Anne Warren works in several different mediums including painting, drawing, collage and mixed media.
Her abstract paintings are responses to mood through several layers of paint with the final result emerging through erasure. This technique can have an element of planning with the final result emerging by chance.
The collage mixed media work dislocates found images into new and unexpected environments that can sometimes be described as plausible and at other times implausible.
Anne teaches workshops from her home studio.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Distinction) 2009 Visual Art Diploma (2001)
Michael Christofas is a photographer who was born and raised in Melbourne. His passion for photography initially stemmed from a young age when he holidayed to various parts of Australia and around the globe with his parents, brother and sister. Once old enough to venture out on his own, he used travel as a means to experience different cultures and to immerse himself in the sights and sounds of these environments. Reflecting back, Michael believes this was his grounding into being able to connect with people, listen to their stories regardless of language barriers and be able to gain trust to capture visually expressive portraits.
Michael’s professional photographic journey started to take shape when he returned to tertiary education and graduated in 2007 with an Advanced Diploma in Photography. During his 4 years at the renowned Photography Studies College, Michael was able gain insight and skill in analogue (film) photography, Black & White Printing as well as Digital Photography.
As a visual artist, his love for people based photography has seen him gravitate more and more towards environmental portraiture. He gains inspiration by understanding, listening and engaging with each person he photographs. Michael’s images are raw and emotive and shows a true connection between artist and subject. His portraits can often reveal an alternate character that highlights identity and honesty.
Michael has worked as a freelance commercial photographer for fifteen years. His work is used in advertising, media, marketing collateral and websites. He is hired to capture images by not for profit & community organisations, as well as business groups & individuals from various sectors and industries.
He also designs and delivers training around photography. Whether it be camera operation and techniques, photo retouching or Photography for Wellness, Michael has facilitated workshops across many groups and levels.
I am a Sculptor and Painter with a passion for story telling through art with a focus on themes that are inspired by my Hellenic heritage and modern art.
I have expertise in Painting, Sculpture, Street Art and Murals, Installation, Performance Art and Graphic Design. My training in Art Therapy and role as a co-founder of the Melbourne Art Therapy Studio, provided me with additional skills in the therapeutic application of the visual arts in both clinical and private, individual and group settings.
Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts /South Australian School of Art, Australia Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts/ Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece Erasmus Scholarship/Madrid School of Fine Arts, Spain Master of Art Therapy/ La Trobe University, Melbourne
James Raftopoulos is a Melbourne based Graphic Designer and Artist. Through abstract mark-making, rudimentary printing techniques and digital compositions and motion, James explores the fuzzier edges of what outlines the human experience. James has exhibited work in group shows across Melbourne, culminating in his first regional solo show ‘Alive/Opaque’ in 2018.
Trained in the Animation Studios of Hanna Barbera and Disney, I continued to work in Animation as both an Animator and Character Concept Artist for the next 25 years.
I also worked as an Illustrator for books and product concept art and design.
My work has always centred on, and evolved from, the pencil mark on paper.
I attended the National Art school in 2008-2010 to expand on my art skills, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, Painting Major, with Distinction across all disciplines. Invited to continue in an Honours Degree in Drawing, I chose to defer and just enjoy being a creative artist. I found that I was irresistibly ‘drawn’ to the simplicity, immediacy, and the honesty, of the pencil line on paper.
In 2011, I entered my first art competition, The Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing, and was honoured to be announced the Winner for 2011.
Over the next few years I participated in both Solo and Group exhibitions in various galleries, in both Australia and Greece, as well as group exhibitions as finalist in various art competitions.
ARTISTIC PRACTICE
In my artistic practice the relationship of line, space, and place creates the dialogue that I choose to communicate with the viewer of my works. The subjects I draw are layers of fine vertical lines that create the form and define the subject. These lines are best seen from close viewing as they disappear when viewing from a distance. The vertical line is my “obsession”.
I enjoy the immediacy and simplicity of pencil on paper.
That is the beauty of “The Drawing”. It can be portable, disposable, spontaneous, deliberate, temporary, permanent. A quick sketch that captures the gesture or a detailed drawing that pushes the essence of the gesture to make it a detailed character analysis of the subject.
