Danish-born immigrant Marianne la Cour is preparing to share the experience of finally feeling at home in Australia's distinctive rural landscape - and loving it - in visual form.
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The Glen Innes based artist is preparing an exhibition of her new work new work at local arts and crafts centre the Makers Shed throughout Spring.
Titled 'Landliv' ("rural life" in Danish), the new collection of work is the result of Marianne painting and sketching in the outdoors in several locations around the region across the past year.
"I collected objects from my days in the outdoors and I drew, took photographs and made notes. I was very particular in making notes about the colours," she said.
"Once back in the studio, I tested colour combinations as my 'collected inspirations' began to translate into colourful abstract paintings."
Marianne's highly-expressionist works are created using movement and form and layering of colour.
"I quite often incorporate texture into my paintings, and often paint a canvas over and over again," she said.
"My inspiration is also found in childhood memories, the Scandinavian nature, travel and emotions.
"I think I have painted all my life. I remember my school books being covered in 'flower power' colours and patterns. After high school I did a few courses in painting and ceramics, but it wasn't until my late thirties I began to take my passion for creating seriously."
When Marianne moved to Australia, becoming an artist was her ultimate goal.
"I never lost sight of that. I did a lot of other things as well to keep bread on the table, but every opportunity I had to create, I took," she said.
Her perseverance paid off when she participated in her first group exhibition in 1999 and had her first solo exhibition in 2007.
"Landliv is a visual representation of me finally feeling at home in the Australian rural landscape - and loving it," she said.
Through her online business Colours on Grey, Marianne promotes regular creative workshops at her inspiring rural-set studio just outside Glen Innes.
She'll also be giving a workshop in abstract landscape painting at The Makers Shed on Sunday, September 22.
"I love to share my skills, my way of painting and I suppose my way of looking at art," she says.
Landliv opens at The Makers Shed, 123 Grey Street Glen Innes on Saturday August 31 at 4pm, and runs until the end of November.
Art lovers can also meet Marianne on Sunday November 2 at The Makers Shed during the Arts North West Art Connections open studio weekend.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
