Bluethumb Team’s 2022 Xmas Wishlist
Somehow, it’s almost that time of year again! Christmas seems to come around more and more quickly each year. And the team here at Bluethumb have collated their favourite artworks at the moment to give you some Xmas gift inspiration – whether it be a gift to someone else or to yourself! So keep reading to discover Bluethumb’s 2022 Xmas wishlist.
Dom: Home Totem / Lamb by Peter Tankey
Home Totem / Lamb by Peter Tankey
Home Totem / Lamb is a part of Peter Tankey’s ongoing ‘Home-Totem’ series of still life paintings, in which he presents regular domestic objects as totemic structures. This particular work depicts a porcelain lamb atop some electricians tape, a chrome coffee jug and a blue coloured glass ashtray. Another piece in this series, Home Totem #2 / Sunset, won the Bluethumb Art Prize 2022 Still Life Award.
Amy: Flowers, Tequila and Lime by Angus White
Flowers, Tequila and Lime by Angus White
Flowers, Tequila and Lime is as bright and bubbly as Amy’s personality! This pink abstract still life is a fun and eclectic piece that utilises bold colours and strong lines for maximum effect. Artist Angus White explains, “flowers bloom for many reasons, but their value and use is changing and often depressive. A symbol of life, love, death, and sorrow. I’ve always found it interesting all the things that flowers can say, while all the while remaining, on surface level, extremely beautiful.”
Stephen: Djomi 1264-22 by Joy Garlbin
Djomi 1262-22, 1263-22 and 1264-22
Available to view in our flagship Richmond gallery, this Djomi by Joy Garblin has a unique cultural story:
“There are two Dreaming ladies at Bábbarra billabong – Djómi and Bábbarra. These two are sisters: one freshwater ‘mermaid’ and one saltwater one. Big long head, big stomach and very skinny legs that Bábbarra. Their mother is the crocodile who lives in the Bábbarra billabong. Both sisters will give people babies through the drinking water at Bábbarra. That’s why men stay away and Bábbarra is a sacred women’s site. Too strong our Dreaming – even men can get that baby in their tummies! When it rains at Bábbarra, or when a cyclone comes, it’s because our Dreaming is too strong. There are lots of women spirits. When the storms come, the spirits go in the underground rivers and hide safely. If you go fishing in our country, you have to be careful not to catch the Bábbarra and Djómi ‘mermaids’. Some people catch them thinking they are barramundi, but they are actually the ‘mermaid’ spirits. You will know, because they have white hair.”
Alexandra: Poppies and Roses by Lisa Nooin
Poppies and Roses by Lisa Nooin
Lisa Nooin has a background in graphic design, which sparked her love of colours and thoughtful composition. By exploring the blend of colours and shapes, Lisa loves to design patterns and compose beautiful scenes within her work. Lisa’s distinctive still lifes depict botanicals and domestic scenes, finding the beauty in the everyday.
Claire: Urban Shell Ed. of 50 by Christine Rocher
Urban Shell Ed. of 50 by Christine Rocher
Christine Rocher is an award-winning fine art photographer focused on impressionist photography in nature and landscapes in Perth, Western Australia. The visual splendour and artistry of her photographs are born of a keen eye and a passion for the beauty seen in the diverse Australian landscape.
Christina: Connectedness by Maria Watson-Trudgett
Connectedness by Maria Watson-Trudgett
Proud Koori woman, Maria Watson-Trudgett, explains, “my artwork is inspired by my connections to people, place and community of my Country… Wiradjuri… For me ‘Country’ is all things, it is a place of belonging and a way of life.” Impressively, Maria is ambidextrous and paints with both hands at once!
Rachel: Happy Days Ed. of 50 by Wayne Pearson
Happy Days Ed. of 50 by Wayne Pearson
This image by Wayne Pearson was taken in Chefchaouen in Morocco in October 2022. The photographer reveals, “in my opinion, this was the most beautiful street in the old township with beautiful shades of blue mixed with the brightly coloured tiles and the traditional tiles. This place takes your breath away, not just because of the stunning blue walls, but the local people were very welcoming and incredibly honest.” The striking cobalt blue paint of the stone and buildings contrasts with the bright, warm pattern of the mosaic tiles, making for an eye-catching piece.
Kate: The Mix Tape No.2 by Brett Rose
The Mix Tape No.2 by Brett Rose
Based in Sydney, Brett Rose is an artist of many sorts – a painter, musician and graphic designer. Brett’s varied artistic experiences fuse to create his unique, distinctive style he describes as “…sort of Pop-arty – often with a Retro twist,” characterised by complementary colours, strong linework and distinct shapes to create often nostalgic still lifes and domestic landscapes.
