Sarah Ackland

Sarah Ackland is an Australian artist who currently works primarily in graphite, but also has a love for watercolour. She enjoys working tonally in graphite and seeing the results that come from working in the medium. Having grown up on a farm in the Western District of Victoria, she has had a love for the Australian landscape and nature from an early age. Whether it was helping her Mother in the garden or her Father out on the farm, it was there the seeds of her inspiration were sown. With an interest in tree portraits, bush scenes, landscape and botanical, she is constantly inspired by the Australian landscape, the plant life and its rugged beauty. Her aim is to convey that beauty onto the paper and have people amazed by it. Whilst mostly self-taught she has studied under Australian artist Julian Bruere. She has found his detailed Australian snowgum scenes and landscapes to be inspiring and aims to reach that level of sensitivity in her artwork. Other influences are Albrecht Dürer, Hans Heyson, Doug Fluckiger and Paul Caddon to name a few. Sarah has work in private collections throughout Melbourne and country Victoria. She has exhibited in group exhibitions and participated in Rotary Art Shows throughout Melbourne and surrounding areas and is an active member of the Victorian Artist Society. Currently she is based in Melbourne where she lives with her Husband and works from home in her studio.

Artist Statement

My artwork is inspired by things I love, places I've been to and things that mean a lot to me. My aim is to convey the beauty of the world that I see around me onto paper and have people amazed by it. My goal is to have my artwork resonate with the viewer. Currently I am enjoying the simplicity of working in graphite. Pushing the boundaries of it and my boundaries as an artist and seeing where the adventure leads me.

Awards

2019 Warrandyte Rotary Art Show Emerging Artist

2023 VAS Summer Exhibition - Highly Commended

2023 VAS Spring Exhibitions – Highly Commended

2023 VAS Winter Show – Curators Award

2023 Finalist in Artist of the Year VAS

2024 Finalist in Artist of the Year VAS

2024 Best Drawing at the Camberwell Rotary Art Show

2024 Kenneth Jack Award - AGRA (Australian Guild of Realist Artists)

2025 Highly Commended – Warrandyte Rotary Art Show

Hydrangeas No.3

Graphite on Fabriano paper HP paper 300gsm

I have always had a love of Hydrangeas, particularly the blue variety. We had them on the farm on the shady side of the house when I was growing up. When I think about hydrangeas, I think of the farm, Mum's garden and the happy memories I had growing up there.

Mum's Camellia

Graphite on Fabriano HP paper 300gsm

Mum's garden has been a source of inspiration since my teenage years. From when I got my first Cannon XLR camera taking photos in Mum's garden, to painting them in my VCE studies and to now.

Into the Woods

Graphite on Fabriano HP paper 300gsm

I enjoyed getting lost in the detail of this drawing, I found it somewhat therapeutic working on different areas and just trusting the process and getting lost in the drawing. It is just so rewarding to see the finished product after many hours of work. I’ll make mention that a reference photo is usually used, but I am never a slave to the reference. I tend to drift from it somewhat with my own interpretation.

Trees

Graphite, Gouache and Wax Varnish on wood

The recent VAS 9 x 5 Exhibition presented an excellent opportunity play with graphite on wood. Many experiments were taken to see which would be the best primer to draw on. I found the best primer to draw on was gouache. Not typically a primer, but the chalky finish of the gouache on the wood allowed for a nice surface to draw on where standard primers gave a too plastic like to make a good mark. For this drawing, I also experimented with wax varnish (not typically used with graphite) and I found that I liked the end result giving it an old worldly look.

Near Flinders Ranges

Graphite on Fabriano paper HP 300gsm

The reference for this picture was taken by my father some thirty years ago on a family road trip to the Flinders Ranges. The crutching on the farm had just finished and Dad had decided, after talking with the shearers about the Flinders Ranges and being inspired by the discussion, that we were going on a road trip. Mum in the front with her knitting, myself in the back and Dad driving with camera nearby ready to stop at a moment’s notice to take a photo.