FROM THE HEART

Through the open heart, the world comes rushing in...   Mark Nepo.

You are invited to view my paintings and those of other 

exhibiting artists on exhibition at Wonderground Gallery, the Barossa Valley in person or online

Varnishing my paintings ready for the show yesterday! It's always great to properly finish your work so it's at its best and ready to share with everyone! The Rose triptych originally destined for the Chelsea Flower Show 2020 but disrupted by Covid is now showing at Wonderland Gallery in the Barossa.

I've had the pleasure of being invited to share my paintings in an exclusive group exhibition at Wonderground Gallery in the Barossa Valley, a wonderful space created by the artrepreneurial Renee de Saxe, Kirsten Kingsley and their families in the Barossa Valley 6 months ago.

Kirsty and Renee cut their teeth on creating and supporting community art projects throughout Covid times giving a lot of their time to create fabulous exhibitions. They have nurtured so many local artists. I am thrilled to not only see they have found and created a permanent space, to show their own work and other invited artists,  I am also thrilled and excited to share my work in the group exhibition called From the Heart along side other talents.

I visited the space last night when I dropped my work off. It's a stunning exhibition space with beautiful white walls and lovely wooden floors revamped from a classic homestead and set amid vineyards. What a wonderful project.

The exhibition opens in the Barossa tomorrow evening, details below. If you can't make it or to the show that is on throughout March until March 17,  you are welcome to check it out at the gallery website link below and the show is on into March;

As a busy art teacher, giving my energies out to my students which I thoroughly enjoy,  it's also good to occasionally put a bit of energy into my own art practice on this occasion and expose my paintings along side other respected practising artists. So much fun getting my opaintings ready yesterday and making the finishing touches happen.

Here are some excerpts from my art statement;

'One night I dreamed I was painting giant canvases of deep red roses. That was 35 years ago. It was the start of my independent viewpoint as an artist as I brought my powerful internal visions into reality.  

My art journey has expanded into other florals and painting experiences, teaching, hosting French Art School in France, writing and more, yet flowers continue to be my consuming passion to paint.

I now live between the Barossa Valley and the little hamlet of La Foret du Temple in France where I have a second painting studio and home which provides a huge amount of inspiration. Both locations have natural and abundant environments perfect for a floral artist. La Foret du Temple is surrounded by a history of French Impressionist painting with connections to Claude Monet.'

My first stop in Paris is always the floral boutiques of Saint Honore filled to the brim with peonies, unusual rose varieties and more. 

Then it’s a pit stop to the Charvin art store in Saint Germain de Pres for the incredible array of oil colours which I used in the triptych.  Van Gogh and other French Impressionists once bought their paints here too.

Jacqueline Coates February 2023

I hope you've enjoyed my share.

I'll post photos from the night on my HOW TO PAINT WITH JACQUELINE COATES Fb page and Blooms_painting Instagram page. 

I might even see some of you there!

If you are wondering if you can become a selling artist of course you can!

So many of my students have become selling artists so don't forget to out some energy into your work and show up regularly to the easel!

Love and paint brushes,

Jacqueline Coates