By Margaret Maccoll
Artists opened their doors for the second weekend of Noosa Open Studios Art Trail and visitors travelled across the shire to see their diverse artworks.
At Doonan Bronwyn Innes displayed her animal-inspired sculptured lamps at her studio alongside the wooden furniture of Kevin Hart.
Bronwyn, who raises funds for the RSPCA and rescues dogs from drought areas, said dogs were the preferred subject for her works.
She doesn’t sell her lamps to the public but does commissions and loves teaching others, offering regular one day workshops.
A cabinet maker by trade Kevin Hart normally works on oil and gas rigs offshore but his work came to an abrupt halt with the Covid-19. With bills and a mortgage to pay Kevin turned his hand to creating bespoke wooden pieces.
Sculpture dominated the Moon Mountain Gallery at Eumundi with the works of Nick Warfield a standout exhibition.
Warfield who grew up in Gympie and has a brother in Peregian Beach, now lives south of Coffs Harbour. He had hoped to reunite with old friends during the Open Studios exhibition but was unable to attend because of Covid-restrictions. His works, made from recycled car panels, bring to life local wildlife including parrots., kangaroos and an award-winning brush turkey.
Around the corner from the gallery, three women came together to showcase their painting, pottery and mosaic.
Kerry Norman has been creating her quirky pottery figures for the past 10 years. The faceless works depict mannerisms that people identify in their friends and family.
Lisa Jones was painting a portrait of a man one day when she looked for a way to make him appear happier.
“I put a goldfish on his head,“ she said. “It made him happy. I liked it. People started liking it. It’s fun.“
Since then her collection has included Elvis with a hound dog on his head and the Queen with a corgi.
Jackie White has been creating mosaic artworks for the past 20 years. It’s a hobby that occupies her at her Sunshine Beach studio that continues to grow.
During Open Studios she sold a number of her works and several commissions.
For more on the event visit noosaopenstudios.com.au
