{studio archive}: exploring local environment

Friday, October 16, 2009

exploring local environment

Work from 2009 exploring forms found in local natural environment

Blue quandongs - photograph from Botanic gardens at Mt Coo-Tha

below: painted in ink on canvas 50 cm wide

Black bean seedpod from locally growing tree,

ink on paper with mono-printed background

'Coastal Reverie' - acrylic and oil pastel

on canvas, 120 x 40 cm

'sub-tropical totem' acrylic and ink on canvas,

80 cm x 60 cm

abstracted seedpods, ink on board

pod forms, ink on canvas 50 cm wide

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS STUDIO ARCHIVE BLOG OF SOPHIE MUNNS

COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS:

Public Collections:

. Newcastle Community Art Centre

. Maitland Regional Gallery

. John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle

. R.S.L.CARE Fortitude Valley, QLD

. Victoria University Library Collection

. Victoria University Alumni collection

. QEII Hospital, Brisbane

. KEW Gardens Millennium Seedbank, UK

. Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ, QLD

. Cairns Botanic Gardens -Tanks Artist's Residence

Private Collections from 1990 onwards in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, NZ, UK and the U.S.

Commercial commissions to produce Textile designs for Domestic Textile Corporation, Melbourne from early 1997 through to 1999.

Private Commissioned work since 1992 in Australia.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Sophie Munns is currently living in Brisbane, QLD, Australia having relocated from Newcastle, NSW in May 2008, her base for 8 years.

Born in Grafton, Northern NSW, Sophie studied for a B ED (Art) in Newcastle before teaching in various secondary schools on the NSW coast for the following 6 years. A 2 year stint working in London and travelling abroad was the catalyst for Sophie to consider taking her passion for Art further on her return to live in Melbourne.

Comfortably ensconced in leafy Kew, (Melb) Sophie set up a studio from home, 2 years later starting a small design business and within 2 years of that opening a shopfront studio in Collingwood - 'Themata Studio' - effectively an artist-run-space operating as a multi-purpose facility providing classes and workshops for adults, works by commission and a lively cross-roads for conversation and exchange between diverse participants and visitors to the space.

4 years later freelance work and commissioned work was continuing although the shopfront venture closed in 1998 and in 2000 Sophie returned to study painting at Victoria University.

This plan was short-lived when, 4 months into studies, a housefire necessitated changes and relocation to Newcastle ensued. A studio from home was once again established, classes for adults offered, artwork picked up and gradually shifted its focus. Sophie returned to teaching in secondary schools virtually full time, exhibiting work quite frequently, entering art awards and by 2005 showing work in Sydney as well as the Hunter.

After a prize and commendations in the annual Maitland Art Award in 2006 Post Grad study was commenced the following year with a large mid year exhibition of work from 2 solid years painting in the University's student gallery. Unexpected changes, once again, occured at the close of that year due to complications of a medical nature. Uni was left behind and Sophie made the shift to Brisbane and family ties.

Sophie's art practice has continued to evolve and deepen over the past 2 decades through embracing significant changes and challenges with courage and enthusiasm, curiosity and perseverence.

Energy may flag at times and life can interfere with plans but for Sophie there is something perrenially life-giving about continuing to produce artworks and explore ideas. That the unexpected can and does happen is a lesson well learnt...but perhaps the greater lesson is in finding the poetic, the transcendant in all that comes along. And that is worth striving for Sophie believes...always!

Friday, October 16, 2009

exploring local environment

About Me