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| Clare
Whitney studied Fine Art at The Royal Melbourne Institute
of Technology, 1991-1993, R.M.I.T, where she majored
in painting.
After completing her degree in 1994, she spent six years
living, travelling and working in Western Australia,
New Zealand
and Taiwan.
Throughout her travels Clare set up working studios
and taught painting in local schools and community groups,
from very young children to adults.
These experiences allowed her the opportunity to express
and exhibit her own artworks both interstate and abroad.
Influenced by her immediate environment and personal
experience; the landscape, human figure, and organic
forms are captured and translated through rich colours
and symbolic shapes on canvas and paper.
When painting, Clare predominately uses oil on canvas
of varying sizes. These days preferring to paint on
smaller canvases so that a patchwork effect is achieved
and the works have the versatility to be hung in many
different ways. Clare’s style of painting varies
greatly
depending on the essential mood and place that the artworks
have been created in. Rich colours are used and transparent
forms are layered on top of one another to create a
dreamlike composition of detailed images and silhouette
forms.
Printmaking is a recently discovered, and self-taught
medium, which Clare has found as a new way to express
and illustrate her images in |
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finer
detail. Working with the traditional intaglio technique
of drypointetching, multiple plates are used to create
the images and place the same form in different surroundings.
The prints tell a very personal story, with images reoccurring
in different settings and colours, just as, one finds
oneself everyday.
The tattooed appearance of the figures, with symbols from
nature, represent ‘self’ becoming totally
emersed in the beauty of our natural environment and desire
to live in harmony and as one with nature.
Images of insects, birds and fish represent other ‘worlds’
that co-exist alongside mankind. Clare’s images
illustrate the ideal of man/woman becoming one with these
‘worlds’
once again.
Through painting and printmaking Clare’s own interpretation
of influential symbols and colours are merged to create
visual images of the ever challenging environment and
human identity; hidden and faceless, yet, bold and strong
with a touch of iconography and self –portraiture.
Clare Whitney now resides in Melbourne and works from
her studio in the heart of the city. Dedicating herself
full time to her art, she continues to create and exhibit
recent works from her studio and galleries throughout
Melbourne. |
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