I’m delighted to present this online exhibition. These works are a selection of those produced in March 2022 during a ten day solo, self-funded residency at the historical gold mining village of Hill End in New South Wales. The plein air works were created at various locations around Hill End and nearby Sofala on Wiradjuri land. The paintings explore my fascination for the therapeutic act of painting and being present in the landscape. They allowed me to investigate my ongoing interest in village life, the impact of gold mining on the landscape and the areas that were seemingly left untouched.
My plein air approach expanded from smaller works to encompass large scale un-stretched canvas. This entailed working flat on the ground enabling the textured surface underneath the canvas to influence mark making. These marks form an integral part in reflecting light within and out of the paintings.
Please enjoy browsing the catalogue below. It includes more information about my experience of this residency and Hill End for your reading pleasure. As well as the artworks the catalogue features a selection of my photos from Hill End and Sofala.
The images below are cropped, please click on each one to view the complete artwork and see further images of each painting.
For all enquiries please email hello@micheleowen.com.au
