Using collage landscapes motivates Cara Stevens to collect and use shells, twigs, bark, coral, seeds, fish scales and insects. For this artist, the use of mixed media collage art and colour in her acrylic landscape painting has become second nature.
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I chatted to Cara at the Port Douglas markets, where she and her husband, Josh, and young son were happily enjoying their location near the water’s edge, protected by a few shady trees. |
Her small abstract landscape paintings, usually derived from photographs
and sketches of the beautiful area in which she lives, often employ
collage as an extra dimension and for textural effect.
Framed in local timbers by Josh, these small artworks are highly
collectible and are a reminder of the immediacy of the tropical
landscape, seen through the personal experience of collecting.
This activity is one that most of us can relate to but Cara,
using highly developed collage techniques, manages to collate her
findings in such a way that the results become brilliant reminders of
various aspects of ocean, mountains, jungle, scrub or desert.
It would be rather impractical for Cara to transport her larger works to
the markets but it is through her large abstract landscape paintings
that the textural quality of the Australian landscape is given full
expression and can be really appreciated.
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Cara, a university visual arts graduate, has been successfully
involved in a number of group exhibitions. She is happy to accept
commissions from clients who would like to acquire just that perfect
piece for their homes or offices.
Cara Stevens is at quite an early stage in her career and it will
be interesting to see how she develops as an artist…watch this space…or
the Port Douglas markets!
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