Jan Lawrence and Carolina Gartner– art exhibition

Press Release:
July 2011

Jan Lawrence and Carolina Gartner– art exhibition

Chile, Van Gogh, colour chaos....inspirations for first art exhibition

Jan Lawrence

These are the words that come to mind for local artists Carolina Gartner and Jan Lawrence when asked to describe the drivers behind their first joint exhibition at Cuba Street gallery, Thistle Hall opening 5.00pm 22 August and running till Sunday 28th.

The artist van Gogh once said “what would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything” - it is this philosophy that lies behind the challenge of holding their first painting exhibition.

For Carolina, it's the inspiration she gains from visits back to the north Chilean deserts and the Australian landscape she later grew up in that ends up in her paintings. More recently the ever changing sea and sky scapes from her Plimmerton studio provides her with constant subject matter. Deep indian reds, yellow-gold ochre and bright ultramarine blues make up part of her painting palette to recreate these vistas.

For Jan, it's the fun of turning chaos into rich colour and form with her larger than life florals and portraits that inspires her. She loves creating shapes of light and dark and seeing a painting develop from a bit of chaos.

Both artists are mainly self taught and prefer working in oils for the effects that can be created, with resulting rich, deep colours. Both Jan and Carolina have sold work through direct commissions, word of mouth and charity auctions.

Carolina has been inspired by attending various workshops with well known artists such as local water colourist Jacky Pearson, Australian artists Alvo Castagnet, Joseph Zbukvic and landscape impressionist Colley Whisson. She is also expanding her skills at The Learning Connexion art school in Taita.

Jan's painting mentors have been various artists such as Americans Pino and Dan Gerhartz whose use of light creates movement in their wonderful figure paintings. Jan's love of painting florals comes from taking part in workshops with Australian artist Jacqueline Coates.

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