ARTIST BIO

My muse is the beauty of our natural surroundings and its living inhabitants - be that animals, flora or the human form.  My work strives to create a connectedness with our natural environment for the viewer when they are not in a natural environment. My pieces intend to calm, inspire and uplift the onlooker whether they are a child or an adult.

I am a drawer who primarily uses coloured pencils to create my art but I enjoy experimenting with other mediums like water colour and acrylic paints, charcoal and grey lead pencil.  Regardless of the subject matter, my drawings are generally very detailed and pencil is layered to create depth of colour and texture.  The multiple layers of pencil give the art a very tactile nature that draws the observer in and aims to incite a physical response in the viewer, sensing the tactile quality of the animal or plant. 

The NATIVES collection I released last year (and will be adding a number of pieces to this year) is a more expressive and interpretive concept for me.  The combined use of saturated colour (Inktense pencils), washed water colour paint and traditional hard lead pencils creates a harmony between soft beauty and the stark texture and boldness of some of our natural flora. The process behind each piece was very fluid and often where I started conceptually was different to where I ended up.  I love that each flower drawing is different in feel and technique as it creates a personality unique to that species but all the pieces work together when displayed.  

I love the endless possibilities with art and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful and meaningful to others.  Whether we are creative or not, art has the ability to transform not only the spaces we inhabit but also our minds and our hearts.

I founded my print business State of Eden in April 2017.   I create high quality fine art prints from my original works.  Reproductions of artworks are printed on 100% archival heavyweight cotton paper using UV resistant, high definition pigment inks enabling detail, colour and texture exactly as the original work. State of Eden was established on the belief that art is food for the soul and should be attainable by all and necessary in creating happy, harmonious spaces.  

I am a Resident Artist at Gasworks Arts Park in the Showcase Studio (located across from the cafe).

Website:  www.stateofeden.com.au

Studio: Gasworks Arts Park, Showcase Studio, 21 Graham Street, Albert Park.

Instagram:  www.instagram.com/stateofedensoe

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/StateofEdenSoE

Markets (selection only)

• Heide Makers Market (Heide Museum of Modern Art)
• Rose Street Artist Market (Fitzroy)
• Emu Plains Market (Balnarring)
• Boho Luxe Market (Federation Square, Royal Exhibition Building)
• Red Hill Market (Red Hill)

Exhibitions

July 2019 - Adaptation, Group Exhibition - Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery