{studio archive}: a fresh start... a new year

Sunday, January 1, 2012

a fresh start... a new year

Happy New Year everyone!

Ive not had my camera out of its case much in the last month... first it was the catch up on all kinds of tasks after a huge year and OS travel... then it was writing the E-newsletter. After all that it was the need to get stuck into the paints in the studio again.

I have so many photos from the trip Ive not posted...so I might work on that next. It was fun creating a new header for this blog a few days ago. The image is from the greenhouse at the Millennium Seedbank.

I turned my attention to creating a new header for this blog (below)... not sure how long this one will last here... but the good thing about the casual nature of thus studio archive blog is that it is a place where I am happy to plant around. Its not a website... theres no formality here. I like that I can try things out and write down odd thoughts....much like one does in a journal!

The image below was on the header till recently ... this is where I was mid-year!

And before that was this header... the residency year.... seeds everywhere...and the oval paintings!

This one below reflects 2009.... its actually a painting turned on its side that I did with collaged fabric. I remember enjoying the colours in this one...it was called "coastal reverie" and does capture the moods for me of this region at the coast.

Well.... lets see what 2012 brings ... may your year be filled with enriching journeys of whatever kind you find yourself taking!

PS:

I wrote about my trip to St Ives in Cornwall in October at this blog... and the lovely Carolyn, the blogger I introduced in that post, wrote a little also about that visit here in her wonderful blog.

Carolyn Saxby has a thing for colour that many admire... this reflects her way of working. She walks daily if possible in her wonderful hometown of St Ives in Cornwall ... collecting things as she goes... perhaps making a drawing ... definitely takes shots... and later she works at bringing the colours to life!

Thanks Carolyn for sharing your wonderful stories and showing me around. My visit to St Ives was brief but the memories are long!

THANK YOU FOR VISITING THIS STUDIO ARCHIVE BLOG OF SOPHIE MUNNS

COLLECTIONS AND COMMISSIONS:

Public Collections:

. Newcastle Community Art Centre

. Maitland Regional Gallery

. John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle

. R.S.L.CARE Fortitude Valley, QLD

. Victoria University Library Collection

. Victoria University Alumni collection

. QEII Hospital, Brisbane

. KEW Gardens Millennium Seedbank, UK

. Institute for Molecular Bioscience, UQ, QLD

. Cairns Botanic Gardens -Tanks Artist's Residence

Private Collections from 1990 onwards in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, NZ, UK and the U.S.

Commercial commissions to produce Textile designs for Domestic Textile Corporation, Melbourne from early 1997 through to 1999.

Private Commissioned work since 1992 in Australia.

ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Sophie Munns is currently living in Brisbane, QLD, Australia having relocated from Newcastle, NSW in May 2008, her base for 8 years.

Born in Grafton, Northern NSW, Sophie studied for a B ED (Art) in Newcastle before teaching in various secondary schools on the NSW coast for the following 6 years. A 2 year stint working in London and travelling abroad was the catalyst for Sophie to consider taking her passion for Art further on her return to live in Melbourne.

Comfortably ensconced in leafy Kew, (Melb) Sophie set up a studio from home, 2 years later starting a small design business and within 2 years of that opening a shopfront studio in Collingwood - 'Themata Studio' - effectively an artist-run-space operating as a multi-purpose facility providing classes and workshops for adults, works by commission and a lively cross-roads for conversation and exchange between diverse participants and visitors to the space.

4 years later freelance work and commissioned work was continuing although the shopfront venture closed in 1998 and in 2000 Sophie returned to study painting at Victoria University.

This plan was short-lived when, 4 months into studies, a housefire necessitated changes and relocation to Newcastle ensued. A studio from home was once again established, classes for adults offered, artwork picked up and gradually shifted its focus. Sophie returned to teaching in secondary schools virtually full time, exhibiting work quite frequently, entering art awards and by 2005 showing work in Sydney as well as the Hunter.

After a prize and commendations in the annual Maitland Art Award in 2006 Post Grad study was commenced the following year with a large mid year exhibition of work from 2 solid years painting in the University's student gallery. Unexpected changes, once again, occured at the close of that year due to complications of a medical nature. Uni was left behind and Sophie made the shift to Brisbane and family ties.

Sophie's art practice has continued to evolve and deepen over the past 2 decades through embracing significant changes and challenges with courage and enthusiasm, curiosity and perseverence.

Energy may flag at times and life can interfere with plans but for Sophie there is something perrenially life-giving about continuing to produce artworks and explore ideas. That the unexpected can and does happen is a lesson well learnt...but perhaps the greater lesson is in finding the poetic, the transcendant in all that comes along. And that is worth striving for Sophie believes...always!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

a fresh start... a new year

About Me