“I love oil paint and the still life genre. I am particularly interested in capturing light, composition, form and colour manipulation, and strive to create a quality painted surface. I pay homage to the beauty of the natural world and the personal treasures that we choose to fill our homes with. My paintings are an intimate reflection of the true beauty that surrounds us, should we learn to observe it.”
Lara Chapman
The quality of the painting surface and the brushwork is a primary concern for me when I paint. Detail is revealed within the structure of the paint. Laying the marks with directional intent directs both the eye around the artwork, and bounces light accordingly. These large planes of colour are quite abstract in nature. I look for and translate the subtle shifts in colour temperature and manipulate values for effect.
Capturing light with pure pigments is how I produce paintings that are beautiful. I use artist quality materials and hand-mix all my colours. Colour mixing is a large part of each painting. The paintings inform my decision making throughout the creative process. I am constantly asking myself ‘what does the painting need?’ As a colourist, I use colour for expressive effect.”
Encouraged by her senior art teacher to study art teaching, Lara holds a high school art teaching degree and taught in three schools in Queensland, up until the birth of her second child. She has a life long passion for art and art education, establishing the Art Department at her last state high school appointment. Lara now paints commercially from her home studio in Brisbane, Queensland.
CV
Education:
· Diploma of Secondary Teaching – Art, Kelvin Grove College
· Bachelor of Education, Queensland University of Technology
Solo Exhibitions:
2018 ‘ Tabletop’, Wild Canary, Brookfield QLD
Awards:
2022 Finalist The Doyles Art Award, Mudgeeraba Qld
2021 Salon Finalist Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Qld
2019 Finalist Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award, Qld
2018 Royal Queensland Show – Third Place Still Life Genre, Qld
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2022 The Doyles Art Award Exhibition, Mudgeeraba QLD
2022 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane QLD
2022 Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD
2021 Finite Art Space ‘Close To Home’ Exhibition, Brisbane QLD
2021 Purple Noon Gallery ‘Florescence’ Exhibition, Hawkesbury NSW
2021 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award Salon Finalist, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2021 Brisbane Grammar Art Show, Brisbane QLD
2021 Grammar Art Show, Toowoomba QLD
2020 Art Nuvo Buderim ‘Euonia’ Exhibition, Buderim QLD
2019 Lethbridge 20000 Small Scale Art Award Gallery Finalist, Lethbridge Gallery, Brisbane QLD
2019 Brisbane Grammar School Art Show ‘Aurum’, Brisbane QLD
2019 Aspire Gallery ‘In Focus’ Exhibition, Brisbane QLD
2017 MPN Online Charity Exhibition curated by Amber Creswell Bell
1989 Group Exhibition Kelvin Grove College Graduating Class