I'm thrilled to have been selected as a featured artist in Create! Magazine's latest issue.
My interview for the magazine is below or if you'd like to know more about what's in the rest of the issue - read on!
"Create! Magazine proudly presents Issue 47, curated by the TAX Collection. This special edition focuses on the theme of "Art and Emotion," featuring a diverse group of contemporary artists from around the world.
Through engaging interviews, insightful essays, and carefully curated works, this issue highlights how art reflects and shapes the emotional experiences that define our lives."
Can you describe the core themes and emotions you explore in your current body of work?
My most recent work has morphed into a journey of symbolism, though I have long employed landscape as a metaphor for spiritual space. New repeating visual elements have surfaced as the series has progressed and after much contemplation, I’ve found meaning in this. The vessel shapes have come to represent my immediate family members as companion travellers as we journey together on the sea of life, the trees symbolise my search for personal truth and sense of purpose, and my desire to find structure in chaos; the scattered leaves speak to sentiments of fragility and uncertainty set against a landscape of complex life experience.
How does your creative process unfold from concept to completion?
My process starts with layers of printed and painted paper collage which I then overlay with drawing before moving on to washes of paint and glazes as I look for shapes. I focus entirely on what the surface is offering me, rather than imposing ideas or a particular composition. I have no idea what a finished painting might look like when I begin; I allow each painting to unfold through curiosity, inquiry and a liminal approach to my mixed media process. A composition slowly evolves as the work progresses and the visual narrative of the piece emerges, seemingly by itself. I return to signature details as the painting nears completion often adding more collage, fine paint work and drawing.
What inspires you most outside of the visual arts, and how does it influence your work?
I’m inspired by the cycles of the natural world, renewal and the longevity of our environment, in particular historic landscapes created over millennia. I love the contemplative rhythm of walking in peaceful places, whether that’s along beach, through a forest or up a mountain. I feel a kind osmosis happening when I’m in nature; there’s an exchange of energy and a deepened sense of emotional security and an opportunity to feel sure of oneself for a time.
Yet I’m also inspired by human diligence and commitment to endeavour, evident in man-made environments such as magnificent old buildings, gravity defying bridges and intricate patterned textiles, ornamental and decorative objects, car engines and computer motherboards! I think findings from nature and memories of landscape, along with rhythm and energy, manifest themselves visually in my work and the underlying emotional commitment to the diligent search for authenticity is ever present in each painting.
How do you navigate the balance between personal expression and the commercial aspects of your career?
I’m not good at balance generally, and finding a way for the insularity of the making process and the extrovert nature of marketing to co-exist has always been a challenge. But over the years, I’ve found a kind of creative circular economy in making the work, writing about it and marketing. I find that the marketing aspects of an art career, such as social media, newsletter writing, and posting on my blog have made it essential to order my thoughts clearly, so I can better articulate to my audience what I’m making and why. I don’t see personal expression and commercial essentials as mutually exclusive, rather they support each other in many ways; for me they are both a manifestation of creative thought processes. Gallery representation requires a significant output of work, and for me this has been a highly motivating factor in giving greater focus to studio time, which in turn has helped my work to evolve and my thoughts and ideas to emerge in written form more easily and consistently alongside the actual paintings.
What message or feeling do you hope viewers take away from experiencing your art?
I hope that viewers feel uplifted and energised by my work, whatever their circumstance or perspective and take away the feeling that there is much joy to be found in the complexities of life, even if it’s sometimes challenging to harness it.
Charlotte’s abstract paintings unfold through curiosity, inquiry and a liminal approach to her mixed media work. Collage, printmaking, painting and drawing are integral parts of her working process and each painting is a unique fusion of different materials and techniques. There are no pre-destined outcomes for what a finished piece might look like, instead she balances the accidental and the unexpected with decision making and response, drawing on her knowledge and understanding of shape, colour and technique to resolve each piece. Her creative practice is driven by desire to capture moments of chance encounter with emerging visual elements and materials.
Charlotte is a regular exhibitor in Australia and is currently represented by Wentworth Galleries in Brisbane and Manyung Gallery Group in Melbourne. Her work has been recognised through awards and selection in art prize finalists’ exhibitions at local, regional and international galleries. Her work is held in both public and private collections in Australia and overseas. She holds a BA(Hons) in Fine Art & Design Technology from the University of Leeds (UK) and a Post Gradate Certificate of Education in Art & Design.
Inside Issue #47
Tania Marmolejo shares how her heritage and global events inspire her bold figurative paintings.
Rachel English takes readers on a journey through her atmospheric cloudscapes, exploring the connection between humanity and the cosmos.
Minami Kobayashi blends color and memory to create dreamlike, emotive narratives.
Mac Cumpian discusses her experiences navigating New York’s vibrant art scene, while Caity Salamanca delves into her abstract, mixed-media practice.
Featured Artists Include:
John Swofford, Michelle Lee Rigell, Hannah West, Mingxian Xiang, Sandra Cavanagh, Walker Augustyniak, Maggie Rose Schneider, Aya SHIMOHARA, Spenser Bower, Braden Walls, Tristan Reid, Rob Croxford, Margaret Zox Brown, Beau Bernier Frank, Ricardo Rodriguez Cosme, Carolanna Parlato, Charlotte Wensley, Joanna Pilarczyk, Sebastian Riffo Montenegro, Manon Blet, Alberto Alonso, Aske Alexander Hvidtfeldt, Jada McAliley, Daniel Jefferson, Sara Hoque, Jason Van Pelt, April Werle, Yahel Yan, Kelly Halabi, Ariel Davis.
Whether you're an art lover, collector, or creative professional, Create! Magazine Issue 47 offers a fresh look at contemporary art and the emotional depth behind each piece. Dive into this edition to discover inspiring stories and works from artists making their mark on today’s art scene.
You can enjoy the digital copy of this issue or if hardcopies are more your thing, the magazine is available through Amazon and at selected gallery stores and bookshops now.
Check out the Create! Magazine website for a wealth of info about building your arts career, podcasts and online resources from Curator & Co-founder of PxP Contemporary, Alicia Puig director at Create! Magazine and co-author of the The Complete Smartist Guide and The Creative Business Handbook. She has worked in the arts industry for over ten years and has written for Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Art She Says, and Art Spiel, among many others. Additionally, she has served as a guest curator for All She Makes, Rise Art, Hastings College, Repaint History, Visionary Art Collective, I Like Your Work, Arts to Hearts Project, Altamira, Pretty Girls Making Cool Shit, and SHOWFIELDS.
Co-founder of PxP Contemporary is Ekaterina Popova is an artist, host of The Create! Podcast, and the editor & founder of Create! Magazine. She is also an inspirational coach for women artists through her membership group The Art Queens.
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