Skopelos
Artist Statement
My love affair with all things Greek stems back to my childhood when I was given a book as an eight-year-old - Tales of Long Ago. This book opened my eyes to a world of history and led me to read about the Greek Gods. Encyclopedias then introduced me to the archaeological digs at the Palace of Knossos, the incredible sculpture of the temples and the talent of the artists of that time.
With Ancient History as a study option in high school to spark those flames of curiosity I became obsessed with travelling to experience the art and landmarks I had studied. Next came the influence of movies Zorba the Greek, Jason and the Argonauts, The Boy and a Dolphin, For Your Eyes Only(Bond), Shirley Valentine, and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin to name just a few.
At 18, my ‘must do’ list before settling down was to go to Greece and Europe and explore the many beautiful and historic places I had read about or seen in movies. Turns out my love of all things Greek was a prediction as I met my ‘now’ husband (who is Australian born Greek) and both of us went to Greece together as part of a ‘grand European tour’, an Australian rite of Passage in the 80’s aged 23 I fell in love in person with Greece.
This was just the beginning of multiple trips to Greece over the past 40 years. Last September I was blessed to be accepted to a residency at The Skopelos Foundation of the Arts. Three blissful weeks spent exploring Skopelos to focus on making art. I used this time to experiment with watercolours, working enplein air and trying to learn about the history, the culture, the landscape and the artisans of the island. Working next to the other international residents gave me an insight into the world of ceramics and print making.
Creating work at the residency is limited to the portability when travelling and as such I produced multiple small work whilst there. Sketching, photography and memory has informed the work created post residency. This body of work is much more realistic than my previous series.
I get my inspiration from the forms and the colours from my memory of a place. My process is a combination of drawing and painting with acrylic paint and markers. I am a colourist and love to push the boundaries of colour in my work.
Skopelos is part of the Sporades archipelago. The Sporades are different to the stereotypical Greek islands in that they are very ‘Green’. They are known as the blue-green islands or the Emerald Islands with a lushness to the landscape. People identify Skopelos and Skiathos as locations where the movie ‘Mamma Mia’ was filmed.
Steep and yet lushly covered in forests they have an abundance of beautiful beaches, rocky headlands and coves. Sometimes a place touches you and makes you feel a connection - difficult to describe and or explain but Skopelos like my Greek addiction is ingrained in my heart.
Skopelos 1
Acrylic and Ink on Linen Canvas
101.5h x 152w
Skopelos 2
Acrylic and Ink on Linen Canvas
101.5h x 152w
Skopelos 3
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas with Birch Frame
930h x 123w x 5.5d
Skopelos 4
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas with Birch Frame
930h x 123w x 5.5d
Skopelos 5
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 47.5h x 37.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 6
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 47.5h x 37.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 7
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 47.5h x 37.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 8
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 47.5h x 37.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 9
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 37.5h x 47.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 10
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 37.5h x 47.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 11
Acrylic and Ink on Canvas Board with Oak Frame 37.5h x 47.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 12
Acrylic & Ink on canvas board framed in Oak
37.5h x 47.5w x 3.7d
Skopelos 13 Acrylic on Watercolour and Pastel on paper framed in Oak
42 x 33 x 3.7 cm
Skopelos 14
Acrylic & Ink on Watercolour paper
framed in Oak
37.5 x 47 x 3.7 cm
Skopelos 15
Acrylic & Ink on canvas paper framed in Oak
53.5 x 42 x 3.7 cm
Skopelos 16
Acrylic & Ink on canvas paper framed in Oak
53.5 x 42 x 3.7 cm