Louise Knowles ‘Sand and Stone’

Northern Beaches painter and master colourist Louise Knowles will return to the gallery with an exquisite new series of abstract paintings that channel the warm, rosy tones and windswept textures of the sandstone found in her local environment. From earthy and sumptuous to bright and brilliant, the artist’s remarkable colour palette reflects her affinity for 1950s, 60s and 70s design and reveals the importance of pattern and collage in propelling her painting practice.

“As I explore abstraction in my practise, I am aware that life is a series of abstract experiences. Our brains try to rationalise every situation, some which are simply irrational.

Experiencing change, turns your world upside down in both positive and negative ways. It is easy to become chaotic in an already full life, juggling things. 

To express feelings and communicate through a medium of colour and texture has been an important tool for me. Putting paint on surfaces gives me the time to think and deconstruct my reactions to certain events. Colour has always been a part of my process and creating textures and depth through the layering of colour, allows the observer to witness the stages.

Light, colour and shadow are present in my work as metaphors for life, love and loss.

This latest series of paintings celebrate the sandstone that surrounds me. It’s where I live, where I swim and it was the foundation on which I grew.”