From our Artist in Residence, Meredith Howse ~ Giverny Water Lily Pond takes us all the way to Claude Monet’s garden in France, painted from Meredith’s own experience of this fascinating place.
The stories and colours of Meredith Howse are enchanting. From her captivating depictions of native Australian landscapes to the dreamlike gardens of Giverny, her paintings capture the wild beauty of nature - air moving through trees, pathways disappearing into gardens and vibrant colour that contrasts with effortless elegance. Displayed amongst our linen, lace and flowers, Meredith’s paintings feel naturally at home in our studio, connected by a shared fascination with nature, beauty and the art of bringing the outdoors in.
We spoke with artist Meredith Howse about the places, memories and moments of beauty that inspire her artistic world.
1. Nature is such a strong presence in your work. What is it about landscapes and gardens that continually inspires you to paint?
The idea of bringing nature indoors appeals to me. For interior decor having some greenery in living pot plants is nice, so too is nature inspired artworks that can do the following things. Revive old memories of trips and getaways. Bring a fresh feel into a space. Make a room look much larger with three dimensional artworks like mountain-scapes or pathways into gardens and forests that lead your eye into a scene.
2. Little Yabba at Kenilworth captures a very local Queensland landscape. What drew you to this particular place, and what did you want to capture about it?
I first visited Kenilworth to drop artwork off at its annual art exhibition. I explored the area whilst there, and saw where Little Yabba meets the Mary River just near the Maleny Kenilworth Bridge. The area is beautiful with giant Moreton Bay Figs and tall Blue and Ghost Gum trees. The view west up Little Yabba is stunning, I have painted it many times.
3. Your other featured work in the studio, Giverny Water Lily Pond, takes us all the way to Monet’s garden in France. What was the story behind this painting?
I was in France for the World Cup Rugby, travelling around exploring sights. Monet’s Garden in Giverny, Normandy is like a magnet for artists, like a pilgrimage for spiritual growth. To walk the rows of gardens and cross the Wisteria laden, Japanese style bridge over the Lilly pond, of which, Monet painted countless times was a wonderful feeling. I was interested to see how I would interpret the beauty of the gardens on canvas.
Giverny Gardens by Meredith Howse ~ View Here
4. Your brushwork has a beautiful looseness and movement to it. When you paint, how much is observation and how much is feeling or memory?
A bit of both, I start with the original image, choose a composition, mix a colour palette. The loosesness is obtained by standing to paint and using multiple brushes. The feeling and memories sweep in as I paint along.
5. Do you see a connection between the way you dress and the way you paint — are you drawn to the same colours, textures or sense of freedom in both art and fashion?
I have painted with other artists in many workshops, one thing I noticed was a connection to what they wear and what they paint on the day. The colour palette and patterns were often similar, we are drawn to our favourites in both clothes and art.
6. We often talk about bringing nature indoors at Kimberley Anne — through paintings, flowers, natural fabrics and botanical prints. What do you think happens to a space when we bring art inspired by nature into it?
Art opens up a space, not just physically, it also opens a space for conversation and dialogue about what, why, where and how. At Kimberly Anne Boutique a combination of paintings, flowers, natural fabrics and botanical prints and candles will bring an earthiness and beauty to a wardrobe and room.
7. Is there a particular feeling you hope to evoke through your paintings?
Observation and recording the world around us is something artists strive to do, so to is striking a cord, evoking a feeling or creating atmosphere within the artwork.
Sometimes I achieve this, sometimes I don’t, what matters most is, I keep on painting and in landscapes try to bring the feeling of air into the artwork.
8. What are you dreaming of painting next?
Very large abstracts in gorgeous colours.
