Fran Rhodes

Since returning to Australia in 2003 I have been exploring the Australian Landscape.  I am interested in re-presenting the landscape from memory.  Painting from memory requires a thoughtful appreciation and experience of place and delivers an impression of that place.

In recalling a place one never recalls it in a purely visual way.  The memory is overlaid with other elements of the experience; who one was with, what one was thinking about or reading or listening to.  In trying to communicate a full sense of the experience of place I include text in the layers of my paintings.  The text is unique to each image and includes fragments of thoughts, lyrics and poetry that are associated with my recollection of the location.

I am particularly interested in painting the effect of light on a landscape.  This results in a particular attention to skies in my paintings, from a love of dramatic weather and lighting.

Since moving to Perth I have explored painting distant landscapes from memory but more recently have discovered a great love of the South West Australian landscape where I spend a great deal of time.  My current works explore the landscape of the South West, and the exquisite qualities of light in all weather conditions, with a particular interest in communicating an experience of the area around Yallingup.

Currently engaged in doctoral study through Curtin University and represented by the Studio Gallery, Yallingup.

Selected Exhibitions

2009 Staffroom, Moores Building, Fremantle, WA

2008 Open Studio, East Frematle, WA

2007 Staff Room, the Moores’ Building, W.A

2007 Place and Memory, Kidogo Arthouse Gallery, W.A.

2006 In Memory of Landscapes, Marinovic Gallery, W.A.

2002 M.A.C.V.A Show, Falmouth College of Arts, Falmouth, Cornwall

1998 Womens’ Exhibition, Cullity Gallery, Perth Western Australia

1997 Yellow, Avoca Gallery, Avoca, N.S.W.

Collaborations

2003 House Project, Falmouth, Cornwall

2002 Playing With Each Other, Kerris Veane, Falmouth College of Arts

2002 Field of Vision, Trenmenerre, Penzance, Cornwall

Education

2010 PhD Art Curtin University

2005 M.A. Art Psychotherapy

Edith Cowan University (deffered)

2001-2002 M.A. Contemporary Visual Arts        

Falmouth College of Arts

1999- 2000 Diploma of Photography                      

Arts Institute of Bournemouth

1998-1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts hons. (2a)

1995-1997 B.A. Visual Arts                                

Avondale University College

Employment

2007-2010 Art Tutor/ Lecturer, Curtin University

2007-2008 Designer, Kidogo Institute

2007-2008 Painting Teacher, Kidogo Art House

2001-2003 Secretary of Falmouth Arts Projects, Falmouth, Cornwall

2002-2003 Front of House Staff,

National Maritime Museum, Falmouth, Cornwall

2000-2001 Photographer’s Assistant,

Ivan Hewitt Photographer, Bournemouth

1999-2001 Arts Worker,

Grianach House school, Galway, Eire

1999-2001 Freelance, Illustration and Book cover Design,  Galway, Eire