Art2Muse

Artworks available to view in Sydney

Audrey's latest work captures her response to the rhythms and moods of her new environment in the Blue Mountains of Australia. Her work, as always, encompasses a range of themes, from the “social" invisibility of women as they age to the importance of holding onto the child within. Her ongoing interrogation of the creative process is dealt with in a humorous and whimsical way through childlike imagery fused with "grown-up" issues and preoccupations. Her distinctive layering technique, developed through her years of working with beeswax, translates in this painterly series in charcoal, oils on canvas alone, to reveal luminous layers and intricate detail in subtly textured vignettes.

Artist Statement

we are all born artists.
my work addresses the child within and pays homage to the intuitive side of the creative process.
it's about starting out with no preconceived ideas and leaving it all to intuition.
for me my painting has become an internal collaborative process within my subconscious.
looking for this truth within - in a bid to capture it on canvas - can sometimes be pretty scary, but also very exciting when the imagery evolves in totally unexpected ways.
as each new layer appears it informs the preceding narrative and it is then up to me to interrogate vigorously before moving on.
even when I am satisfied with the results I still know that the final narrative remains unknown.

Audrey Rhoda has recently moved to the blue mountains to pursue her truth.

About My Beeswax Layering Technique

While working on my Master of Art in Sydney over 15 years ago I began experimenting with refined beeswax as a medium in my art-making.
This discovery changed my direction in many exciting ways going from a mature-age student searching for ways to express myself to a full time practising artist. Through the intricate layering of oil paints and beeswax my work evolved as a "window" on to my experiences and observations.

The technique I developed with the layering of beeswax creates a transparent, marble-like texture on the surface which also becomes very tactile.
The layering process is also a lot of fun as well as being inspirational, challenging and even therapeutic.
Many artists have come to my beeswax layering workshops and I am proud to say that many have been inspired and challenged by my signature technique !

Curriculum Vitae

Born Johannesburg, South Africa, 1949
Immigrated Sydney, Australia 1983

Education

2010 National Art School Masterclass, Sydney Aus
1998 National Art School Masterclass, Sydney, AUS
1997 New York Studio School Painting Marathon, New York
1997 New York Studio School Drawing Marathon, Adelaide, AUS
1997 Master of Art, College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Sydney, AUS
1996 Foundry Metal Casting, Illawarra Inst. Technology, Wollongong, AUS
1995 Bachelor of Fine Art, College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Sydney, AUS
1989 Certificate in Colour and Design, School of Colour and Design, Sydney, AUS
1969 Bachelor of Art, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

Solo Exhibitions

2012 New Artists, Gallery Aloft, Sydney Aus
2012 Postcards from Katoomba, Art2Muse, Sydney Aus
2010 New Work, Art2Muse, Sydney,Aus
2007 The child within, Figureworks Gallery, New York
2006 Recent Work, Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney
2005 Childhood Solitudes, Figureworks Gallery, New York
2005 "Childhood Solitudes" Gallery 1011, Melbourne
2004 "Recent Paintings", Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney
2003 "Under the Influence of Solitude" Charles Hewitt Gallery, Sydney
2002 "Post-Paris-Pre-Puppy-Blues", Rushcutters Bay Gallery, Sydney
2001 "More Conversations with Myself", 1+2 Artist Studios, Sydney
2000 "Paysages de La Ame", Galerie Say, Paris
2000 "Metaphorically",Atelier International Art Gallery, New York
2000 "Dogness and other issues", 1+2 Artist Studios, Sydney
1997 "An Old Wife's Tale", Demeter Gallery, Sydney

Retrospective Exhibitions

2011 Rhoda Studio, Rozelle, Sydney , Aus
2009 Rhoda Studio, Rozelle, Sydney
2005 The Butterfactory, Shoalhaven, NSW
2004 Pcl @ incubator, Surry Hills, Sydney

Group Exhibitions

2005 Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne
2005 "The Collectors' Exhibition", Steps Gallery, Melbourne
2001 "Australian Artists Group Show", Galerie Say, Paris
2001 "Recent Works", PCL Gallery, Sydney
2001 Hung Drawn and Framed, PCL Gallery , Sydney
2000 "Elsewhere, Australia", Critical mass Studios, Williamsburg, New York
2000 "Sydney, Australia - Three Artists", Sylvia White Gallery, Los Angeles
2000 "Hung Drawn and Painted", PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney
1999 "9" x 12" Travelling Art Exhibition", Contemporary Art Soc. Vic. Inc., AUS
1999 "Life", PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney/:"Wax, Lacquer & Oils", PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney
1998 "Five plus Three is Eight" PCL Exhibitionists Sydney/"Recent Works" PCL Exhibitionists Sydney
1998 "Bloom" Open House Gallery, Sydney
1998 "Extremities" Open House Gallery, Sydney
1997 "Four Artists" Arthaus Gallery, Sydney
1997 "Five" PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney
1997 "Graduate Exhibition" Master of Art COFA Paddington, Sydney
1996 "Dialogues On and Off the Wall" Tap Gallery, Sydney
1996 "Artists' Collective" Michael Commerford Gallery, Sydney
1996 "Intersexions - Scanning Gender" Arthaus 10th Biennale of Sydney
1995 "Echoes and Reflections" Arthaus, Sydney
1995 "Graduate Exhibition" College of Fine Arts, UNSW, Sydney
1989 "Graduate Exhibition" Colour & Design School, Sydney

Appointments

Beeswax layering technique workshops , Sydney, Commenced May 2006 - ongoing
Drawing workshop co-ordinator, PCL Gallery . Sydney, January 2001
Guest Lecturer, Wax Workshop. Masada College, Sydney, March 2000
Drawing Workshop co-ordinator, PCL Exhibitionists, Sydney, January 2000
Guest Lecturer, Life Drawing Workshop, TAFE, Moss Vale, NSW, May 1999

Collections

Private, USA (L.A. & N.Y.), UK ( London,Leeds,) Paris, Switzerland, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, Sweden, Melbourne, Sydney, Germany, Japan

Reviews

Sebastian Smee "Luck of the Draw" Sydney Morning Herald 23 February, 1999.
Spotlight, The Sydney Morning Herald , Mon, Nov 8th 2004

Grants

Marketing Grant, National Association Visual Arts / NSW Ministry of Arts, 1999

Published

Ursula Kolbe, Rapunzel's Supermarket - All About Young Children and their Art, p113, Peppinot Press,Sydney, 2001
Australian Institute of Family Studies, Family Matters, cover, 2007 Issue No. 77