Margaret Norriscontemporary
australian artist
|
Abstract |
|
Home | Favourite Paintings | New Work | Water & Desert Themes | Flora Themes | Affordable Artworks | Abstract Paintings | Sculptures |
| About | Exhibitions | Ideas | Your Say | Art Friends | Quotes | Links | Photos | Contact |
Introduction |
|
Norris’ colourful abstract paintings are based on natural phenomena: landscape, and cellular structures. Her interest lies in macroscopic versus microscopic duality. Her paintings use light and colour to enhance natural structures from the world around us. The source material for these unique images is quite diverse and may be anything from electron microscopy, optical & thermal imaging or the growth structures created by micro-organisms. The scale of such cellular activity is magnified to massive proportions such that the final paintings can measure up to two metres squared. The activity then becomes intensely dramatic in colour and gesture, the forms cascade through their picture planes which remain flat and yet all encompassing, reminiscent of colour field painting. |
Alongside her paintings, Margaret makes photograms
(unique photographs with no negative involved) as a result of her research into
the visual effects created by growing micro-organisms on photographic paper.
The treated paper is used to grow the microbes in the same way as a petri dish containing nutrients is used in laboratories to develop cultures. These photograms form beautiful works in their own right as well as providing the source material for the inception of larger painted works. |
Brief biography |
|
Margaret Norris studied painting privately in Sydney, Australia with Betty Morgan from 1983 to 1987. She continued to paint and study while living in the United States 1988-1989. Margaret lived in London for seven years (1993-2000). |
During this time she completed a certificate in art & design at the City Literary Institute and then went on to complete a BA (Hons) degree in fine art (the University of the Arts London - Byam Shaw campus). Margaret returned home in 2000 & lives at Dural in Sydney, Australia. |
Working methods - paintings |
|
The seemingly abstract images are actually based on naturally occurring forms found in the environment. Margaret Norris draws inspiration from many diverse sources: the landscape as we know it and what the Artist refers to as ‘the secret or hidden landscape’, cellular structures which can only be accessed through the use of new technologies, such as electron microscopy or optical & thermal imaging. Surface, colour & light are vital considerations in the evolution of these unique paintings. |
To achieve the colour and luminosity she desires, the Artist becomes alchemist, grinding natural ochre and pigments into diverse media in order to produce glowing pigmented glazes. The resultant paint is then layered onto the canvas over a period, building intriguing images, rich in surface and translucency |
Large paintings |
 Divide |
 Conciliation |
 Kinetic Flow |
 Static Boundary |
 Oscillations |
 Infinite Cascades |
 Microcosm II |
 Secret Garden |
 Outback Odyssey I |
 Outback Odyssey II |
 Red landscape |
 Sanctuary |
Small paintings |
 Microscopic Landscape I SOLD |
 Microscopic Landscape II SOLD |
 Magma Flow |
 Ebb & Flow I |
 Ebb & Flow II |
Working methods - photograms |
|
A photogram is a unique photograph produced entirely in the darkroom. There is no camera or negative involved. The photograms followed on from the Artist’s interest and research into nature & science for her paintings. In turn, the photograms have enriched and informed her paintings. Margaret conducted experimentation into the visual effects produced by growing micro-organisms directly on treated paper in the same way as a Petri dish containing nutrients is used in scientific laboratories to develop cultures. The unique & visually stunning images are a result of these natural phenomena |
The artist alludes to the creation process when she entitled this series of photograms ‘microbes exposed’. The microbes quietly interacted with the nutrients contained in the photographic emulsion for some time in complete darkness, until being subjected to an explosive microsecond of light, prior to undergoing the usual photographic colour processing in the dark room to preserve the image. |
Photograms - "Microbes Exposed" series |
|
All images: 23x30cm/9x12in, presented in acid free mounting
ready for framing.
Making the overall size of 36x44cm/14x17”
Price AU$200 each
Contact details |
Margaret V Norris |
Curriculum Vitae |
|
1996-1999 1995-1996 1995 1993-1994 1989-1992 1987-1989 1983-1987 |
Byam Shaw School of Art BA (Hons.) Degree in Fine Art [University of the
Arts, London] City Literary Institute London Certificate Art & Design [Middlesex University] Commenced full time education in art as a mature student following a career in business administration Chelsea & Westminster Adult Education, London, Painting classes Ku-Ring-Gai Art Centre, Drawing, Painting and Ceramic classes Sydney, Australia North Lake College, Dallas, Texas USA, Drawing & Painting classes Private tuition with Betty Morgan who was a well-known portrait artist and teacher in Sydney, Australia |
Selected solo and group exhibitions |
|
2005 2004 2003 2003 2003 2003 2001 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1995 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986
|
Ku-Ring-Gai Art Society Group Exhibition Ku-Ring-Gai Art Society Group Exhibition 52nd Blake Prize, Sydney, Australia TAP Gallery, “Real Refusés”, Sydney, Australia TAP Gallery, Group Exhibition, Sydney, Australia 49th Annual Hunter’s Hill Art Exhibition, Sydney, Australia Solo Exhibition, Alta Gallery, Sydney, Australia Solo Exhibition, Zella Gallery, London Fenton Art Trust, Recent Graduates, London Degree Graduation Show Byam Shaw School of Art - University of the Arts London Chelsea Art Society Open Exhibition, London Concourse Gallery, Archway, London Halfway to Highgate, Waterlow Park, London Concourse Gallery, Byam Shaw School of Art, London Chelsea Art Society, Open Exhibition, Chelsea, London Gone, Concourse Gallery, London Graduation Show, Art & Design Certificate, City Literary Institute, London Group show, City Literary Institute, Fleet Street, London Annual exhibition, Ku-Ring-Gai Art Gallery, Roseville, Sydney, Australia Annual exhibition, Ku-Ring-Gai Art Gallery, Roseville, Sydney, Australia Ku-Ring-Gai Art Gallery, Roseville, Sydney, Australia Ku-Ring-Gai Art Gallery, Roseville, Sydney, Australia Irving Art Society Group Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, USA Irving Art Society Group Exhibition, Dallas, Texas, USA Narrabri Open Art Exhibition, Narrabri, Australia Works held in Private Collections in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand and USA |
|
© Margaret Norris |
|
© Ernie Gerzabek 2000-2008 |