Mary-Lynne is an award-winning artist and has lived in the Yallingup hills for 34 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Edith Cowan University. Mary-Lynne’s paintings are interpretations of the northern landscapes of WA, NT and Central Australia. She spends time travelling and painting plein air in gouache in remote areas absorbing and connecting deeply with our ancient landscape made up of molten rock formations evolved over millions of years. The randomness of tilting and folding rocks with their jewel like qualities glistening in the morning and evening light feeds into her imagination providing fertile material to respond to. Once back in the studio these forms are reimagined and become a playful framework to interpret, using colour, form and various marks in oils.

“I’m open to the possibilities of what the work can become, never quite knowing what the outcome will be I allow the painting to evolve slowly drawing on the memory of the emotional experience felt in a particular place. I always challenge myself to look at the landscape in a new way so layering and lyricism as well as uncertainty are very much a part of the way my work evolves allowing for surprise juxtapositions of colours and form to create a dance for the eye to travel around and through the painting”.

Q & A:

What is the most sentimental thing you have? A teddy bear that my grandfather made and gave to me when I was 4. He died shortly after that. I don’t really remember him. He worked at the tannery and would have tanned the sheep’s hide and cut and sewn the teddy by hand.

Where was your most memorable vacation? The best holidays are camping with family and friends going exploring to remote places up north or central Australia. I don’t need anything fancy.

What is the biggest risk you ever took? Enrolling as a mature age student at 53 to do a bachelor of visual arts degree. It was also the most stimulating and challenging things I have done.

What is your favourite quote? Be yourself; everyone else is already taken - Oscar Wilde.

Who is the Artist who inspires you most? Elizabeth Cummings and Bonnard. Both are colourists. Cummings is a senior Australian artist who paints really gutsy exciting works which you can look at for hours. Her compositions take you on a journey into the Australian landscape.

What would be your greatest accomplishment? Raising our two children and seeing them raising their own. Being a mum is one of the most underrated occupations.

What is on your Bucket list? To do an artist residency somewhere up north or in Bundanon where Arthur Boyd did his Shoalhaven series of paintings. Having an extended time to create in an interesting landscape would be a luxury. We try to do this by going camping with other artist a couple of times a year.

Do you have a fear, and what is it? Drowning at sea way out in the deep dark ocean where you can’t see what’s down there. Titanic movie reinforced that fear.

Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without? Can’t live without a cup of tea first thing when I wake up before anything else.

What is the title & author of your favourite Book? Night Street by Kristen Thornell. A story based on the life of a young artist Clarice Beckett who defies society’s conventions and indifferent art critics alike. She was born in 1887 and died at 43. Living a life of taking her painting trolley to the streets and beaches of Melbourne whilst leading a life caring for her parents. She had great drive and daring for the times which I admire.