Studio Visit: Melanie Valentine

Driven by a pursuit of active stillness – the point at which doing and being converge - painter and ceramicist Melanie Valentine’s work seeks to draw our attention to the moment the ordinary inspires us to take a second look. She works on Bundjalung Country, Arakwal.

“My home studio is located in the Northern Rivers of NSW but the real magic happens when I paint outdoors. I love working en plein air because it forces a sense of urgency upon me that adds a real dynamism to my work.”

Above: artist Melanie Valentine. Photo: Monica Buscarino. Courtesy: the artist.

Below: Melanie Valentine, Arid night garden. Gouache and mixed media on watercolour paper, 29.5 x 21cm. Courtesy: the artist.

More Studio Visits from Recent issues

Studio Visit: Cat Jean Campbell

Cat Jean Campbell is a self-taught expressionist artist. Working from her studio in South Yarra, Melbourne/Naarm, her work is discovered through painting and drawing intuitive abstractions and musings on raw canvas within a muted colour palette.

Studio Visit: Angela McHugh

Angela McHugh’s portraits and landscapes explore personal connections to flora, fauna, history and place.

Studio Visit: Rose Rudd

Near a small rural town in North Canterbury, 30 minutes from Christchurch City/Ōtautahi, is where you will find Rose Rudd.

Studio visit: Java Leonard

At 22 years of age and based in Auckland/ Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand, Java Leonard has only ever known a life of artistic creation. 

Studio Visit: Shellie Christian

Shellie Christian is a Central Coast sculptor and ceramicist, expressing her life and soul connection with the land through earth-inspired forms.