Studio Diary - May 2025
- Charlotte Wensley
- May 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 3
A painting isn't just something to look at or to hang on an empty wall.
Spending time at the Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane last week, naturally got me thinking about all sorts of things.
Primarily because the joy of it all provoked a reaction in me that doesn't often happen in the studio when I'm working away on my own. Seeing so much art in one place, bursting with vibrant colour; from landscapes to abstracts, installations and sculpture, still life's and whimsical prints; it was an absolute visual feast, and impossible not to get excited about all that creativity in one place!
I felt the positive energy in the space, as art enthusiasts, collectors, gallerists and curators all came together to appreciate and celebrate the endeavours of our local community of creatives. And on a sensory level, the sound of joy just filled the place with laughter and chatting and excited meetings, greetings and reunions taking place.
And along with all this, walking around and taking everything in, I felt that I could have been strolling through the pages of a book, a bit 'Alice in Wonderland' style. The booths were all partitioned by white walls and each gallery or collective had it's own signature presence, in terms of artwork themes, colour palettes and display style. I was walking into a world of giant fish on platters one minute, and with the next step entering a new world of luscious faraway vistas and then with just another step, into a world of surreal and outsized blooming bouquets......
It wasn't until after I'd left and I started to feel a bit 'enlightened', that the expression, 'reading the room' came to mind.
Whilst the fair was full to bursting with people looking at art, it settled on me that there's much more to art than it just being something to look at;
looking at a painting, feels to me like reading a very beautiful book, but one without words.
Every painting had it's own unique style of visual resolution that created a first impression from a distance, but as I looked more closely, I could really begin to see and feel the history in some of the paintings; of failure and frustration; of risk and the chasing of a dream, of self doubt and resilience. I felt I could read the translation and transference of emotion through the paint, as if each brushstroke was a word and the artist was telling me something of their story.
When you look at a painting you are seeing more than colours and shapes, or a lovely landscape, even if you are not aware of it.
You're reading a brief chapter of the artist's life, you are bearing witness to them and their story and where they are on their creative journey at that moment in time.
Every brushstroke, every colour choice or compositional decision is about imbuing the work with meaning and a sense of their personal story. And ultimately it is for the artist to write it, in paint, and the viewer to read it, through the same medium.
That meaning might be about capturing beauty or responding to the view, or it might be a deep desire of the artist to reach out and share something about themselves.
I left the fair feeling hopeful that visitors would feel similarly enlightened and able to read the stories buried in all the beautiful pages there were to see.
Next time I find myself looking at paintings by other artists I will remind myself to consider the question, what is the artist telling me?
Rather than, what am I looking at?
I feel like it's a subtle but powerful shift in the way I will experience art in the future.
A picture might paint a thousand words, but the thousand words are always there, if you open the cover, turn the pages and read what's in the paint.
Slivers Art Exhibition: Join Us!
Join us for the opening celebration of 'Slivers' at Studio One Noosa on Friday, May 23, from 5 PM. Everyone is welcome!
No RSVP is needed. Come enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks while meeting the talented artists. This unique installation, curated by Juanita Van Den Bergh, invites you to personalize your art collection. Each piece will be available for individual purchase, offering you the chance to curate your barcode art selection.
Featured Artists:
Debra Hutton
Juanita Van Den Bergh
Chris Hooper
Charlotte Wensley
Beatrice Prost
Saint Chalom
Prue Clay
Bronwyn Barton
Krystal Bradford
I created a short video showcasing the journey behind my painting, "Many Moons Ago." You can join me from start to finish!
Strangeland Series: New Small Works
I have added several new small pieces to my 'Strangeland' series! They are custom framed in Natural Oak and ready to hang and available now in my shop, with free shipping within Australia.
Check them out on the series portfolio page:
Where Form Meets Expression
Step into Contours & Colours, an exhibition interweaving figurative and abstract art. This exhibition showcases how distinct styles can enhance one another.
The figurative works provide glimpses into our human experience—portraits and gestures conveyed with depth. In contrast, the abstract pieces break free from representation, using vibrant colors to evoke emotion and encourage interpretation. Together, they foster a compelling dialogue between perception and feeling.
By merging realism with abstraction, Contours & Colours invites viewers to explore the boundaries where form concludes, and emotion begins. It’s a chance to engage with art beyond labels and connect in innovative ways.
Join us for the opening celebration - Thursday 5th June from 5pm at 2 Stevens Street, Yandina, all welcome, no RSVP needed!
I'm thrilled to have my work featured on the cover of 'Virtues & Vocations,' published by Notre Dame University's Institute for Social Concerns. My art also appears throughout the magazine.
This issue discusses honesty and conviction—concepts I strive to embody in my work every day in the studio.
Read the magazine online here:
So, until next month, take the time to write your story in paint. Whether it's a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, or an entire novel, our personal stories enrich the world.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about what’s happening in the studio. I love hearing from you!
What's On
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