Her strong works involve a labor intensive process -a step by step procedure including the manipulation and outlay of elements such as textiles, plants and the creation of their imprints and traces. She uses colour to bring out their texture, their richness and hidden beauty.

“I see a connection with the way we, as human beings, retain traces of events, experiences and significant objects that hold quiet meanings” says Nathalie. “The traces left are printed into our inner imagery and memory, forever altering the colors and textures of our lives”.

Nathalie has a strong artistic background with her grandfather and father both painters and sign writers. It was her father who passed on so many of the skills and techniques she uses in her art.

Nathalie is a senior support worker for Sunshine Coast Independent living Services in Nambour. She works in her private studio whenever she has the time.

“Masala” is a blend of ‘mixed spices’ representing the mixture of Indian influences.
Marianne says she feels a degree of trepidation when dipping her paintbrush into other people’s culture. “Observations by an outsider can be both trite and presumptuous and I would hate to offend”, she says.

“These paintings have been inspired by my visits to India and the deepest impression left by that country is always the huge and extreme contrasts of rich and poor.

The riches of the Raj may now be replaced by the moguls of industry and business enterprise, but the contrasting poverty becomes greater by comparison.”

Some of Marianne’s paintings explore the idealised visions of the Mogul emperors set against the harsh poverty and hunger that remains ever present in this remarkable country of social contrast.

Other influences are the richly ornate temples and artifacts, the embroideries and miniatures, the vivid colourings and the evocative shapes of traditional Indian architecture.

“Imagination, fantasy and a touch of socio-political comment are what I aim for”, adds this thoughtful painter.

Auction Item: Kym Barrett "Inner Terrain".

AN INTEGRAL PART of the annual Heart of Gold International Film Festival -Art with Heart -is set to showcase some of the region’s most accomplished and renowned artworks which have been generously donated by participating artists and creators.

To ensure the Exhibition includes something for everyone, this year Art with Heart has widened its scope to include all art forms, allowing artists to use their medium of choice to reflect Heart of Gold themes such as inspiration, creativity, hope and joy. Art with Heart 2010 will feature oil, acrylic and watercolour works on canvas, ceramic/clay sculpture, prints, a wrought-iron gate, 3-D embroidery, hand-crafted jewellery, a hand-crafted wooden seat and mixed-media creations.

Art with Heart will be considering all bids above the reserve, so be quick to avoid disappointment. Only unsold pieces will be auctioned at the Awards Party at the Gympie Civic Centre, Saturday 13 March 2010.

All Art with Heart works will be exhibited at the Gympie Civic Centre throughout the festival as a visual accompaniment to a fantastic film program.

For the catalogue, or to submit a bid, please email: info@heartofgold.com.au or phone 5483 7000.

Captain Cook Creek, Bruny Island. Watercolour.

JAMES FEARNLEY has always captured the beauty of the Sunshine Coast with a clarity and delicacy which most people immediately associate with the allure of the region. He focuses on the natural aspects of the area, on the land and sea as it is, usually omitting any man-made structures, but often including distant figures, maybe fishing or strolling.

He has an undeniable talent with watercolour. He applies layers of wash to build up the painting and this gives a very special depth and glow, which is his signature style. He recreates a scene of tranquility, but to give life and movement, a change of emphasis is achieved through his technique which means that as ambient light changes, different areas become highlighted.

Moonlight on the Paroo.

James is still fascinated by the light and open space of Australia as a whole, but his life and heart have been settled in this region for over 35 years, and his passion for the area shows in his paintings of it. He is conveying not just a view, but a feeling of being relaxed and having time to enjoy what nature has provided. Given that everyone is time-poor and more stressed these days, a few moments of contemplation of a serene James Fearnley painting can genuinely add quality to life.

During the past few years particularly, James has also travelled into the outback. The variation of colour and light inspired a series of paintings reflecting a renewed awe for the grandeur of the Australian environment.

Calla Lillies. Watercolour over Dutch gold leaf.

During March James Fearnley’s paintings will be featured at ‘Art on Cairncross’ near Maleny. The collection will be a range of places and subjects which best showcase the artist’s skills, but which will also remind us all that art can be important in our daily lives as a source of relaxation and true enjoyment.

The works will be displayed from 2 -28 March and the gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. This will be of interest not only to James’ many followers, but also to all who appreciate finely crafted watercolours and who love the landscape.

In 2007 he won the National Indigenous Employees Art Award and his winning artwork was used for multiple government publications. Jandamarra has exhibited at the National Gallery of Australia in 2007 and locally he has artwork at The Art Bank in Eumundi and on Hastings Street in Noosa Heads.

Jandamarra’s completed portrait “Working Progress” depicts Prof Dodson as a man who lives and works in the present developed world, but who hasn’t forgotten his heritage and constantly advocates for Human Rights of Indigenous Australians. This is his first tilt at the prestigious Archibald Prize.

MONTVILLE ART GALLERY’S feature artist for March is one of the gallery’s most popular - Richard Bogusz.

Born in 1947 to German / Polish parents, Richard was five, when his family moved to Australia. His career as a successful, full-time professional artist spans nearly forty years.

During the 1970s,

Richard won many prizes and major awards. In 1986, he decided it was time to escape the hectic pace of life in Melbourne’s fast lane. He moved to Saunders Beach, a tropical paradise just a few kilometers north of Townsville. In 2001, he then decided it was time to try city life again so he moved to Brisbane where he shared a studio with his son, Adam.

Following Adam’s marriage, Richard felt the time had come for his next sea change. In mid 2006, he established a new studio in a peaceful setting where his creativity could thrive.

“After many attempts to break with my familiar style, I have come to the conclusion that this is what I am and this is how I paint. I am comfortable with the result which I believe is completely original and unique. To improve the outcome is a constant challenge,” he responded.

