Artists of Australia
Inspired by the colour and texture of the outdoors -
Inspired by the colour and texture of the outdoors -
Deborah White is a fascinating local artist who creates sculptures; wall art; drawings; paintings and jewellery. Her art uses either natural items or recycled items, in really innovative and beautiful ways. Her minimalist work explores organic forms in nature and juxtaposes them with materials that humans have invented for day to day use and then thrown away. She also runs workshops to encourage people to make their own art in similar ways. (She also has the most fantastic shed in her lovely garden which gave me huge workshop envy!!) I love the quirky mix of art she sprinkles throughout her garden - certainly made me rethink how to put more of my art into my garden. The soul of Africa runs deep in Deb and certainly shines through in her art. I find growing up in Africa puts a certain 'indelible stamp' on people, as you might know I grew up in South Africa too. She was born in Zimbabwe after which her parents moved, while she was still very young, to Malawi - due to the awful impending war in Zimbabwe. In Malawi they lived in a sugar estate down south called Sucoma and her family lived there for 25 years. Her mum started a school there with a friend and was her teacher for a while before she moved to school in Blantyre. Later on, she became a boarder in South Africa – coming home to Malawi for holidays three times a year. To read more about Deb's fascinating story and to see all her art for sale visit her website deborahwhite-art.com . Does your garden influence your work? Yes - definitely - in fact my first exhibition was called 'Abstract Botanica' at the Ballina gallery – all my work includes things that are natural – even my paintings are are quite cellular or have organic drawings on them . My necklaces feature seeds I have collected or repurposed things that I have been given. I love the seeds from the Bismark palm in my garden. I use many manmade items too that I recycle - for instance fly screen; sound proofing material; bottle tops through to galvanised metal off wood delivered for making steps. The people of Malawi could make something from nothing - as they had nothing – Malawi people are really creative with everything. I think this I saw early on and learnt a lot from growing up with that background. Do you have a favourite corner in the garden? I think the area with the birdbath and the meerkat – it brings back my memories of Africa. They are from the South African desert– I remember mongooses in Malawi .
What is your favourite plant? I don’t have a lot in the garden but I love orchids so much! Both my parents would grow them and we would go orchid hunting in the bush together in Malawi. I only really have a couple here- one that is tied into the tree and I have a ‘dancing lady’ orchid in a pot and will put it in a tree when it has bloomed this time. They love to go in the fork of a tree enjoying shelter and sprayed water. I also love bromeliads. I am monochromatic in my art, in fact I find colour challenging in art - but I love colour in the garden. As a graduate I used black and white in my fashion show in final year. I went to school at Pietermaritzburg Epworth where I studied art and fashion. I wanted to be an artist - but my dad said no way you’ll be a hippy - so I could choose from graphic design or fashion design. I chose fashion design and worked in Durban in South Africa with a huge staff at Da Vinci shirts. Mainly men’s fashion but I introduced sleep wear and a lady’s range – which were successful. I think looking back I would have loved interior design. I love making stories in areas in the home. I think once you have a creative eye you can use it in so many ways. Can you tell me about a favourite garden? My favourite garden was my mum’s garden in Malawi – she won many awards from every flower show; orchid show and veggie show. It was huge and beautiful - essentially a native garden. She loved gardening as well as flower arranging – specifically ‘Ikebana’. I find this floral art form comes through in my wall art – in its balance and shape. I remember from the 80’s she had Barberton daisies (Gerberas) as well as chrysanthemums and crotons. She was a natural gardener though – never used insecticides only used natural things as sprays. My grandmother lived in Zimbabwe and she enjoyed the garden – she was a forager – she influenced my life a lot as I spent holidays with her collecting things and this influenced me – she also crocheted and made great salads. My dad was in the police and then worked on a sugar estate – he was creative - always building toy yachts and model airplanes How does the act of ‘making’ relate to your personality and who you are? I think that the act of making - while creative - for me is the logical process of putting things together. I use a logical way to make something that leads to creative result. I think it is very much based on my heritage – practicality from watching my dad solve problems while making things. That is maybe why my style is quite clean – I love other art to look at but I could never do that. I find it is too ‘loose’ I think I have a bit of OCD as I like things straight and ordered. My art is balanced like that - and black and white which makes it cleaner. I struggle to use colour. The blue one I made (from a whole lot of donated bottle tops) ended up in the garden as I couldn’t look at it in my monochromatic house. Tell us about your career to date – did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work? I always wanted to be an artist but my dad saying no meant 25 years in the fashion industry. It was really only when I met my husband racing at the Master’s swimming competition and we decided to get together 11 years ago that I left SA. I got really into my art when 4 years ago during our renovation I couldn’t bear to throw all the bits away – so I started seriously to use them. I enjoyed selling at the markets, but they are hard work. My jewellery grew from my love of fashion. I make more of that now – as I can wear them. I would like to do more wall hangings but, due to my busy other job and my back injury I am not able to do a huge amount right now - I hope to get back to it next year. Talk us through your creative process. Where do you start? I am influenced initially by knowing my colour palette and also that it will be balanced. I might be on a walk and see a piece of wood or seeds and I know that will be the start of a wall sculpture or piece of jewellery. I like curves and shapes and then the artworks tend to grow organically. If someone gives me recycled things, then I might see it as a start of a sculpture . My garden or my walks in nature will usually be right at the start of my inspiration. My drawings are freehand – I just start and they come out organically and I just let my hand flow. What’s been the single most crucial tool or strategy you’ve used to grow your creative business? I have to say social media and word of mouth – my workshops are not advertised – usually a friend will organise a group to come to me. As I have another job it is too hard at the moment to do a huge amount, so I get people I know to bring friends. They don’t need to be creative, but they can make a wall hanging they love. Time is limited when you have another job – you can’t turn creativity on and off - you need to be in the zone and keep going in it. What’s been the most challenging lesson learnt since you started your art? I think overcoming the expectation that everyone will love your work and buy it. I find that I get multiple compliments but sometimes no sales. It is so important to market to the right people or market. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you since you started creating? The people I have met through my work and workshops – South African people are such community people and I found it hard here when I first arrived. Once I started my art and workshops, I found a community I could be part of. I have enjoyed being part of art groups – you can’t hide away in your studio and expect a great outcome.
What are your top Tips for a beautiful garden? You need to stay on it - keep feeding them, weeding them and looking after the soil – we work on ours all the time. We had a vision from when we were inspired while visiting a botanic garden in Dubbo - and we built ours from scratch. Do you have any projects coming up you would like to talk about? My back is not good at the moment and I am waiting for an operation - so most things are on hold at the moment till next year. I need to get my energy back for more creative things including workshops next year. My work for sale is on my website https://www.deborahwhite-art.com
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Kay KnightsI am an Australian artist who is crazy about her garden and I'm inspired by the colours and contrasts in my backyard. I truly believe that Gardening is Art - I believe that many Artists are similarly inspired in their gardens. This Blog is for me to go and meet some of them and share their gardens and art. ArchivesNo Archives Categories |