Mosman Park artist and art teacher Cher van Schouwen is constantly inspired by the vibrancy of life, and of human beings in particular.
“My paintings have a sense of fun,” she said. I don’t want to be a painter who depicts morbid things.”
It’s no surprise then that Cher’s debut solo collection, to be shown at The Breathing Colours Gallery in Balmain, Sydney, with a preview exhibition at Nell’s Emporium in Mosman Park, is inspired by all things spring-time.
Paintings in the collection range from big, textural florals bursting with colour to more tonal landscapes and portraits with the focus on composition, subject and light.
Two such paintings are a set of portraits of former Olympic Waterpolo player Guy Newman, who coincidentally grew up in Balmain, where the collection is being shown.
Cher was inspired to paint Guy when she came across photos of him taken in 1992.
She contacted him to ask his permission, and was delighted when he agreed to the portraits and to attend the exhibition in September, and speak at the opening.
She said the portraits of Guy portrayed a combination of masculinity and fragility, that evoked varying emotions, depending on their interpretation.
“That’s a comment around all of my pieces; that they make you think,” Cher said.
Cher’s Breathing Colours collection has a special preview at Nell’s Emporium, 15 Glyde Street, Mosman Park, on August 21, from 6 o 8.30pm. It opens in September in Sydney.
The Post, 21 July 2012
Photo By: Paul McGovern