:
‘BLOSSOMS & ORANGES’ Exhibition;
‘KOOKABURRAS & KINGFISHERS’ Impasto Painting Workshop;
‘CANVAS & CLAY’ Joint Exhibition;
The arrival of Zéphyrine Valentina.
Detail: ‘Hibiscus and Oranges’, Acrylic on Canvas, 91cm x 76cm
Welcome to my Autumn Studio News!
Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been busy in my studio creating work for my first exhibition for 2023 – ‘BLOSSOMS & ORANGES’ at Gloucester Gallery from 25 May to June 18.
While I devised the exhibition’s theme nearly 2 years ago, my inspiration has come more recently after visiting Summer exhibitions by Cressida Campbell and Criss Canning. I am particularly inspired by their composition creation and painting techniques. Both female artists are renowned for their detailed and touching still-life works. They each speak about meticulously drawing from life, working with a small brush and defining much of their detail with an outline and then building up each section.
The wonderful success of their imagery interests me enormously, because the process and techniques they describe conflicts with much of what is commonly taught in painting… that is, to begin by working with a large brush, painting ‘broad strokes’ across the canvas and then refining the detail using smaller brushes and strokes towards the final stage of the painting.
Campbell works mostly in watercolours on board and Canning - oils on board. Below are details of some of my works on board, exploring their techniques and creating my own version.
Campbell and Canning also work with still life set-ups in their studio and compose their images with special objects, flora, draped textiles and ceramics creating scenes that are calming and aspirational.
For the 24 works in my exhibition, I have gathered my own treasured pieces, scavenged Summer’s best local flora and shopped for the perfect oranges and lemons (marvellous marmalade was made afterwards), and set up my own still-life compositions, utilising movement, unity, rhythm and focal point/s, illuminated by the late morning’s light and shadows over each tableau.
Setting up still-life images in my Marrickville studio
It has been a wonderfully rich learning, and I hope that there’s a tiny touch of Campbell and Canning’s style woven into my own style for ‘BLOSSOMS & ORANGES’. If you do get to visit my May exhibition in Gloucester, I’d really love to hear what you think – please drop me a line here.
‘BLOSSOMS & ORANGES’
Gloucester Gallery
25 Denison St
Gloucester NSW 2422
Thu 25 May - Sun 18 Jun 2023
Thursday to Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 1pm
Entry is free!
Detail of ‘Oranges and Posey Bowl’ acrylic on board, 61 x 61cm, framed in American ash
‘KOOKABURRAS & KINGFISHERS’: My next Impasto Painting Workshop at Green Door Studios
Poster image for Green Door Studios, April Workshop
I’m squeezing in an Impasto Painting Workshop at Green Door Studios on Sunday 23 April. GDS has just built an amazing new space and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to get creative in their new digs.
Even though my time is ‘exhibition tight’ at the moment, I have planned a super fun workshop painting Australian birds with impasto. The full day experience is designed for beginners to intermediate, you’ll create your own take home artwork and start to master impasto using both brushes and palette knives.
All the materials are supplied, so just bring your paint clothes and creative energy – easy!!! To book your spot, click here.
‘CANVAS & CLAY’: Coming in October
Ceramics by Denise McDonald for ‘Shared Table’ group exhibition at Crackpot Studios and Gallery, Freshwater NSW - Source
I’ve teamed up with the very talented ceramicist Denise McDonald to create ‘CANVAS & CLAY’: Paintings & Ceramics by Julie Lynch and Denise McDonald for the Southern Highlands Artisans Collective (SHAC) from the 7th of October.
I adore Denise’s work, so I was super thrilled when she accepted my invitation to exhibit together. The exhibition is based on the idea of creating still-life paintings featuring her glorious handmade vases and homewares.
Visitors will be able to view and experience Denise’s ceramics in two and three-dimensions, and I’ll get to compose each image incorporating Australian natives and paint them - we all win! More details to come in my Winter Studio News.
Zéphyrine Valentina: is here!
Whenever I get time to pause, as I will this weekend, I am reminded of how lucky I am. Just two weeks ago my fourth grandchild was born - she is healthy and beautiful. Meet Zéphyrine Valentina, baby sister to Clémentine and daughter of Anastasia and Anh-Toàn, and our darling precious grand daughter. We couldn’t be more fortunate. I hope something wonderful is happening in your life also.
Happy Egg Hunting! Wishing you an Autumn full of inspiration, creativity, and perhaps a gift that is handmade!
Julie x