Endurance

I hope to capture the spirit of the Australian landscape and share my experience of the natural world through my artwork. I believe that while spending time in nature or when looking at images of nature, we become aware of our own small place in the world, bringing a little perspective into our lives.

This painting is based on a rock formation in the middle of the Nymboida River at Clarence Gorge, near Grafton. At times the river rises and submerges this rock completely, yet a small shrub continues to grow from a narrow crack.
I was struck by its resilience, and by the way its form echoed the restrained, sculptural quality of a bonsai. Set against the weight and solidity of the rock, the plant feels both delicate and enduring.
The work focuses on this contrast of mass and fragility, permanence and survival.

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Karyn Fendley is a landscape artist based in Byron Bay in northern New South Wales, Australia.
Her artwork explores how we remember places we have visited, using simple yet evocative imagery to capture their essence.
Sumptuous, dramatic colour and flattened perspectives are hallmarks of her distinctive style, inviting viewers to experience familiar landscapes through a fresh, contemplative lens.
Recent series focus on the diverse environments of northern New South Wales and South East Queensland, including the coastal heathlands and serene lakes of Arakwal, Bundjalung, and Yuraygir National Parks, and the ancient, weathered granite formations of Bald Rock and Girraween National Parks near Tenterfield.