10 Local Tasmanian Artists You Should Know
Tasmania’s geographical isolation from the rest of Australia doesn’t get in the way of its cultural and community-based nature. Wintery festivals and a sublime culinary reputation aside, nowhere else is known for such abundance of stunning greenery, nor its embracing of the weird and wonderful side of art. Ready to discover a new Tasmanian artist? See our Top 10 for 2022 below.
Elaine Green: Cloudscape Extraordinaire
Just before the storm strikes – Blue Serenity by Elaine Green.
Why go to the mountain, when the mountain can come to you? The cloud-crowned mountain scenes that come to Elaine Green‘s canvas offer a break from the mundanity of everyday life in places in Tasmania known for quietude. With her work currently featuring in our Adelaide gallery, we can confirm her dreamy oil paintings never fail to send us adrift!
We’d be happy to get lost in this landscape! The Falls 2 was inspired by this winter’s recent snowfall.
Explore more of Elaine’s heavenly landscapes here.
Sandra Jenkins: A Still Life Tasmanian Artist
Inspired by my mothers vase. The Eldest Daughter’s Vase refers to Sandra’s future heirloom.
It took moving to Queensland for a year for Tasmanian artist Sandra Jenkins to develop her artistry on her return to her home state. Inspired by the freedom to wander the bush, river, a huge old quarry and nearby arboretum, the Tassie environment finds centre stage in her nature artworks and still life pieces.
While some may see the Forget-me-not as a weed, Sandra Jenkins depicts a personal connection with the flower in this piece.
Browse her full collection here.
Rachel Howell: Tasmanian Bushwalker
When you’re surrounded by outstanding bushland and and dazzling bodies of water, it’s only natural that you find this a constant well of inspo for creativity and artistry. Tasmanian artist Rachel Howell is no different. From a young age, Rachel used to join her father, a passionate bushwalker and photographer, on many of his adventures trekking to some of Tasmania’s most remote and mystical places.
Cradle in Autumn by Rachel Howell.
Following a career as a school teacher, Rachel now spends as much time as possible painting in her studio at Rosevears. Rachel paints in a diverse range of mediums, including oil, pastel and watercolour. The numerous accolades under her belt include Hangers Choice Glover Art Prize 2016 and Bay of Fires Art Prize 2016.
Afternoon Haze by Rachel Howell.
Travel to Tasmania’s remotest places through Rachel’s profile.
Jenna Chartrand: The Punctilious Painter
“Chromatic Indifference” Eastern Rosella by Jenna Chartland
Canadian-born artist, Jenna Chartrand, made Tasmania her home in 2015. It’s clear that Tasmania’s abundant flora and fauna does not only inspire her work but further is food for her soul. Jenna’s eye for detail makes her the perfect candidate for a pet portrait or commission piece. Bringing life to the forefront of her artwork, Jenna states “it’s only when the animals seem to breathe that I know I have done justice to her, and know that my job is done.”
“Caught in the Act” Cedar Waxwing by Jenna Chartrand
Jenna’s creative practice takes place in her quaint home-based studio alongside her partner and two dogs, Diesel and Moose. Explore more of her work here.
Steve Myers: Capturing the Ocean’s Essence
A man of science, Steve Myers has been drawn to the ocean since he first hopped on a surfboard at the tender age of 4. Raised on the Gold Coast, Steve has spent his life in the academic world, teaching, researching and gaining a PhD in biochemistry and genetics. More recently, he also added a Masters in Environmental Science to his impressive knowledge base, complementing his creative portfolio of seascapes. While it’s commonly held that art and science do not coexist within the same mind, Steve proves the opposite, nothing that “art helps me think clearer and helps me apply myself more diligently to my science work.”
Shore Break by Steve Myers
In 2022, the oceanic artist calls Launceston home and regularly travels to Tasmania’s wild western shores, where many of his paintings are set. The ever-changing sea is a constant siren call.”To me, the ocean captures the essence of moods; being clear and calm one day to wild and ferocious the next.” Steve continues, “I am continually drawn to the beauty of the ocean, it’s energy, and it’s vastness which provoke emotion that I try to capture in my art.”
Embrace the wild seas with more of Steve’s seascapes on his profile.
Chloe Papastavrou: The Abstract Tasmanian Artist
Kanamaluka Supply River “examines the textures, stories & pneuma of [the northern Tasmanian] landscape and the Supply River tributary.”
Chloe captures the cycle of colour and movement of the stream at Ponrabble.
Elizabeth Barsham: Unearthing Local Mythologies
Rock Pools by Elizabeth Barsham
A lover of stories, Elizabeth Barsham has devoured everything from Greek mythology to Icelandic sagas. However, she’s always found herself hungry for tales closer to home, but with so few stories about Tasmania it was hard to find the “uniquely Tasmanian mythology” she craved. It took an art residency on King Island in the middle of the Bass Straight dividing Tasmania and Victoria for her own quest to be fulfilled.
Cow Pasture is an eerie take on King Island’s dairy traditions and shipwrecks.
King Island is famous for two things: dairy and strong winds. It’s also home to Australia’s tallest lighthouse, where many a wayward ship has met its doom. Elizabeth draws upon the stories of this seemingly inconsequential island in her own work, imbuing her art with strong narrative themes and unearthly beings.
Discover King Island’s mysteries on Elizabeth’s profile.
Gaye Sutherland: Painting Doorways to the World
Capturing the natural wonders Myanmar is a haven for, Lotus 1 – evening instantly evokes a sense of calm and wonder.
“Art is amazing. It is very personal, allowing you to express yourself through colour or subject but also can be shared by many people giving them pleasure, questions or simply vision,” says Gaye Sutherland. Art is not simply creative expression for her, but also a portal to other places and points of view. Creating art has ignited Gaye’s passion to travel the world and seek out the variety of new experiences that are ours for the taking.
Gaye lets the foreground shine through in the gentle landscape, Kunanyi (Mt Wellington).
After stuffing herself with these experiences in places as diverse as Myanmar and Scotland, Gaye is now contentedly sitting back in her Tasmanian studio and letting her brush create doorways for others to step through to explore her memories in realistic detail.
Step through Gaye’s landscapes into remote regions of the world here.
Sofia Alba: Russian Roots, Rich Variety
Spring Competition 2020: “Spring is the time of blossom and the victory of the day over the night.”
Having an artistic practice that stems from the Classic Russian Academic Art School makes Sofia Alba one of the most varied Tasmanian artists of the bunch. Not limited to one particular style or technique, her work explores diverse forms of media and employs a medley of techniques. Surreal animal portraits, seascapes, dreamy bird scenes – Sofia depicts them all.
This Cassowary is one of the first birds in Sofia’s series of birds in Australia.
Find the full scope of Sofia Alba’s work here.
Daniela Selir: The Innate Artist
Banksia Overpass by Daniela Selir.
Living chapters of her life in different parts of Australia undoubtedly has been an influential factor to the scenes Daniela Selir paints, but her love of painting is pretty much hereditary. Inspired by her creative parents – her father’s preference for landscapes and her mother’s love of flowers – Daniela’s body of work is a perfect blend of the two, both being frequent subject matter.
Inspired by banksia outside and in! A Banksia Moment by Daniela Selir.
Ready to bring the spirit of Tasmania to you? Check out our complete list of Tasmanian artists here. You can also check out our picks of artists from Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Perth.
Fantastically beautiful
Very impressed by the quality of work.