Nature's Patterns Exhibition

Braidwood Community Arts Centre Gallery
March 2017

Artist Statement...

Nature's Patterns is an exhibition exploring & experimenting with a range of naturally occurring patterns found in our environment, from infinitely variable cloud patterns to the patterns formed by the receding tide on the sand flats of the far south coast. I have for some time now been fascinated with natural patterns in my surroundings, particularly those of the eucalypts that inhabit my beloved forest. These gumtree patterns are like fingerprints, each tree similar but individually producing a unique pattern that is identifiable, they are at their most gloriously patterned after rain with their glistening wet trunks amplifying their natural colours. For me the forest & its patterns are a visual feast.

The inspiration for my aerial landscapes evolved out of a relived childhood dream, experienced when I first encountered the virtual travel of google earth. The sensation of flying over the landscape transported me to that childlike wonder & sensorial experience of the landscape from an imagined aerial perspective but this view of the landscape eliminates detail, producing the patterns & colours similar to that of topographical mapmaking.

My small collage works are experiments in patterning, from the initial process of marbling paper or canvas, to finding a pattern segment within the design that inspires the work. My freeform marbling technique is inspired by the theory of chaos & the infinite variables that form in the natural environment.


The Speech Team


Tuross Witch acrylic on canvas SOLD


Opening Night Gals


South East of Eden pastel on canson


Art Buddy Alex


South East of Eden II acrylic painting 1.1x1.3m


The Feather Within I - oil on canvas SOLD


The Russian connection Elena & co


Madonna of the Forest pastel on rag paper SOLD


Braidwood Elders Gilly & Jack


Ballalaba Gum Acrylic on canvas .75x1.2m


VIP Wombat


Ghost Gum pastel on canson


Forest Floor II oil on canvas SOLD


The lovely Maggie & Pauline


South East of Eden [detail] Limited Edition canvas print x4


Standing room only


Once we were Beekeepers


The Fish Pen [detail] Edition of 60 canvas prints


Excited punters


Potato Point Silhouette [detail] Edition of 60 canvas print 40x40cm


Monsoon Seascape Gili Air acrylic on canvas SOLD


Sand Pattern 1 graphite on paper SOLD


Sand Pattern II graphite on canvas


The happy art collector Cathy


Universal Pattern I hand marbled on rag paper SOLD


Braidwood Gum I Edition of 30 on 300gsm rag paper


Braidwood Gum III Edition of 30 on 300gsm rag paper


Mountain Gum I Edition of 30 on 300gsm rag paper


Universal Pattern II hand marbled on rag paper SOLD


In Praise of Pattern oil on canvas [gifted]

Janita would like to thank the following people for their assistance in making this project & exhibition possible...

· * Bill Waterhouse, former President of BRAG ~ Braidwood Regional Arts Group & current President of NARG ~ Native Animal Rescue Group for his MC duties & to all the NARG members for their continued work & assistance to injured native wildlife.

· -*Rose Cahill, Visitor Experience Manager at the National Gallery of Australia, colleague & former boss, who has graciously agreed to open this exhibition.

· -*Stephen Best from Macquarie Editions for his continued perseverance in the process of turning my original pastel artworks into limited edition art prints.

· -*Rebekah Rice-Hamilton from Round the Bend Art & Framing Studio for her exceptional care & professionalism with my artwork.

· -*BRAG Members, Kylie Dominic & William Verdonfor organising & running the BRAG FUNdraiserBAR
*Maggie Hickey & her assistants for attending to exhibition sales.

· -*Georgina Campbell for her fine photography skills before, during & after this exhibition.

· -*Malcolm Campbell my dear husband who never stands in the way of my crazy ideas

...thank you from the bottom of my heart Janita