artistic expression & mediums

We have art so that we shall not die of reality – Nietzsche

I was a full-time art student for 8 years, at art schools in Sweden & Australia; years that inspired and taught me a lot. The variety of techniques and different teachers I have had over the years, offered me the opportunity to explore a wide range of artistic mediums – including painting, ceramics, textile-screen-printing, print-making & photography.


Artistic expression

I believe that life as an artist involves a never ending journey of learning to express and explore. Since I left art school, I have been producing & exhibiting work, & I taught at Newcastle Art School for 10 years, before venturing into web-design which I currently do part-time.Below are some of my favourite mediums; I am especially drawn to painting and drawing – as the purely visual side of these mediums appeal to my way of seeing the world.


Drawing

Drawing for me is a soul-happy activity, connected to so many aspects of art and life; observing reality and imagination allows me to fill up sketch books (and find new sketch books to fill). Drawing is often about keeping a visual diary, where some sketches later form the starting point for paintings or other work. Larger charcoal drawings and more detailed pen & ink drawings are a joy to work on, as are the quick sketches.


Painting

Painting for me is about exploring form, texture and colour. Each painting or body of work is a journey where I find new things along the way. I currently mainly paint using oils, as I find the texture and behaviour of these paints both flexible and inspiring.


Design

Bright and colourful illustrations, cartoons, layouts for web pages, logos and other on-screen projects are all areas of design I enjoy working in.
Visit my online illustration portfolio here for more examples.

Artwork by Annette Abolins