Carmel's Calling
Her artistic eye has ensured Carmel's artwork is now on-show throughout Australia and overseas.
Iwas born and raised in Chandler, a suburb of Brisbane. I am the third child of seven. Every member of my family has artistic talent, either visually or musically. My mum saw in each one of her children potential of some sort and encouraged us to reach it. I tended to be crafty, always making something. I never thought of myself as an artist.
In year 9, the art class received a drawing exercise. The teacher had cut up a black and white photocopy of a woman’s face into twelve squares. Each student was allocated one square. Mine was the right nostril and part of the lip. We were to reproduce this square in a tonal value charcoal drawing on a larger scale. The student drawings were reassembled. A larger, though somewhat altered, version of the woman’s face was reproduced.
This was the experience that taught me how to see with an artistic eye. I excelled in high school art from that moment on.
I knew I wanted to do something creative with work. After two years at college, I worked with a Brisbane fashion designer translating designs into patterns for production. Marriage, children and several moves changed my priorities.
Art captured my attention again when my oldest boy was at school. I was living in Dorrigo, NSW. I was fascinated by the watercolours of a local artist, Stella Pearce. I attended a weekend workshop and loved it! One of my favourite works is my first watercolour from that workshop, poppies, bright and imaginative. It still hangs on my bedroom wall.
I have played with watercolour, pastels, acrylics, printmaking, oils and inks over the past two decades. I find a satisfaction in giving my work to friends who admire it. On a holiday at Fingal I painted an acrylic semiabstract of the lighthouse. A visiting friend loved it. To her it encapsulated her childhood holidays in Fingal. Every time I walk through her front door I see my artwork hanging in pride of place. It is a delightful feeling!
I have returned to Brisbane to live. I live in Victoria Point a suburb of Redland City.
I have always known the therapeutic value of art, but recently, when injuries limited me I benefited from its recuperative qualities. It always takes me to a place where pain diminishes and hours fly by with pleasure.
During this period (2010), I put together a solo exhibition held in Cleveland, Queensland at Mellersh Gallery. My artwork was mainly still life, with a re-occurring theme based on a green jug I had picked up while second-hand shopping. The exhibition was a pleasant success, and my art moved to a new level. The public was prepared to part with money for my work! Now I was no longer using the weekly food budget for art supplies!
I enjoy working from life. I set up a still in my studio and return to it day after day adding to my canvas until complete. With still life I can pick and choose what features I want in my paintings. I tend to get too detailed when
painting from a photograph. I love the way mundane and ordinary objects look beautiful when seen with an artistic eye.
One artistic disaster occurred after I set up a still life for ‘High Tea’. Yes, I piled all those teapots, cups and saucers on top of each other, balancing them. I had finished roughing in the composition on my canvas and went to bed. In the middle of the night I heard an enormous crash. I awoke, instantly recognizing its source. In light of day, I went to examine the damage. To my surprise, not one piece was broken! Miraculously they had managed to slide over each other and land on the table top. From then on I assembled and reassembled my still until my canvas was complete.
My skills and knowledge have been gained by doing weekend workshops (recent tutors have been Leigh Camilleri, Penelope Gilbert Ng and De Gillette). I read anything I can on the subject of art and make a regular habit of visiting galleries, both local and state. The internet amazes me. Artists from all over the world share information.
There are several art groups in our local area of Redlands. I work casually now at Mellersh Gallery and come into contact with many artists, from beginners to professionals. There is always plenty to learn from them.
Inks on canvas are the flavour of the month. Large, bold and light works. It is a style I am still experimenting with and developing.
I spend time with a small group of friends and relatives who are artistically interested. We take it in turns to spend the occasional day together. A group helps with motivation and a glass of wine after midday helps with the relaxation! Art will always feature in my life, enriching it.
The artwork I have done over the years is now spread throughout Australia and even overseas!
I sell my ink works through ‘Beach Shack’ Shop 4 Gallery Walk, 161 Long Road, Eagle Heights, Tamborine Mountain, Queensland. 4271. I can be contacted on carmelhazaelart@ymail.com for commission work. ■