Art of Life – linocuts and etchings

I was born in 1990 and attended Kinglake West Primary School, which had an active art department. I did various drawing classes as a child then went to Diamond Valley Secondary College where I took art as often as I could. I did some master classes at RMIT in stencil art and ink drawing and during my VCE I studied art for which the theme I chose to focus on was “The Green Man”.

After experimenting with copper and zinc etchings which I found difficult and somewhat tedious, I chose to work on linocuts and developed plates using several ideas. These included trees suggesting dark forest groves, faces in trees, trapped spirits and a stylized depiction of the green knight with his beheading axe.

The Green Man is the Celtic god of nature and so my work focused on nature. My final art piece for the subject, “The Eternal Watcher”, was chosen to be exhibited in the Silk Cut, Nilumbik Creative Minds and Top Arts ‘the Season of Excellence’ exhibitions. Since then my work has been exhibited in many exhibitions and galleries around Victoria.

I then completed a Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne and am now studying to get my Masters degree in Zoology. Animals have always been a big part of my life and are now becoming the subject of my artwork more than ever.

Lino cuts are created by carving into a sheet of lino, similar to that which was popular for floor coverings. I carve out everywhere I wish to be white in the final image. It is a difficult and time consuming process, and any mistakes cannot be rectified, but it is ultimately very rewarding.

Drypoint etchings are basically the opposite to lino cutting. For etching I scratch every line I want into a sheet of acetate with a mounted needle. Shading is created by the varying application of pressure when etching a shape.

I print all of my work at ‘Rambunctious Press’ with Deanna Hitti. Over the years she has provided invaluable knowledge and advice and if you are seeking understanding of the fantastic world of print making I could recommend no-one better to speak to.

Exhibitions

2008   Silk Cut awards – Glen Eira City Council Gallery

VCE Top Arts – Ian Potter Centre, NGV

‘Creative Minds’ – Nillumbik Shire Top VCE art and design students

2009   Bushfire Royal Commission Exhibition Space

‘Renewal’ – KRVPAA Winter Exhibition – awarded Highly Commended

Toolangi Festival Art Show

‘My Changing Landscape’ – Mayoral Art prize Whittlesea Council

2010   ‘Reflections’ Art Show – Kinglake West Hall

Kilmore Art Expo

Yarra Glen Art Show – award winner

Yarra Valley Open Studios – Shapes Gallery, Healesville

‘Art by the Lake’ – Eildon

2011   ‘Emergence- Arts on the move’ – Art centre and Federation Square

‘Symbols of loss and Recovery’ – Montsalvat

Yarra Glen Art Show

2011 Rick Amor Print Prize – Montsalvat

Kalkallo 15^th Annual Art Show

Marysville Art Show

‘Pathways’ – City of Whittlesea Arts Event

Whittlesea and Northern District 25^th Anniversary Art Show

2012   Yea Art Show

‘Artists on Parade’ – Parade College – awarded  Principals Award

Warranydyte/Donvale Rotary Art Show

Marysville prize

2013   Warranydyte/Donvale Rotary Art Show – awarded the highly commended prize

Collections

Regional Arts, Victoria

City of Whittlesea

Diamond Valley College

BMW Doncaster