I walk every day, everywhere. I see things that I want to express as a drawing on paper. Pencil and paper are always on hand to record what I see. That is the beauty of the materials. Their immediacy and availability allow for the spontaneous and the more detailed work. My drawings are more than just drawings of any animal or any place. They are records of the places I have visited and the animals I have encountered in these places.
Pencil on paper is my drawing practice and the starting point to all my artistic practice.
DRAWING THE ANIMAL
“Drawing the Animal” is a collection of works and part of my continuing theme that All Life Matters.
Too often we look but don’t actually see. I draw what I see. The simple materials, pencil on paper, best translate what I see to what I want others to see. The subjects that I choose to draw are what I see around me. Most times I chance upon them in my own backyard, and my daily walks through the streets, parks, and beaches in my neighbourhood. On other occasions I seek them, when travelling in other countries, in zoos, aquariums, farms, animals shows, and museums. There is endless inspiration that will keep me drawing for the rest of my life.
I enjoy observing animals and their interactions with their environment, with each other, and with the artist as observer. As the “artist as observer”, the first thing I want to capture is that moment when the animal I am either watching, drawing, or photographing, actually watches me. Eye contact with an animal is a special feeling as it is in that moment that I actually see, and it is in that moment also that I realise that all life has a soul, that all life has dignity, that all life has compassion, that all life wants to live. All life matters. Karen Barbouttis.
Exhibitions
2020 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney 2018 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney 2017 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney 2016 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney 2015 Art2Muse Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney 2015 “Lemnos – the Greek Dimension in the Anzac Centenary”, an Exhibition presented by the Embassy of Greece in Australia, Canberra. 2015 “In Red – 100 years from the Battle of Gallipoli” . Ochra Gallery, Thessoloniki, Greece. 2014 “Creatures”. Solo exhibition, S.G. art gallery, Athens, Greece. 2014 “Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing”. PLC Sydney. 2013 “Sydney Childrens Hospital Spring Exhibition”. Sydney Childrens Hospital, Randwick. 2013 Flanagan Art Prize, Ballarat. 2013 “Flora and Fauna”. Syndicate at Danks, Sydney 2013 Wilson Visual Arts Award, Lismore 2013 “St Spyridon College The Arts Exhibition 2013”. Invited Artist, Sydney 2013 Waverly Art Prize, Bondi-Waverly School of Arts, Sydney 2013 “All Creatures Great and Small”.Solo exhibition, Art2Muse, Sydney. 2013 “Nurturing Hellenic Heritage the Australian Way”. Hellenic Lyceum Sydney, Parliament House, Sydney. 2013 “Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing”. PLC, Sydney 2012 “The Mortimore Prize”. Sydney. 2012 “arc Yinnar Biennial Art Prize”. 2012 “Hunters hill Art Exhibition”. Sydney 2012 “Animals Exhibition”. Syndicate at Danks, Sydney 2012 “Drawings from The Animal Walk”. St Vincents Hospital, Sydney. 2012 “BSG Works on Paper Prize”. Fitzroy. 2012 Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing 2011 “Drawings from The Museum of Life”. St Vincents Hospital, Sydney. 2011 “Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing”. PLC, Sydney. 2010 “Selected Student Graduate drawing Exhibition”. National Art School, Sydney. 2010 National Art School Graduate Show, Sydney. 2009 “Exhibition of Selected Student Sketchbooks”. Stairwell gallery, National Art School, Sydney. 2009 “A Week on Cockatoo.”, Selected Student Work from the National Art School, Cockatoo Island, Sydney
Born in Africa, I learned the skills of photography in a shop in Addis Ababa for a period of 5 years. I developed black and white and colour negatives, as well as the printing and development of slides, reattaching negatives and colourizing photographs with oil transparent paints. I migrated to Australia 50 years ago and studied digital painting and website production at TAFE.
Digital painting is something I love and have learnt using computers, digital photography and colour. 3D Photography is and has been a hobby for many years.
I am the editor of the Anagnostis e-Magazine which promotes Greek Australian writers and poets, artists, photographers, movie/film makers throughout Australia.
