I was born in Turkey in 1989. I have been living in Australia for 15 years. I am a artist whose work breathes life into imagination. Through a palette of colours and strokes, I weave stories on watercolour paper, inviting you to explore emotions, dreams and the beauty that resides within the intersection of reality and fantasy.

Education

2006 – 2010        Bachelor of Fine Art, Ondokuz Mayis University, Turkey

2013                     Brisbane Institute of Art, Expression Watercolour

Kate Hessling

As a self-taught artist I enjoy challenging myself and experimenting with different ideas and subject matters.  These can range from expressionist to impressionist, to just strange abstract ideas and concepts that pop into my head.

My art is original and hand-painted using a variety of tools such as brushes, scrapers, palette knives, fingers and sponges etc. So expect to see brush, texture and tool marks.  If you are very lucky you might find a rare, stray brush hair embedded in the paint.

My influences are mostly from the stunning abstract and expressionist work of the mid-20th century which have such a feeling of raw intensity.  However, I also love abstracted and moody impressionist landscapes and see no conflict between such diverse styles.

I grew up in a creative family around the visual and written arts and experimented with a range of creative activities including sculpting, clay hand-building, and glass fusing before moving into watercolour, and now acrylic painting.  I hope you enjoy my art because I really enjoy making it.

Karen Dyer

Painting solely in oil and with a primary focus on still life, Karen works to
imbue her chosen subjects with a ‘soul’ or spiritual energy despite being
considered inanimate objects. Inspiration is drawn from a strong interest in
the spiritual aspect of Animism and by recent visits to Asia which provided
a glimpse into the world of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs.
Portraiture is also an area which interests Karen. When creating a work, an
element of distortion is employed (to varying degrees of the surreal) to
accentuate the emotion/spirit emanating from sitter and perceived by the
artist.
Karen lives and works in the vibrant inner city suburb of West End,
Queensland.

Recognition and Recent Exhibitions
2022 – The Percival’s Portrait Prize – finalist
2022 – The Lethbridge Landscape Prize – salon de refuses
2022 – Blue Thumb Portrait Prize – shortlisted
2023 – Revival Art and Design Emerging Artist Prize – Winner of Sponsor’s
Prize
2023 – ArtEdit Magazine – Spring Edition – ‘One to Watch’
2023- Neu Neu Exhibition – Red Hill Art Gallery joint Exhibition
2023 -Brisbane Portrait Prize – finalist
2023 – Lethbridge Galley – Small Works 2000 joint Exhibition
2023 – Revival Art and Design – Small Works joint Exhibition
2023 – Aspire Gallery – multiple joint Exhibitions

Susan began painting after finding some paints her children had left out. She attended classes, collected enough art reference books and magazines to fill a library, concentrated on acrylics, then exhibited her work with her first solo exhibition in 2004. It was a success! One visitor Philippa Stewart-Hall, a member of the Australian Society of Miniature Art (NSW), was so impressed by some of Susan’s smaller works that she suggested Susan apply for membership of the society. This she subsequently did, and was pleased when accepted following her first application.

Having become a member of ASMA, Susan felt she should learn more about miniatures and their history, and how she could further her development in the particular field, and subsequently enrolled in Miniature classes with graphic designer and miniaturist, Tina Spira.

Susan has attended classes and workshops with Paul Miller, Patrick Carroll, Madeleine Syzmanski, and recently Terry Jarvis. She now works in a variety of media including graphite, charcoal, watercolour, collage and of course acrylics. She still paints large pictures too! Susan collects unusual items for reference such as dried seedpods, stones, and used her photographs as aide-memoires.

Susan relocated to Brisbane in 2022. Sadly her husband and mentor died early 2023. She continues to spend much time gardening, and slowly returning to her painting.

