www.helenhancock.com
Toowoomba Queensland Australia
In my latest series, Treasured, I am recording objects that have been in the family care, in some cases for over 150 years. The objects have a connection to a story and a person. Apart from painting and drawing, I am producing four books which not only trace several families’ history but also many objects that reflect a cultural history. Four books in parallel because I have been photographing & drawing objects within my mother’s home for years while trying to get the story behind the objects. For many objects their history has been forgotten but it is still a clue to someone’s life. Often research or close inspection of an object can reveal unknown stories, often a time and place. The objects then lose their inanimate nature and motivate representation, drawing or painting.
The landscape I observe and paint is mainly from my studio. I live outside Toowoomba caring and restoring a six hectare grassland area. For years I have painted the Darling Downs landscape, its changing patterns and colours of the different seasons. Expressive watecolour or oil paintings interpret the energy, patterns and colours created by sunlight through the day and atmosphere.
The suburban sprawl is creating an evolution of the local landscape. Activity and confusion as seemingly random suburban growth proceeds. Farmlands turn into suburbs; areas of concentration of buildings, roads, increased traffic and thousands of roofs glistening in the sun. Power poles and power lines strung across the countryside.
For the 2019/2020 drought, I re-worked old paintings to a new darkness reflecting the outside environment. Now after rain, it is wonderful to see the grassland is recovering. Drought would highlight the black dirt. It has taken several years for patches of grassland to recover, and I am still learning to identify and care for my few acres. The myriad plants of grasslands are a part of a landscape often taken for granted.
Developing the series Silk 2000-2002 was form of relaxation & pain diversion. The diversity of styles within the series, reflect the varied emotions experienced. Pain is normally a way our body protects us from further injury, except when it becomes the disease itself; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
Curriculum Vitae
1978 Diploma of Arts, (Visual Communication). Qld College of Art, Griffith University, Brisbane.
Worked full time in various aspects of graphic design in Melbourne, Edinburgh, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Alice Springs & Toowoomba. Returned to graphic art to learn and maintain the skill with computers. Volunteering my time to Toowoomba & Darling Downs Family History Society Inc. to design, produce and illustrate the productions of their history books; 18 books since 2006.
Solo Exhibitions
Silk– Qld Arts Council Touring Exhibition 2006-2007. Moranbah, Julie Creek, Yeppon, Cloncurry, Bowen, Mungindi, Texas, Gympie, Biloela, Tully.
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery. April 2002
6pm – Balonne River Gallery, Surat. June 2002, Dalby Regional Gallery. April 2001
Doggett Street Studio, Brisbane. August 2000
A Landscape of Drought – Bauhaus Art Gallery, Brisbane,1995 Dalby Regional Gallery May 2001
Until now – Toowoomba Art Gallery, 1993
I have exhibited in many competitive exhibitions and group Exhibitions around Australia. Acquired at Suncorp Art Awards, 1987 for the Suncorp Art Collection and Acquired at Stanthorpe Art Festival, 1990 for the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery.
For a PDF of Artist Statement and complete Curriculum Vitae email artist@helenhancock.com
Toowoomba Australia