Narelle Zeller
Australia Capital Territory, Australia,
My Inspiration
This portrait is part of an ongoing series of portraits inspired by the women around me. Colleen in Blue is a portrait of my younger sister, Colleen, a very talented Australian figurative artist who is a constant source of inspiration and support. My intent with this piece was to portray Colleen’s love and academic pursuit of classical art, drawing inspiration from 17th-century Dutch influences after we saw a Dutch Masters exhibition together at the Art Gallery of NSW. Colleen has been such a positive influence on me. I truly admire her work and her tireless dedication toward her growth and practice as an artist. I hope with this portrait to communicate the special bond we have together as sisters and artists.
My Design Strategy
This portrait series is a collaborative project with friend and florist Amy Clement, who creates an individual and personalised floral feature for each sitter. After developing the idea for this portrait I wrote a creative brief for Amy communicating the concept, mood, composition and particular components and colours I wanted to include. The design concept was kept as open as possible for Amy’s own creative interpretation and she created this stunning headpiece. The day of the photo shoot bought new opportunities with the revelation of Amy’s design, Colleen’s personality and the environment with light and form.
My Working Process
With my realist approach, the process for this painting was quite involved, taking months at the easel to create. Before beginning the artwork, time was spent making decisions around which photographic references to use, colours, size and composition, resolving any foreseeable issues and gaining a firm understanding of my goals for the artwork. I started with a detailed drawing on a grey toned panel before building form, colour and detail with multiple layers of oil paint and glazing. Even having a developed starting plan, the artwork grew in unexpected ways through the painting process and through my intuitive and emotional responses.
Finalist
Contact Details
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Email: neleezeller@gmail.com
Website: www.narellezeller.com
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