The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Inc

PRESENTS for your pleasure...

  Interpreting the Australian Landscape by KAREN FOLEY 

  hand-pressed and hand coloured linocuts on canvas 

in the Budgeon’s display case, foyer Richmond Library

415 Church Street, Richmond

  1 March to 14 June 2021 

Reporter: Carmel Ritchie

I hope you have been to the Richmond Library and seen these lovely linocuts. Karen has a lot of experience making and exhibiting her prints. I am particularly impressed with her artistic interpretations. She evokes the Japanese principle of “Wabi Sabi” which describes the aesthetic of accepting and appreciating the imperfect parts in art and nature.

Fern Frond, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame, 26 x 20 cm, by Karen Foley

Grevillea, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame, 26 x 20 cm , by Karen Foley

Her prints have strong dark lines reminiscent of Margaret Preston, Patrick Heron and Paul Cezzanne. The black ink is an important detail in her design, as she highlights the negative as well the positive space. In some of her works, she also uses sharp and dramatic light and dark contrasts.

Orchid, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame 26 x 20 cm, by Karen Foley

Around the Dam, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame, 26 x 20 cm, by Karen Foley

Her prints focus on the fine detail of Australian plants as well as a lighthouse, beach and dam scenes. These are delicately hand painted in watercolour. Through the Teatree takes the viewer through the trees and out onto the beach and water. In Lighthouse - Airey’s Inlet, the white lighthouse with its yellow beam stands out starkly against the blue-black night sky, with pinpoints of white that could be stars.

Through the Teatree, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame 26 x 20 cm, by Karen Foley

Lighthouse - Airey’s Inlet, linocut & watercolour on canvas frame, 26 x 20 cm, by Karen Foley

Karen’s display also includes two cute little brooches, Honesty and Honesty I, both linocut and pearlescent paint on laminated card. The images are of the oval leaves of the honesty plant (lunaria).

Brooch: Honesty IV, linocut & pearlescent paint on laminated card, 5 x 8 cm, by Karen Foley

Brooch: Honesty I, linocut & pearlescent paint on laminated card, 5 x 8 cm, by Karen Foley

View of The Budgeon’s Case with some of Karen’s works