Celebrating the natural world through colour, A Brush with Nature by Terri MacDonald is the latest exhibition to be displayed in the ARTBOX in Strathbogie Shire.
The exhibition features a collection of original watercolours and hand-tinted etchings, focusing on Australian birdlife and botanical subjects.
Dr MacDonald said the abundance of wildlife in her semi-“off the grid” lifestyle since moving to her country property in central Victoria nearly a decade ago had inspired her.
Dr MacDonald seeks to show the character and beauty of the rural landscape through the depiction of her subjects, whether they be noisy and colourful parrots or the plants and insects that are foundational components of the rural environment.
An eye for detail and an appreciation of colour are significant staples of her work, incorporating elements from traditional zoological and botanical illustrations and more expressive styles.
As well as being heavily involved with the local arts community and a strong advocate for promoting regional art and artists, Dr MacDonald is trained in fine art and as an illustrator.
She has a PhD in creative arts, focusing on natural history, and has taught fine art and illustration at university level.
Both private and institutional collections hold Dr MacDonald’s work, for which she has won many awards.
Her influences are broad, drawing inspiration from natural history artists of the 17th and 19th centuries, including Ferdinand Bauer, Marianne North and Elizabeth Gould, as well as fine art masters such as Durer, Turner, Cassat and Freud.
All of the artworks displayed in the exhibition at ARTBOX are for sale.
You can meet Dr MacDonald and chat with her about her work on Saturday, February 17, or Saturday, February 24, at the Nagambie on Water Festival.
The exhibition is on display in Nagambie until February 27.