Claire Ishino
Now and Then: An exhibition of past paintings and present ponderings
March 23 - April 28, 2024
Gallery 2
Exhibition Launch Saturday April 13 at 3-5pm
This exhibition is a selection of works from 2019 – 2024 of Australian native flora. Over a 5-year period Claire captures the trees and plants on daily walks. She takes snapshots of native flora and takes them to the studio and plans methodically with thumbnails and colour roughs using colour pencil to sketch, giving the sense of freedom in the layering and texture and then develops them into compositions to paint. Using mostly gouache as a medium, the matte colour offers the ability to keep the palettes alive from one painting to the next – adding paint and changing hues but never completely starting over; in this way the paintings are all related to one another.
Other mediums in these works include pencil, acrylic, pen, paper collage and Clay Bord. Claire loves the simplicity of working in black and white, the monotone allows her to concentrate on the forms and linework however, colour is her greatest joy and she is always searching to find new and surprising colour combinations.
Claire says “I use Australian native flora in my work to highlight the beauty of our natural environment and this creates a sense of connection to the land and to each other. The repetitive forms of the native leaves and flowers bring calm to our minds, which seeks patterns to help us make sense of the chaos in our busy lives.
The trees that surround me on my walks are much older than I am, and no doubt be here long after I am gone. While I am here, I will keep looking at the colour and light in this world and continue to paint joyful artworks to add to the colour and happiness in your home”.
Claire Ishino, A Place to Imagine
BIO
Claire Ishino studied Jewellery Design and a further year of Graphics at the University of South Australia. After graduating, she worked as a designer and sales consultant in the jewellery industry in Adelaide before travelling to Japan to live. An intended ‘one year in Japan teaching English’, soon extended to eight years and, during that time, she created a range of colourful washi paper and silver jewellery that was exhibited and sold across Japan from Osaka to Tokyo. After becoming a mum, her focus shifted away from jewellery towards 2-dimensional art works and she has continued on this pathway ever since as she loves the ability to introduce so many colours into her designs.
Claire works from her home-studio in Adelaide producing original gouache or acrylic paintings and black and white ink drawings as well as Limited Edition archival reproductions of the original artworks. Her pieces are inspired by Australian natives and other botanic forms, thoughts, emotions and her love of colour, repetition and pattern; she often uses flowers and leaves as visual metaphors to express thoughts and words or to convey messages. Her style is mostly clean and graphic with crisp edges between colours and small details reflective of her background in jewellery. She draws and paints almost every day and strives to create joyful pieces of work that lift your spirits and fill your home and heart with happiness.
Claire exhibits and sells her work through local shops and galleries and enjoys popping up at design events such as Bowerbird. Her work is licensed to Earth Greetings for application on stationery and greeting cards and her illustrations appear on the 23rd Street Distillery Signature Gin and Jim Barry's Annabelle's Rose labels. Claire's work has also been featured on packaging and products for Dusk Australia, Jacob’s Creek and Jurlique International. She enjoys collaborating with local creatives, Kitty Came Home, to see her work come to life on functional and decorative products.