Artist Jane Wray has recently taught herself to master the art of pastels.
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The outcome of this new challenge is her latest collection of artwork, ‘Essence’.
Having never used pastels before, Jane said this process was a “very, very steep learning curve”, but one that she has come to appreciate.
“I’ve experimented with many things, like oils, acrylics and charcoal, but now I exclusively work with pastels,” she said.
“They have a sculptural feel to them. You can carve shapes, patterns and designs in them, you can layer them, and the colours are very vibrant, you can get very dense, pure pigments.”
“It’s a wonderful medium.”
Describing her artistic style as “realism with a contemporary edge”, Jane said it is this approach that is the uniting element in her collection, which features artwork she described as fitting into three different categories.
The first is social commentary, the second is “fun, quirky pieces that make you smile” and the third includes pieces that focus on the beauty of the world.
“I work from photographs but I don’t work slavishly from them. I try to express myself through the art, so I might embellish [the image] with ideas and forms that come from my own experience.”
Based in Camden, but also a member of the Bowral and District Art Society (BDAS), the artist has been the recipient of several major accolades.
Earlier this year, she was named local artist of the year in the Camden art prize, as well as being awarded a major prize at the Ardency exhibition in Yowie Bay in March for her artwork, ‘Grevilleas in the Mist’.
Jane said she spends a long time “mulling over” her art, in order to understand the essence of her subject.
“To do art well, I think you have to get back to the essence of the subject that you're trying to interpret – you have to get to the heart of it,” she said.”
Essence is on display at the Bowral Art Gallery until November 7, with the official opening on Friday evening, November 3 at 6:30pm.
Jane will be at the gallery each day as she works on the final touches of the 44th piece in her collection, which will be up for silent auction.
