Newsletter of the Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia, Inc.

In this IssueReports Autobiography

Barbara Beasley-Southgate Seaview, Robe, South Australia

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Cathy Van Ee Pastel Painting

Demonstration in June

Je�rey Murphy Oil painting demo

of a floral still-life

Barbara Beasley Southgate

Autobiography of an Australian pastel artist

August–September 2014

12 VicPastel News August – September 2014

For many people, the simple question: ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ is something that is not answered in their youth. Some people find themselves ‘grown up’ and still searching for that elusive vocation. Amber-rose Hulme is not one of those people. At the age of four, she knew: to

be an artist and to teach art to others. Amber-rose’s love of art, and application to it, saw her do very well in primary and secondary school art programs, culminating with the VCE art prize. Primarily working in acrylics at this stage and working with contemporary themes and abstract images, Amber-rose’s early works, though an important stage of her career, are unrecognisable from her current style.

“Art has always been my escape. My mum, an amazing artist, was my first and most influential teacher. From a very young age I would disappear into my room for hours, painting, drawing or creating something.”

Finishing VCE, Amber-rose was faced with the question that many aspiring artists share: the Art business can be tough, and it is not often viewed as being ‘the sensible choice’. Art took a back seat for a while. Having completed a Science degree with a major in Genetics, it didn’t take Amber-rose long to realise that art was her true passion.

Through a series of events Amber-rose describes as being ‘serendipitous’, she was first o�ered a job at Hampton Art Supplies, which immersed her back into the art world. The opportunity then emerged to start an art studio business, Blanc Canvas Studios, to provide a range of art lessons for children and adults. Amber-rose’s ability to teach lessons to young children at a standard well beyond their age, combined with much hard work and dedication, saw Blanc Canvas Studios quickly establish its reputation in and around the Bayside area.

Among the first teachers to ply their trade at Blanc Canvas was the late Agata Lelek, the lady Amber-rose credits as being the first person to put a pastel in her hand.

“I’d never really been a fan of pastels – they smudge! But Agata, determined to see me embrace my art again, challenged me to give them a go. Agata’s teaching, coupled with that of Jennifer Whitten (a truly amazing hyper-realist artist) eliminated my initial resistance to the medium. Now having a brush in my hand feels wrong, I’m too distant from the page!

“I found myself wanting to use the pastels in a more painterly style. I wished for the images to look photorealistic, but appear rough and chunky when viewed closely. To achieve this, my fingers rarely touch the page.”

Amber-rose first exhibited her pastels at the Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2013 where she received the award for best pastel for ‘Venetian Man’. She was also awarded a highly commended, making for a very successful first show. In the following months her pieces were selected for international publications: Drawing Magazine; Shades of Grey (current issue, Venetian Man #2) and Strokes of Genius 6 (Venetian Man and Espanol Floristeria, due out October 2014).

Amber-rose’s first solo exhibition “Narratives” opens on 29 July till 10 August at the Brialyn Boathouse Gallery.

Amber’s concepts when she paints …Fascinated by the diverse surfaces of our visual world, the play of contrasting textures is her subject. Whilst drawing these images Amber-rose develops an intimate connection with the characters, creating their stories as they develop before her. As with everything in our world, these characters have individual stories that observers can only guess at, and this is exactly what the images are designed to inspire, Narratives created by the viewer. Thus the pieces are only completed when considered by the individual as our stories finish theirs.

Resting against the lintel of a doorway, my Venetian Man reads his paper, escaping momentarily from the hectic profession his chef pants hint at. Originally photographed nestled in the corner of vast arching doors, I was captivated by the intricacy of his immediate surroundings. My chef became a secondary character as I became engrossed by the texture of the door. Aggressively applying greys of increasingly lighter value I built the door, which by this stage I only saw as fragments of various size, shape and value. With this abstracted perception I similarly built my Venetian Man. Wood, flesh or fabric became irrelevant, my only task to apply the precise value in the correct place.

“Don't draw your subject, simply draw the fragments of value and your subject will appear”

(Extract from Strokes of Genius 6, due October 2014)

Pastel Techniques

Amber-rose Hulme – a rising starSolo Exhibition at Brialyn Galleries - from 29 July 2014

‘Venetian Man’Pastel on Paper – 72x32cm – Private Collection

“This piece really helped launch things for me, firstly with the Best Pastel award at Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2013, but then being published in one of my favourite books, Strokes of Genius 6. The recognition helped give me the confidence that yes, I can be a successful artist.

The juxtaposition of di�erent surfaces in this image fascinated me. The scene is to be narrated by the viewer, their emotional response formed from individual associations with the surfaces presented.

In this quintessential image of Amsterdam, does the smooth sweep of the metallic bike frame, when juxtaposed with a rough graffiti wall, invoke a feeling of calm, controlled structure? Or sterile rigidity?

Further manipulating contrasting states, the distinct colour strips introduce the question of colour

versus greyscale, and its associated emotional response. Is the sweep of black graffiti on a grey wall sinister or merely e�ortless when

contrasted with the highly saturated segments? Is the coloured graffiti dominating, chaotic and aggressive, or do the colours, inspiring texts and quirky characters render it joyful?

Each viewer will create their own story.I met Letop on a recent trip to Papua New Guinea. A beautiful, kindhearted woman, I was drawn to the depth in her eyes and intricate lines of her face. Increasing the contrast in the drawing emphasised the small, abstract shapes that when viewed as a whole resolve into a quirky smile and warm expression. The result is a highly defined and textured portrait, with each line of her face representing a story that we as the viewer can only guess at.

VicPastel News August – September 2014 13

Travel

Italy: How BeautifulJanette Garbuio

Every time I leave for my painting workshop in the Apennines mountains along the Tuscan border in Italy, I have the same excited feeling, meeting new people and renewing friendships. The June 2014 tour which has just passed, was special because Ev Hales came for the first time and I was sure everyone would enjoy her expertise and love of painting. Ev enjoyed herself because not only were we painting Plein Air with excellent locations at various villages, towns and cities but for also having a large studio in our hotel to use.

Our trips enable us to wander down an isolated country lane to find a mestra (old Shire), with ancient frescos within. The artist is admired and respected by the town’s residents and are often invited to enter their homes.

Some highlights of the 2014 June tour – a 60th Wedding Anniversary as well as celebrating a special birthday; Ev Hales was approached by the Italian Council of Cutigliano to hold an exhibition of all the works next time she is in town; two of our artists sold their paintings to the locals; every class from the Prep to High School level came to visit our mini-exhibition at the hotel (as they had seen us paint in Palagano and were curious).

The Mayor of these country towns welcomed us and provided their own public building for our use in case of unexpected weather. Everyone had an opportunity to study all mediums but the best option was the faithful pen and paper for subject matter, which could then be transposed for art projects on our return.

On the bus, I recounted stories of the history of art, the region, the fables and customs of the mountain people.

I am planning my next trip to this region with options for further exploration in Italy, with Ev for Sept 2015 and Regina Hona for June 2016.

If you are interested please contact us 03 9758 5985 or info@paesanotours.com

‘Do What You Love’

Pastel on Paper – 72x42cm –

Private Collection

‘Letop’ Pastel on Paper – 76x50cm – Private Collection