“This year, I am further challenging myself by writing my first fictional novel, entitled ‘The Painted Crow.’ It could be several years away from publication so naturally I shall continue painting.”

“We are really looking forward to reading Richard’s first novel,” said gallery director, Joan Page. “His imaginative paintings encourage viewers to create their own stories. At the end of the day, there are as many interpretations as there are viewers so it will be fascinating to see if his pen has the same dramatic impact as his paint brushes.”

Open daily from 10am to 5pm, Montville Art Gallery is located at 138 Main Street, Montville opposite the Village Green. Commencing on Monday,1 March Richard’s paintings will be featured under “Exhibitions” on the gallery’s website at www.montvilleartgallery.com.au

Her subject is Christine Ballenger the Creative Planning Programmes manager for the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

Judith shows Christine in two poses for this large diptych – the vulnerable and the confident teacher. She has called it The Lesson and says, “I have known Christine for a long time, and she was the third artist when Rex and I had a joint exhibition in London in 1990.

However, it was her nordic features, her height and her expressive hand movements that made me choose her as my Archibald entry subject. I am pleased to say she was surprised and delighted when she saw the finished work and I was absolutely thrilled that she approved.”

Judith Laws is represented by Maleny’s Art on Cairncross.

“I am not trying to make a political comment with this work”, says Jenny. “I was interested to explore the strangeness of the two cultures observing each other. For instance, it must have been a very surreal moment when for the first time an English ship was sighted on the sky line or the Union Jack was raised on the shore, ” added Jenny. The exhibition is the result of two years of work and includes misty landscapes to soften the mood. Jenny has won many local art awards and sells most of the work she produces. The opening will be Friday evening March 26and the exhibition will run until April 9.

Jacques Fayole (centre) with the two Mont Dore exhibition artists, Anne-Laure Demene (right) and Hetty Doyle.

Anne-Laure Demene and Hetty Doyle have been invited to present an exhibition, in March this year, of their sculptures and paintings at the Mont-Dore Cultural Centre, New Caledonia. They are a part of an initiative of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council in conjunction with the Mairie du Mont Dore. The exchange has been facilitated by Jacques Fayolle from ANZ Mobile Lending /Bureau Francais to promote cultural and artistic exchanges between these two countries.

Sculptor Anne-Laure Demene, born in New-Caledonia, emigrated to Queensland more than 25 yrs ago. She has been a Cooroy resident since 2009. She has exhibited in New-Caledonia and Sth Korea. Hetty has travelled extensively in the Pacific and has lived in Noumea where she worked as a fashion designer. Hetty also studied painting while in Noumea, as well as in France. Hetty now paints and gives classes from her studio in Woombye.

Anne-Laure Demene's sculpture, "The Intellectual".

Hetty Doyle's "Catching the Light".

Cathy extracts a tile from her Raku kiln.

LOCAL CLAY ARTIST, Cathy Lawley has been busily working on a water feature in clay for the past few months, exclusively designed for a house that has been entirely built by women.

Instigated by Sam Sheppard, owner of The Buildmore Group, The Women Into Building Housing Showcase project aims to elevate awareness and acceptance of women who choose the building industry as a career of choice. It also draws attention to the importance of environmental design and building to sustainable guidelines.

The project involves a house being built by a predominantly female team on a 385sqm block of land in Investa’s Bellflower neighbourhood.

Cathy’s water feature will be mounted on the two besser block walls directly either side of the entrance to the home at Sippy Downs.

Cathy said she felt compelled to contribute to the project after hearing Sam Sheppard’s story of being a teenage runaway, and hearing of her down-toearth approach with the troubled youth she dedicates herself to.

“Together we came up with the idea of using the froggy tile as part of a water feature on two block walls outside the main entrance of the building,” Cathy said.

Cathy Lawley’s studio is tucked away on the Blackall Range, and it’s where she creates what she calls her “raw beginnings”.

Each of the 12, 5-10kg pottery plaques created by Cathy is different and unique, and she’s used the ancient raku method of firing the clay. She first rolls out large slabs of local raku clay, then selects rocks and pinecones to press into the slabs to give the effect of rock formation. They are then gently laid into a timber frame template, left to dry to leather hard, and then turned out.

Cathy uses white hand building clay to make the leaves, frogs, geckos, platypuses and fungus.

Cathy and Sam Sheppard work with clay in Cathy's North Maleny studio.

It is believed that Raku first originated in Japan more than 400 years ago.

The raku kiln is made of fibre wrapped around wire mesh and fitted with a fibre lid. This kiln is heated to 1000 degrees using a gas burner. As soon as the temperature is reached, the burner is turned to low and the pots have to be removed quickly (using tongs). They are then placed in bins of sawdust and straw and “smoked” or reduced for 10 minutes. Then, while the pots are still hot, they are removed once again with tongs and hosed off.

“As each piece is hosed they change colour revealing their own uniqueness, and that’s when the “life’ in a pot appears and when the unpredictable “magic’ of raku is experienced. Its hard work and I’m exhausted after a day of firing. My arms ache, smoke gets in my eyes and sometimes blisters form on my fingers, but with a glass of red in hand, the aches are soon forgotten as only the passion remains!” Cathy said.

Sam Sheppard is opening doors for all women looking for apprenticeships in the building industry. The all-women house will be show-cased for two years, and is set to be completed this month.

Cathy’s work can be viewed at the Women Into Building Showcase project at Investa’s Display Village Bellflower, Sippy Downs, from March. For more information go to www.womenintobuilding.com.au or visit Cathy’s site at www.friedmudd.com

Photos courtesy of Brian Rogers Photographics

Email: info@brphoto.biz  Phone: 0417 535 503