Stacey Rees is a contemporary abstract artist based in Gariwerd (The Grampians) Australia. Rees has held solo exhibitions in Melbourne and Sydney. Her work has also been included in group exhibitions at Modern Times and Saint Cloche.
Rees holds a Diploma in Design from RMIT and has been profiled in publications including The Design Files, Vogue Living and Yellowtrace. Rees’ work is held in collections in Corporate Australia along with private collections both locally and internationally.
We recently welcomed Stacey Rees to the F&F stable and she is included in our Good Times art collection, and is fast becoming an art fave amongst our art loving customers. We are delighted to share our recent interview with Stacey, which delves into her creative journey and process.
What was your journey like in becoming an artist? How did you get started?
I’ve always been drawn to anything creative. I grew up on a farm in regional Victoria with very little entertainment (well, that’s what I thought at the time) and discovered art. We used our own creative imaginations as a form of entertainment. A real drag at the time but such a valuable tool these days. This paved the way for how I work and strategise creatively.
I went on to study design at RMIT, majoring in Screen Printing. And since then settled down living off-grid in Gariwerd, the Grampians with my husband and two kids. Juggling family life and my career has had its challenges, but I wouldn’t change it for a second! As the kids get older it’s becoming easier to spend time in the studio, which I love.
How does living in Gariwerd (Grampians) inspire/influence your practice?
My studio is off-grid and hidden away from any distractions. It’s a large open space to spread all my materials out for that open creative inspiration. Surrounded by the bush, I have emus, kangaroos, foxes and deer come and visit me as I stop for a break out on the deck. I have a wood fire that I boil the kettle on for a cup of tea, perfect for those cold winter mornings. A lot of people often comment on how Gariwerd must influence my work. The surroundings are what I’m influenced by as it instantly puts me in a place of calm and relaxation. No interruptions and nothing to distract me, just the way I like it! :)
What is your creative process like?
It’s very random. I screenshot pictures that inspire me, or collage compositions I want to kind of portray in my paintings. I paint until I’m happy with what I see, this sometimes takes many layers to achieve. It’s all a bit experimental. I’ll just pretty much paint and paint until I’m happy with the result.
My day begins with getting everyone off to school and work. So around 9am I’ll head down to the studio, light the fire if I need to, have a cup of tea and stare at what’s around me… to get into the ‘zone’.
Put on some music or just go without, which is usually the more desired option. It’s funny how radio and podcasts can really interrupt my creative focus. If I need to really focus I work best with the natural sounds of the surrounding environment for this. I’ll stay at the studio all day until it’s time to pick up the kids from school.
Your paintings tend to feature feminine forms and portraits. What draws you to explore this subject matter?
For some reason I am drawn to more feminine, softer, delicate subjects. I love flowers, shells and birds. I love gardening and surrounding myself with nature. I have a vase of flowers displayed somewhere in the house or at the studio at all times, so I guess that’s why these subjects come out in my paintings every now and then. Things that really relate to me. I love colour. I love experimenting with what colours work, and what doesn’t. Colour is the most important component to my paintings. I could spend hours perfecting the right tone of blue that would work with the beige for example!
Can you tell us a bit about the work you’ve made for Good Times?
This small series I wanted to really loosen up my style and have a bit of fun with it to go with the ‘Good Times’ theme. Lots of fresh & bold colour and loose brushstrokes and textures. I have a bit of a habit of becoming too tight at times and it really reflects in my work. I don’t realise this until I look back later on and see that I really need to loosen up. I think I managed to do this in this series and I’m really happy with the outcome.
View Good Times collection here.
