Contemporary,
abstract artist.
Artist’s Profile
Claire began using art to express
her feelings and her view of the world
at an early age. She covered the walls of her parent’s dairy
with drawings
using
charcoal from an open fire. She still
uses charcoal and many other mediums as well as collage to explore line,
shape
and texture in her pieces.
Claire
is a
her
an eye for colour and texture which is evident in her vibrant paintings.
Claire’s
love of painting and drawing persuaded her to study art in high school, through
to a tertiary level, also
majoring
in art at Teacher’s college.
In recent years Claire has completed Studio Level
Classes at the Brisbane Institute of Art
and
Academé and attended
Mc Greggor Summer Schools through the University of the Southern Downs. She
regularly
paints and
exhibits with a group of artists called Ten Plus One. Her work has also been
exhibited at many public
events and several galleries around
She
is still teaching part time and enjoys instilling the love and joy of painting and
drawing into her young pupils.
“I am passionate about
abstraction. The works of Paul Klee for his luminous colours and the
composition
and bold colours of Kadinsky and Matisse have had a strong impact on my
work. I use colour, movement,
contrast and texture to express my feelings
and to make visual the essence of what is within. Fragments of
my personal life resonate in my paintings –
responses to my recollections of journeys taken, places visited,
music listened to and even a patchwork business I once
co-owned”.
For
the past 20 years Claire has travelled extensively with her husband to
recently
the
shapes,
lines, washes texture, layering and
brush marks.
Another
strong influence on Claire’s work is her fascination with geology.
“I love the effects of
weathering, erosion and geological upheaval visible in rock formations. I am always
fascinated by the myriad of colours found in
stone and these elements are to be found in many of my works”.
Claire’s
colorful works are abstract in nature and often open to many interpretations.
“I am often surprised and
amused by the different subliminal images people see in my work . I think this
is
the beauty of
abstraction. The art can consciously be in touch with
the subconscious while stirring and inspiring
our everyday lives.”
“My paintings always take me on a journey that
is both unanticipated and delightful and I can only hope that
my art transports and strikes a chord with my
viewers as well.”
Kadinsky said, "Colour is the key. The
eye is the hammer. The soul is the piano with its many chords.
The
artist is the hand that, by touching this or that key, sets the soul vibrating
automatically."