Keegan: Gold Troubadour by Alicia Gilchrist
Gold Troubadour by Alicia Gilchrist
Hailing from Brisbane, Alicia Gilchrist is an abstract artist whose paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions. Alicia’s use of bright, vibrant colours, and an energetic and playful style of painting works to evoke emotion and capture attention. This black and gold piece is over 2 metres long, making it the perfect centre piece for your empty walls.
George: Trying to Paint at the End of a Hot Day by Ken Done
Trying to Paint at the End of a Hot Day by Ken Done
Best known for playful mark-making, bold colour palettes and commitment to bringing art into the everyday through his eclectic design projects, Ken Done is identifiable as one of Australia’s most famous artists. His work has been described as the most original style to come out of Australia and his paintings are in collections throughout the world. We recently held our first major solo exhibition in our flagship Richmond gallery, Ken Done: Twenty Years. While the exhibition is now over, you can view the full curation here.
Amélia: Lemon by Colleen Stapleton
Lemon by Colleen Stapleton
Colleen Stapleton is a contemporary realist artist whose work focuses on portraiture and still life. Highly accomplished, she has been a finalist in the Portia Geach Memorial Award, Darling Portrait Prize, Shirley Hannan, Percival, SBS, Lethbridge 20000, Kennedy Art Prize, International Art Renewal Centre Salon & received the Highly Commended Award in the KAAF Prize.
Jarrod: RDND CLL by O. Hiisi
RDND CLL by O. Hiisi
O. Hiisi’s unique style is hard to miss. The simplistic yet bold linework and strong colour choices make for the perfect addition to any interior space. “What’s not to love?” Jarrod asks, “O. HIISI’s pieces are simple, catch your eye and have plenty of texture to entertain you as you move around the space they occupy.”
Julian: Halo Ed. 1 of 1 by Alex Frayne
Halo Ed. 1 of 1 by Alex Frayne
Alex Frayne has been involved in film and images from his earliest school days. Beginning with an 8mm camera in hand he has continued his love affair with the medium through school and then at Flinders University. This image was shot on 6x9cm negative film from the Jetty at Henley Beach in South Australia.
Lesley-Anne: Magnificent Seven Rides Again by Franko
Magnificent Seven Rides Again by Franko
Bluethumb best seller and self-proclaimed “art addict,” Franko, is known for his large-scale abstracts that fuse different contemporary styles, including Pop Art and Urban styles. “My bread and butter is producing large format abstract, urban, pop and Abstract Realism style artworks for fashionable homes and commercial projects. If I’m going to make a mess, it might as well be a big one!”
Hannah: The Boy by Rebecca Trajkovski
The Boy by Rebecca Trajkovski
Rebecca Trajkovski fuses abstract with surrealism in her wonderful and varied works. This portrait is a unique representation of the human form, utilising styles similar to that of the great artist, Francis Bacon, and contemporary artist and winner of the Bluethumb Art Prize 2021, Loribelle Spirovski. “I don’t really like knowing where a work is going or having a set plan because I enjoy being lost in the process,” Rebecca reveals.
Victoria: White Jug by Antoinette Stokell
White Jug by Antoinette Stokell
Antoinette Stokell’s Still Life Series is a collection of works that play with colour and form. “Every day we see random objects and don’t take much notice of them. When we group them together they become part of something,” she explains. With dozens of works to choose from in the Still Life series – and at such an affordable price – you may as well grab a few for your collection!
Sheeraz: Self Portrait #4 by Sid Pattni
Self Portrait #4 by Sid Pattni
Portrait artist, Sid Pattni, has quickly garnered success as an artist, with his works being selected as finalists for the Lester Prize, Blake Prize and Kennedy Prize. Sid’s studio practice seeks to tell specific stories of identity, culture and belonging. This self portrait examines the feeling of uneasiness Sid feels in discovering the beauty of his heritages. Sid reveals, “as an Indian-Australian, I stand at the intersection of two cultures, unsure of how to grapple with my mixed identities. I have often dismissed the beauty of my culture in order to assimilate into White Australia.”
Alex: Possum by Eve Izzett
Possum by Eve Izzett
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, artist Eve Izzett now resides in Magnetic Island, QLD, where she creates her bright and bubbly paintings. Eve explains, “the defining characteristic of much of my portraits is the combination of realistic forms with abstract colour choices.”
Like what you see? See the full Bluethumb 2022 Xmas wishlist in our latest curation here!
