Still life with figure IV_ Held Between

This painting captures a moment of serene communion with the underwater world and earth's bounty. Inspired by the harmony between inner calm and vibrant life forces, the woman—eyes closed in quiet gratitude—holds clasped hands as clownfish dance in a bubble orb, coral sways, and a majestic lobster curves protectively beside ripe bananas. It evokes themes of mindfulness, abundance, and the interconnectedness of nature's realms, blending tranquility with playful surrealism.
It can lift a room by introducing soothing blues and earthy warms, fostering peace while sparking joyful curiosity and lively discussion through its whimsical elements.
Crafted in oil on canvas, with smooth glazing for the luminous skin and subtle textures, thick impasto builds the tactile coral, scales, and fruit for depth and vibrancy.

Follow

Born 1980 I am a multi-media artist working remotely in remote Western Australia. Inspired by Frida Kahlo, Salvidor Dali I explore an approach to art that examines a surreal, layered concept. I am Bernadine Anning, an emerging contemporary artist from Western Australia working under the name Googieannart. Originally based in Far North Queensland on Alngith country, my practice now draws from diverse Australian landscapes and experiences. I paint primarily in oil on canvas, focusing on figurative works that delve into psychological presence, stillness, and the subtle tension between inner worlds and external realities. Rooted in careful observation, my paintings transcend strict realism to create suspended spaces where lived experience meets introspective reflection. Central to my compositions are solitary figures accompanied by recurring symbolic motifs—bananas as emblems of abundance and fertility, vessels holding quiet potential, vibrant sea life evoking underwater harmony, and landscape fragments grounding the scene. These familiar, almost domestic elements serve as emotional anchors rather than direct stories. Through repetition across works, they form a personal visual language that weaves threads of memory, identity, continuity, and interconnectedness with nature. Influenced by chiaroscuro traditions, I employ a restrained yet warm palette—rich earth tones contrasted with luminous blues and yellows—to balance vulnerability and quiet strength. Light is used intentionally to sculpt presence and highlight emotional depth, while shadow invites introspection and mystery. My figures often appear with closed eyes or gentle, inward gestures, prioritizing contemplation over outward display. Through balanced compositions and layered symbolism, I explore existence between memory and the present, intimacy and distance, offering viewers intimate, resonant moments of pause, awareness, and subtle emotional intensity. Ultimately, my art seeks to evoke gratitude for the ordinary made extraordinary, inviting slow looking and a sense of harmonious wonder in the interplay of self and world