Lynn Dean is a Redlands based artist, working mainly with acrylics applied by palette knife onto stretched canvas. There is a thread of reality running through Lynn’s artwork, although they are not quite as real as they would be to the natural eye. It is an expressive and adventurous, impressionistic style which grew out of her experimentation with different ways of using implements to create her works. Her aim is to encourage the viewer’s imagination and thoughts whilst getting an enormous eyeful. Lynn has an eclectic folio which covers areas of realistic abstract, imaginative images and contrived artworks alike.
A tactile person, to whom texture (both the look and feel of something) has always been important and interesting. Lynn works quietly, alone with her thoughts and imaginings, painting intuitively, using a type of raw energy that brings a connection with paint, tools and surfaces. She likes to take one part of the scene and make it the focal point of the picture whilst other parts become insignificant to the depiction. “I see a myriad of possibilities and ideas for paintings and find it hard not to notice the unusual thread that is often found in ordinary everyday items and scenes. Everything from the sea to a sunset, clouds to shadows cast. I like to take what I see and sort of turn it inside out to view it from a different perspective.” That is her inspiration for expressing herself in a painting.
The use of bold colours and strong application is integral to Lynn’s artworks. Paint is applied by palette knife, spatulas and random implements of varying sizes, shapes and flexibility. Texture, blending and layering are also key applications which she loves to experiment with. Brushes are seldom used and then only in a minor capacity as she usually likes to cover large areas at a time spreading and blending the paint as she goes. Returning to complete the detail in the next layers. She also has a special feel for black and white studies because of their striking contrast.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
At the age of 7, Lynn emigrated to Australia from England with her parents and four siblings. Growing up in the western suburbs of Sydney where life was an eclectic mix of vibrant ethnic cultures, helped to bring forth her natural artistic ability. She studied art and art history through her school years and has always been involved in art as long as she can remember. Always focusing on reading and gaining as much information about technique and style from the old masters. All the while, working and raising a family in the Redlands/Bayside area which has been her home for most of her life.
In 1996 her art career took off when she decided to spend more time on self-expression by creating Natural Art using bark from Australian paper bark trees torn into pieces and flaked using the natural colours within to create Australian bush scenes. At the same time, she began experimenting with acrylic paint on board and canvas with old paint scrapers, palette knives and anything else she could find in the shed for tools! These unique pictures and paintings have been sold and now form part of personal collections in many countries around the world including UK, Japan, USA, South Africa, Europe and here in Australia.
Her work has developed further since beginning to travel in 2005. She has been back and forth between Australia and the UK on a regular basis and has visited many other countries, gathering inspiration from her travels. A highlight of her career was her own major art exhibition in the South of England in 2011. Her artworks sold for the equivalent of $1500 per piece at the time and some of her recent artworks are now selling well over this amount. The value of her artwork is growing steadily and therefore an ideal investment to add to your own collection.
Thank you for reading my profile, I’m excited to be able to share my art with you ~ Lynn Dean.