Upcoming artist-in-residence: Patricia Petersen

Patricia Petersen is a painter who lives on Gumbaynggirr Country, near Coffs Harbour NSW. She has been painting since the 1980s and over the last ten years her style has evolved from representational to more non-figurative and abstracted. Patricia has studied at Deakin University and University of New England Armidale. She has exhibited at Weswal Gallery Tamworth, Gallery 126 Armidale, Gunnedah Bicentennial Create Art Gallery and Armidale Art Gallery. Patricia is motivated by the subtleties of nature, finding imagery that speaks to her in the landscape in which she lives and visits. Having started her professional practice using watercolour and oil, Patricia now paints predominantly in ink combined with other water-based media on different surfaces. 

Patricia Petersen, Abstract Seascape, 2019, 

Sumi-e ink & watercolour on wood

Concern for the environment is something that I hope my landscape paintings promote. There is an increasing awareness of the changes in our ecosystem through the changing weather conditions causing droughts, fires, and the erosion of the land. Much damage has been done to the environment in a relatively short space of time and we have an even smaller shorter time to fix it. 

During my residency I plan to go on walks, and to draw and paint my response to the natural environment surrounding Gunyah. After the drought and bushfires, I am heartened by nature's resilience and this also informs my paintings.

Patricia Petersen, Landscape, 2020, 

Sumie ink on rice paper

You can see more of Partricia's work on her Instragam @fineartricia

Patricia Petersen, Tributaries of Air, 2020, 

Sumie ink & watercolour on rice paper