Capturing Transient Energy in Abstract Landscapes: The Visitors Series

Charlotte Wensley
Dec 1, 2022
4 min read

Abstract collage with a bright yellow sun against dark vertical panels. Curved lines and circles in white, gray, yellow, and red dominate the foreground.

'The Visitors' is my visual response to the profound physical and energetic impressions left by the diverse array of people who came to my studio in October 2021, as part of the Noosa Open Studios art trail.

This annual event, which invites artists to open their creative spaces to the public, was a significant milestone for me, as it marked my first time participating in such an initiative.

The atmosphere in my studio during the ten day event was charged with excitement and curiosity, and I found myself deeply aware of the collective energy that was flowing through my usually quiet and solitary working environment.

Being a first-time participant, I entered this experience with a keen sense of anticipation, fully aware that an energy shift of some kind was inevitable for me. The prospect of welcoming numerous visitors into my creative sanctuary, a space typically reserved for introspection and solitary work, was both exhilarating and daunting.

I understood that this influx of new energy would create ripples that would resonate within me and my practice for some time to come, altering the very fabric of my artistic process.

However, I had no way of knowing how or when this shift would manifest itself, nor could I predict what it would ultimately look and feel like. I simply knew, with a deep intuition, that this transformation would occur.

This uncertainty added an element of mystery to the experience, as I prepared myself mentally and emotionally for the influx of visitors. All I could do was focus on my immediate task: to capture their presence physically through mark-making in the moment, allowing the spontaneous interactions to inform my artistic expression.

I knew I would have to wait patiently for a distillation of the emotional experience to unfold, allowing the impressions left by my visitors to settle and reveal their deeper meanings.

The sensation of energy moving through the landscape is something I find to be profoundly tangible. I perceive the energetic vibrations of other people as just as real and impactful as any physical presence, not merely imagined constructs of my mind.

There is an undeniable truth in the way that something is always left in the wake of people passing by or through a space that I inhabit. Their laughter, conversations, and even their quiet contemplation create an invisible tapestry of energy that lingers long after they have departed.

In response to this dynamic interplay of energy and presence, I created two paintings that serve to capture the abiding sentiments that left a deep impression on me and my studio. These artworks are not just representations of the physical space; they are embodiments of the emotional and energetic exchanges that took place during the Noosa Open Studios event.

Through color, form, and texture, I sought to translate the essence of those interactions into visual language, allowing connections with the experience on a deeper level to occur.

Each piece is infused with the energy of the visitors, reflecting the unique stories and moments that unfolded within my studio during that transformative time.

There are 2 paintings in this collection.

| Arrival

This painting captures the energy of transition, the moment of stepping into something new and unfamiliar. It holds a sense of brooding anticipation, as though the air itself is vibrating with an unknown energy. Its layered textures suggest movement from one state to another, embodying the point at which departure from one place becomes arrival in another. The vessel shape became a symbol of significance related to the title. - Arrival.

Mixed Media on Paper

59cm x 42cm

Abstract collage with colorful geometric patterns, circles, and stripes. Dominant colors are yellow, green, red, and black, creating a dynamic scene.

Original - SOLD

Prints available on request (see below).

| Discoveries

Discoveries speaks to the wonder of seeing and feeling an influx of positive energy come into my studio space. The painting also carries a sense of curiosity unfolding, as the visitors themselves made discoveries about my work, looking through sketchbooks, observing my printmaking process and seeing works in progress at various stages of completion. The forms and colours emerge as if revealed layer by layer. It reflects on the joy of exploration and the quiet, transformative moments when something new comes into view.

Mixed Media on Paper

59cm x 42cm