Awards and Achievements:

• First Prize and Award of Excellence – 2022 Sydney Royal Easter Show for Miniatures
• Highly Commended – 2023 Australian Society of Miniature Art Tasmania National Awards
• ASMA Victoria “Little Treasures” exhibition
• Highly Commended – Rotary Club of Singleton, NSW for the artwork The Golden Hind
• Commended – Art on show Awards, Mackay for the artwork Just Before Dusk
• Highly Commended – The Ekka Arts and Crafts for artwork Banksias in the Bush

For more of Susan’s artwork you can visit her website

Helen says on her own practice, “I consider myself a Modern/Contemporary artist, and have been so since I was about 12 years old. I have had lessons in contemporary painting, and life drawing, and have exhibited six times in Brisbane since May 2010; mostly with other artists, but once solo. I have also designed and painted two murals for Qld Fire Service, two Brisbane cafes, and I have both painted, drawn, designed, and continue to complete digital artwork for a commercial Brisbane client.

I also write and self publish children’s stories illustrating them digitally, and with pen and watercolour drawings.

A Grandmother, my family/art life is balanced on a “what’s happening today” basis. I was born in New Zealand and have lived in Brisbane for 33 years.”

Charlotte is a full time 2D abstract mixed media artist from the Sunshine Coast.

With an enduring curiosity for shape and colour, Charlotte works with both printmaking and paint as she creates abstractions of experiences in the landscape and personal journeys.

Global wanderings have infused her visual aesthetic with a love of rich colours; texture and ornament; structures and forms; and the contrast between natural and constructed environments, which she weaves into her work through collage.

Diversity of human experience and the reality of unique personal narratives have always held a particular resonance for her and these thoughts are never far from her mind as she paints.

Charlotte’s work is held in public and private collections both in Australia and overseas and her work has been recognised through inclusions in art prize finalist exhibitions, locally and internationally.

She is a member of the annual Noosa Open Studios Art Trail and participates in group shows regularly throughout the year.

You can find out more about Charlotte’s work via her website at www.charlottewensley.com.au

Helen is a Brisbane based watercolour artist concentrating on landscape and portraiture. For her, art is neither profession nor a hobby; rather simply what she must do and has done since early childhood.

Helen’s begins most of her landscapes in the field sketching and painting from life. She seeks to immerse herself in the experience of a place, using the watercolour medium to convey the ephemera of shifting light, weather and mood of the scene before her. Helen feels that the special transparency and sometimes serendipitous flow of watercolour creates a spontaneity that says it all.  COVID lockdowns did not disrupt this work but did concentrate her efforts. At her apartment windows Helen began a series of works that she calls At my window, or jokingly en plein lounge. One of her Brisbane river lockdown works, Evening Splendour, was a finalist in the 2022 Clayton Utz Art Award.

Occasionally Helen is inspired to create totally imaginary scenes or abstract work, with ideas coming from the environments and experiences of her travels or her night photography.

Recent Awards and recognition

2022      Finalist                 Clayton Utz Art Award

2018       Finalist                 Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Award

2018      Finalist             9×5 Landscape Award, Woollahra

2017      Finalist                 9×5 Landscape Award, Woollahra

2016      Awarded            Glencore Animal Portrait Prize

Exhibitions

Solo and duet

2019 SOLO Favourites en plein air at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery

2017 Duet exhibition Bell’ Italia, with Gai Copeman at Mo’s Art Gallery

Group

Group finalist exhibitions

Numerous group exhibitions with

• Townsville Watercolour Group
• Townsville Art Society
• Urban Sketchers Townsville
• Watercolour Society of Queensland

For more information, please follow the links below:

https://instagram.com/helen_grace_art?igshid=Mzc0YWU1OWY=

https://www.facebook.com/HelenGraceArt/

I am a Brisbane based emerging artist having painted as a hobby from a young age. Pursuing a creative career, my background is in Interior Design (Bach App. Sc. Built Environment QUT 1991). This has no doubt influenced the way I see and interpret subjects in art.

Returning to painting after health issues, art has now become my main vocation and passion. I work primarily in Oils and occasionally in acrylics/mixed media. Colour and composition are vital to my paintings that aim to capture subjects I am drawn to in a vivid and striking style. While I enjoy tackling a variety of topics including portraiture and floral, landscapes and architecture feature heavily in my portfolio. I am inspired by Travel and in recent years my focus has turned to our unique Australian landscape; in particular our stunning beaches, waterways and rocks.

I hope that through my artwork, I can share the joy I feel in capturing these beautiful environments with others.