By Parker McKenzie
As a local to the hills, Emily Lowe draws upon the native scenery, wildlife and natural environment all around her as inspiration for her art.
“I’m heavily inspired by the local landscape and particularly birds and native plants and flowers,” she said.
“What really inspires me is when I’m in those environments.”
Primarily working in painting acrylic, she also does drawing and illustration, “mainly bouncing between the two and sometimes they collide.”
“I like to do abstract backgrounds sometimes with really stick foregrounds and subject matter,” Ms Lowe said.
“I would describe it as fun, enjoyable and playful.”
A studio artist at Burrinja Cultural Centre, her work is currently on display in the centre’s gallery as a part of the Climate Change Biennale exhibition alongside the work of 43 other local and interstate artists. The exhibition closes on Sunday 26 February.
Ms Lowe said being a part of the Aerie Studios at Burrinja has allowed her to communicate with like-minded people and further develop her skills as an artist.
“That is really important as a young artist especially,” she said.
“It also allows me to interact directly with the community and people who I know are already interested in art, taking a lot of the search out of it.”
She said she paints the beautiful natural environments she is inspired by to pay respects to them.
“I really enjoy painting local honeyeaters on certain flowers and how they interact with the flower, that’s definitely a big interest of mine,” she said.
“I like to paint realism, especially just to pay homage to the importance of the natural world.”
For more of Ms Lowe’s art, visit her Instagram emilylowefinearts or the Aerie Studio at Burrinja Cultural Centre in person. Burrinja Cultural Centre is located at 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey.
