get your art on

Last Friday afternoon I was invited for a very exclusive peek at a lovely friend's latest exhibition. After a day of last minute sewing, ironing and packing for the market I welcomed the drive out to Thora, the embraces of four lovelies, a glass of red and a number of crackers piled high with goats cheese, caramelised onion and stuffed olives. It was intimate, stunningly beautiful and such a special treat. 

Unfortunately I have never been to any of Karlee's exhibitions as they always seem to happen elsewhere (this collection is on it's way to Flinders Lane Gallery in Melbourne), so when I walked into her studio space, I couldn't help but stop and look around at all these amazing pieces and take more than a few moments to fully comprehend her brilliance.

The paintings are so strong, delightful and evocative, full of movement, wisdom and pure beauty. To hear the stories behind each piece, to laugh and guess at their meanings, it was a very special little pocket in time. 

Karlee has been exhibiting since 1994 (she was only 17 at the time!), yep, she is "the real deal", she even won the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship and held a 5 month residency at Cite International des Arts, Paris, France, amazing, yes, but what's even more amazing is that I had to look at her website to find all of that (and more), yes all that talent and humble, oh my goodness.
Oh and if you're curious, no I didn't buy any of the paintings, as much as I would have loved to, yep at $6000 a pop they are a bit out of our price range but I am sure they will be snapped up in Melbourne.