Imagine fantastical worlds colliding with reality
By investigating the concept of nature in a nostalgic way, I explore the dynamics of life in the natural world.
Repetitive pattern and shape, particularly multiple dots or droplets of paint dominate my work. The art style of pointillism is incorporated throughout all my work, along with the extravagant use of colour. A dot or a speck within a solid form is an opening to a new beginning. Intricate and delicate forms intertwine in my work. Just as my reality and my imagination blend onto the canvas or paper a part of me is embedded into each work.
My work incorporates time, space and colour in a fictional and experiential universe that merges bit by bit. Imagined recreation of memories and experiences, particularly the experiences I had as a curious daydreaming free-range child, gifted to growing up immersed in the Australian bush. By emphasising aesthetics, I lead the viewer into a world of ongoing equilibrium.
Above all, I want to express a feeling of joy and happiness in the things we don’t always take the time to see.
Artwork held by the Dean Collection USA and by private collectors throughout Australia and the World.
Terri Lew, Gallery Director -19 Karen Contemporary Artspace. Gold Coast QLD
Almost 4 years ago to the day I received a submission from Sally Paxton to join my gallery.
The number 19 is my lucky number. It turned out to be a lucky number for Sally too! 19 Karen was the first gallery to accept her submission for representation on the 19/8/2015.
Sally’s work literally took my breath away! It is exquisite! The more I looked at it, the more I saw! Her love for the Australian bush is so obvious that when you buy her art, you also buy a piece of Australia!
What drew me to Sally’s work was the amount of detail she put into each of her paintings and with such precision that only a person with so much patience and love for their craft, would be able to sit hunched over for hours on end to create such beautiful masterpieces.
Her dot work, classified as pointillism built around Australian Flora and Fauna, sometimes adding a portrait or a figure, gives the final piece the term Pop Surrealism.
For me, the visual aspect of any artwork is the strongest emotion I experience when I see it for the first time. If that emotion is not there, I am not interested!
At first, Sally’s work was compared to another Australian artist - Del Kathryn Barton, which in my opinion was a huge compliment but most artists don’t like to be considered as ‘copying’ other artists and neither does Sally. When you are a self-taught artist, your influences and inspirations come from other artists. It’s as simple as that! However, as time goes by and with many hours of practice, an artist can successfully develop their own signature style, and this is what Sally did!
When you look at her work now, you are not mistaken for seeing Sally’s work. That’s what makes a strong individual artist!
Sally’s work was drawn to the attention of avid art collectors from New York, Mr & Mrs Dean (Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean) who became one of our overseas clients 6 years ago. Now Sally’s work is in their private collection.
Sally’s work was also brought to the attention of other galleries and she is now represented by 3 galleries in Australia. Sally’s future looks brighter than ever!
- Claire Torrance, Gallery Director - Gallery Beneath, Sunshine Coast QLD
Sally Paxton’s decorative, highly detailed paintings are known for their vibrant, figurative imagery. One could liken her skill set to that of a composer creating a symphony. The countless confetti-like spots and dotting resulting in densely populated compositions. Her artistic strength derives from her drawing talents. Each mark is intentional, leaving no room for error or hesitation. Her paintings are beautifully adorned as she enriches them with a sense of colour and scale.
CV
Represented by:
Gallery Beneath, Mooloolaba Sunshine Coast, QLd
19 KAREN Contemporary Artspace, Gold Coast Qld
Fellia Melas Gallery, Woollahra NSW
Education
2014 Advanced Diploma Visual Arts, Nambour Tafe Qld
2014 Diploma Visual Arts, Tewantin Tafe Qld
2013 Certificate 4 Visual Arts, Tewantin Tafe Qld
Solo Show
2017 Colours of the spirit, 19Karen Contemporary Artspace. Gold Coast, Qld
Group Exhibitions
2019 Directors Choice exhibition, Sofitel Gold Coast, QLD
2019 Sydney Group Show. Fellia Melas Gallery, Woollahra, NSW
2018 4x4 Exhibition, September. Fellia Melas Gallery, Woollahra, NSW
2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize Exhibition 25k. Stanthopre Art Gallery, Stanthorpe, QLD
2018 Works on Paper, Exhibition.February. Fellia Melas Gallery Woollahra, NSW
2017 Affordable Art, Small Paintings & Sculptures.November. Fellia Melas Gallery, Woollahra, NSW
2017 Spring Exhibition, Fellia Melas Gallery, Woollahra, NSW
2017 Affordable art , small paintings and sculptures. March. Fellia Melas Galley, Woollahra, NSW
2016 Trailblazing Women of Herstory, Neospace gallery. Melbourne, Vic
2016 30th Annual Downlands art exhibition Toowoomba, Qld
2016 19 KAREN Directors Choice group exhibition #2. Gold Coast Qld
2015 19 KAREN Artists-General exhibition Sofitel Hotel, Gold Coast Qld
2014 emergencE, gallery one Nambour Qld
2014 Migration, gallery space Tafe Tewantin Qld
2014 Match Box, gallery space Tafe Tewantin Qld
2014 Deconstruction, gallery space Tafe Tewantin Qld
2013 Cert 4 final year exhibition, gallery space Tafe Tewantin Qld
2013 SCAP T3, Butter Factory Cooroy Qld
2013 Essence of the coast, Eumundi markets Qld
2013 Nambour public library, Nambour Qld
2013 Body art exhibition, Eumundi Qld
Awards
2018 Stanthorpe 25K Art prize, Stanthorpe. Finalist
2014 emergencE, gallery one. Sunshine Coast. Body of work. Winner
2014 emergencE, gallery one. Sunshine Coaast. People's choice award. Winner
Articles
https://localstoryspace.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/sally-paxton-writes-about-being-a-painter/
http://www.widewalls.ch/artist/sally-paxton/
http://www.trailblazingwomen.com.au/artworks/2016/9/27/sally-paxton-edna-walling