Mary-Anne Stuart

Very much an intuitive artist, I revel in colour and pattern, and nature is my number one inspiration. 

The Banksia plant is my muse and has been my obsession and subject for the last few years.  I have coined a phrase – Banksia Imaginata – to describe the body of my artworks that are intuitively created and inspired by the unique structure, colours and patterns found in this Australian native plant species.

Environmental issues are uppermost in my mind and I often re-use everyday items as mark making tools or collage items - from kitchen utensils to paper coffee cups, cardboard and sticks, envelopes, magazines, and plastic waste material.

For me, the process of creating is one of real joy and absorption of attention for me and I want people who see my works to realise the preciousness and uniqueness of the natural world. When I let the medium show the way, I feel closer to emulating the randomness of nature – when I try too hard to represent something, it feels too contrived. Working in a variety of media such as oil, acrylic, gouache and watercolour paints, inks, coloured pencils, wax pastels and collage I create works on canvas, wood panel and paper.  Occasionally fabric and thread are used. 

As a late blooming female artist, I am very aware of the opportunity I have now. Although I’d had art lessons throughout my 20s and 30s, it was the return to study in 2007 after raising my children that led to an overwhelming urge to immerse myself in learning about and making art. Completion of a bachelor’s degree in media and communications (majoring in visual communication) in 2014 was followed immediately by a Diploma in Visual Art. In 2020, I quit my part time office job to concentrate solely on making art and running my art business.