The introduction didn't go well - Contemporary Wildlife Ed. 10 of 30

Invasive species have a huge impact on Australia’s native flora and fauna. Crowding out natives from habitat, feeding on precious resources, and damaging landscapes with cloven hooves. We can all agree that these species are not helping our natives survive. ⁣
BUT and it is a big but these species are not here on our island nation of their own volition. They have all been introduced by humans and now the animals are seen as the villains in the story. Be it the cane toad that was introduced to rid farms of the cane beetle or the European rabbit that was introduced for hunting parties all of them came in small numbers for a purpose and then were allowed to breed in the wild. ⁣
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Their existence and consequently their destruction of native environments is a legacy we as humans have to hold responsibility for.

Reproduction print on paper
Print of original artwork by Ronelle Reid
Signed and numbered by the artist on the front.
A certificate of authenticity is also signed and numbered by the artist.
Print material: smooth surface sihl masterclass 320gsm 100% cotton rag paper
Printed by: Art House Reproductions in Brisbane Australia
Original media: colour pencil on paper
Dimensions: print: 60 x 60cm paper 63 x 63cm

How do you describe her art?
Inspired by her love of animals, Ronelle creates detailed, visual narratives that explore the relationships between animals and their habitats. Her style is a combination of colourful, naturalist work with quirky compositions that pair species that don’t coexist or share habitats.

How does she decide what to create?
Ronelle spends quite a bit of time researching the status and history of each of the animals in her works and imagines what it would be like if they had a conversation with each over. She studies animals in zoos, sanctuaries and in the wild, seeking out interesting forms, patterns and colours.

What does her work mean?
Each artwork has an environmental message behind it. She is aware that we are currently in the 6th great extinction event with Australia having one of the highest rates of extinction globally. Ronelle’s goal is to inspire people to learn more about our vulnerable animals and do more to protect them.

About the artist
Ronelle Reid is a Brisbane-based artist who has been successfully exhibiting her work since completing a BFA in painting at the respected Queensland College of Art. Ronelle works full-time from her studio on a rural property outside Brisbane. She has had several successful solo and group exhibitions. Her work is held in private collections worldwide. The key themes in her work have been informed by her interest in the environment, conservation and animal welfare. She has been the recipient of a number of grants and residencies at zoos and sanctuaries to build references for her work. She uses her art to educate and fundraise for conservation causes throughout Australia.

Ethical choices
All care is taken to protect the environment in making this work. Work is packaged carefully using recycled materials, making sure it arrives with you in perfect condition whilst not creating more landfill.
Reproduction prints are either rolled or flat-packed for shipping and will require framing
**insitu photo is for illustrative purposes only and may not be to exact scale

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Inspired by her love of animals, artist Ronelle Reid uses ink, oils and watercolours to create detailed, visual narratives that explore the relationships between animals and their habitats.
Her style is a combination of colourful, naturalist work with quirky compositions that pair species who don’t coexist or share habitats. She invites viewers to ask why the rules of land, air and sea no longer apply, and wonder why fish happily swim through the antlers of a bongo antelope and butterflies flutter around a moray eel.
As a dedicated artist, Ronelle spent countless hours studying animals in museums, using the taxidermic displays to understand and convey their forms. It wasn’t until she started work with RSPCA that her experience with animal welfare gave her a new perspective.
Now, fuelled by this understanding, she combines her formal education in painting, screen and printmaking to plan each composition, purposefully breaking the rules of taxonomic categorisation. In doing so, her work draws attention to the interconnectedness between species and invites viewers to see how they are being forced to adapt in rapidly changing ecosystems, or risk extinction.
These pairings also invite people to engage in the character and personality of the individual animals, challenging them to see them as more than just objects to be studied and classified.
Aware that much of Australia’s rich biodiversity is found exclusively on this continent, and that we have one of the highest rates of extinction globally, Ronelle’s next series will inspire people to learn more about our vulnerable native animals and do more to protect them.
Her quirky, naturalist portrayals preserve and highlight the beauty and diversity of animals right in our backyards of Logan, asking us to imagine if the kookaburra, the koala, or wallaby were lost to us forever.