Emma Kelly

The painting titled 'Australian Outback' also gives us another interpretation of our unique landscape.  This oil painting is part of a time series by Barbara Thorne.  In 1981 she painted a detailed farm house in rural Australia and in 1991 she painted the same house again.  Both are breathtaking and I'm lucky to have them in my collection.  

Overall this painting gives the viewer an emphasis on the warmth of the Australian Landscape.  Usually artists focus on how desolate and barren our environment is - apparently beautiful - but desolate and barren nonetheless. Thorne however through the use of detail and colour communicates the warmth present in Australia.  I look at the superbly painted house in all its detail and I want to go in and have a cup of coffee or tea with its owners.  

The Australian landscape/outback is widely covered by artists.  James Gleeson/john olsen/vicki branch are just some of the artitsts who have captured the complexity of nature in australia.  When i look at artwork I always look at how the artist has communicated his/her message.  what angles did they use? how does the picture hold itself together? Morerover how did they work to create something beautiful.  

The artwork I would like to comment again on is one from my gallery collection titled 'House and Road'.  Overall it uses balance to communicate meaning.  Here, the simple yet strong house is large and slightly to the left, but aswell, the road to the right is also large and takes up one side of the painting.  

So where does the viewer look?  This is hard as the viewer is basically given no focal point.  And with no focal point they are also forced to decide how to interpret the artwork.  

Amazing isn't it? how this australian painter has achieved something I have seen no other painter achieve, being the idea that the focus of australian landcape is completely personal.  

What is it about a painting that makes you go 'yes that is priceless!'? I wonder......I did some research on this question by searching the internet.  According to Wikihow and other knowledgable websites, what makes an artwork valuable is 1) its age 2) whether there are nails or staples on the frame of the artwork 3) whether the wooden frame looks old or new - apparently the older the better.  oh and most importantly, the artists 'name' also tells us whether an artwork is valuable.  

Not one link on my internet search said that the beauty of the artwork played a role in its value - not one link!  Isn't the whole point of artwork is to enjoy its beauty - not just view it as an object with specific requirements?  This kinda made me disappointed with parts of the art world.  How is an artist encouraged to find his or her style and perspective in paintings or sculptures or photos they produce when they are being told by certain art critics that the artwork/image itself is not important.

As well people who view or buy artwork also seem to only value artwork that is popular or established, being a print of a monet or rembrant or warhol. It is sad to see so much money spent on framing a print and putting that on your wall, when original artworks by unknown artists are undoubtly better than those in national galleries.  You would think 'hey' wouldn't you want on your wall a beautiful original artwork signed by an unknown artist rather than just a print of an artwork that is 'trendy' at the moment.  

Anyway this makes my job easier because i am finding beautiful pieces of artwork that are being overlooked.  Dont get me wrong I do love some pieces in my NSW Art Gallery but those same artists also have produced some really crappy pieces of art as well.  But thats not important anymore rather the name of the artist is what sells.  I never understood the concept of an artist should 'make a name for themselves', shouldnt it be an artist should strive to produce beautiful artwork?   

well thats my rant - i hope it made you think.

The first thing I got from this painting was power.  The way it was painted and the colours used highlight the abundant power of nature.  You dont see many artists who are able to create a sense of power from a very popular subject matter.  The use of the almost emerald but eerie greens in the painting give the viewer a sense of the many layers of a flower.  When i put a vase of flowers in my room i know it completely changes the feeling, smell and perspective of the room.  Nancy Lee has communicated this  in her artwork.  You can tell if you hang it up in your house it would make you feel good and create a constant relationship with nature.    

When you see a painting of this standard you wonder why haven't I seen this work in an art gallery? And that goes with all my painting/drawings in my collection.  Is it because Nancy Lee is a woman? probably, I don't know. I did an internet search on Nancy Lee and yes, she is somewhat known the art community.  But surely this work is as good as a Monet?  

Generally I dont know the criteria you have to pass to be good enough to feature in a National Gallery in any country. I suppose the criteria would go something like this - be already an established name/ connections- ie. know someone prominent in the art community/be antique maybe - its always good to have something old (?)/be something different ie. follow a trend of the current fashionalble artists in these galleries but do it with a twist(?).  

But I haven't taken an art appreciation course so I dont really know the set criteria.   

Anyway -I've gone off topic - so i just want to say this artwork is beyond beautiful so enjoy.

House and Road is an artwork in my collection that represents the Australian Outback.   Its dark shading highlights an almost damaging environment.  I've travelled to many parts of Australia in my lifetime.  In particular I've been on a road trip to Melbourne from Sydney, I've also  travelled to Canberra from Sydney a number of times.  

I love road trips in Australia because I get to see farm houses, livestock, a vast array of massive living and dead trees as well as the dry, brown earth exclusive to this environment. Some of the farm houses and roadways I've come across on my trips have the same look that this artwork has captured, being, one where you feel like you are in the middle of nowhere but you also feel like you are somewhere very special.  

All landscapes around the world are different but in Australia it is desolate, barren but also beautiful.  Dont get me wrong I love to go down to the beach and look at the visually appealing blue water and white sand, but rural australia can be more complex, as it repels and attracts at the same time.

This artwork, I think, successfully captures the complex visual nature of rural Australia.  I hope you enjoy looking at it.        

Ive just uploaded all the artworks I've collected since March this year.  This Man at Mardi Gras artwork is a standout piece for me - i love the use of colour and the balance of the image.  I'm not sure who the artist is - i can read Claire Hu - but its framed with a glass covering so i dont want to ruin it.  However I do know she is Australian because the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is iconic in this country.  I looked for other artwork about the Mardi Gras by doing an internet search but could not find any - lots of photos but no artwork - but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place.

When I first went to the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras I was a teenager so that would be over twenty years ago.  Back then it was fairly unknown so there were no crowds.  I loved so many things about this Mardi Gras but what really grabbed me was how the gay and lesbian community were openly celebrating their identity.  Coming to terms with your own identity is hard, but it is especially hard when you dont fit the 'norm'.  This artwork is not only just so damn beautiful to look at, but it also examines the complex issue of sexual identity, especially for a male.  The fact it's drawn by a woman makes it even more compelling.

I hope to find more artwork in Australia like this.