Collie artist Dianne Clark will have her first solo exhibition in more than 15 years next month, when her work is put on show for the Collie Art Gallery’s latest exhibition.
The exhibition, titled Di.verse, will showcase Ms Clark’s recent works using acrylics on canvas after spending the previous 35 years of her career working with watercolours and pastels on paper.
Ms Clark said she had enjoyed the transition to a new style of artwork.
“I’d been doing watercolours for the last 35 years and I just got sick of it,” she said.
“I wanted to try something big and bright.
“Acrylics is where I am absolutely loving going because you can just make a mistake and go over it, where with watercolours you put the paint down and it just stays.”
Ms Clark said the exhibition was defined by her ‘love of colour’.
She said she was inspired by the colourful works of Gauguin and a visit to Monet’s garden in Giverny, France.
“That, for me, just seeing his work, was just wow. It was so colourful, and I’m big on colour,” she said.
Collie Art Gallery board member and Ms Clark’s husband Don Clark said the exhibition was about showcasing her ‘abilities as a professional and serious artist’.
“What defines Dianne is that she is an artist,” he said.
“It’s an exhibition that shows her versatility in her styles and her treatment of subject matters.”
Mr Clark said the exhibition would include 39 paintings, of which 37 were on canvas.
“It’s a varied exhibition, it covers everything from landscapes and florals to abstract and seascapes,” he said.
Mr Clark also said it was a positive for the gallery to be able to showcase the work of a local artist, and encouraged other local artists to come forward for ideas about exhibiting their work.
The exhibition will open on Saturday, February 16 at 4pm and will run until March 17.
It will be opened by noted art judge Gillian Peebles, who will also host a number of tutorials at the art gallery over that weekend.
Mr Clark said it was a ‘coup’ for the gallery to get someone with the experience of Ms Peebles to share her experience.
Ms Peebles will hold four tutorial sessions over the weekend. Sessions will cover brush styles, techniques and maintenance, as well as foliage, light and shadows on Saturday, followed by sessions on skies and clouds, and a question and answer on Sunday.
Mr Clark said the sessions were limited to 15 participants each and anyone interested should get in touch with the gallery as soon as possible.
