Interview * Catherine Abel * Artist

Ooh, where do we begin! The Countryphiles has been champing at the bit to share this week’s delightfully INSPIRING story with you. When we first heard that renowned artist Catherine Abel had decided to move to the country to set up a home studio and open her own gallery we were THRILLED! When we met Catherine for ourselves and discovered just how passionate, warm, beautiful, intelligent and TALENTED she is – we fell IN LOVE!

Whilst it would be remiss not to mention that Catherine was a Finalist in the 2006 Archibald Portrait Prize Award and a Finalist in the prestigious Portia Geach Portrait Prize Memorial Award in 2012, her story is INSPIRING for so many more reasons than those very notable accomplishments.

Catherine took the leap of faith to become a fulltime artist back in 2000 when she moved to Paris (with her then French boyfriend) and she hasn’t looked back since. That’s not to say that it’s been easy; just that she has risen to the challenges of being dedicated to her art. Her career has taken her to live and work in Sydney, Paris, California, The Blue Mountains and Richmond before taking another leap of faith and moving to Trentham just three months ago. Catherine has since realised part of her DREAM by opening her first-ever gallery. When The Countryphiles met Catherine for a cuppa and a chat at her Gallery, she was in the midst of working out how to strike the right balance between the time-consuming logistics of selling her art and her need for peaceful, devoted, time and space in which to create it.

And what AMAZING art it is! From her striking naked figurative portraits (you might recall one of Catherine’s nudes ‘Chez Agnes’ featured in our recent story on The Chairmaker’s Wife) to the liberated brush strokes of her Landscapes, Catherine’s creativity displays many subtleties, moods and expressions.

Her recent move to the country is part of her ongoing journey to remain connected to an authentic source from which her creativity can flow and from which her soul can be nourished. Not to mention her love of fresh country air, wide open spaces, tending a garden and one day building her dream home, growing her own veg, having chooks (again) and … the chance of finding her very own ‘Creative Mr Countryphile’ soulmate! Catherine Abel Gallery can be found at 17 Market Street Trentham and is open Saturday & Sunday from 11am to 4pm or by appointment. Enjoy! x

L: ‘Nadira’ Oil on linen, 92x61cms, 2012. R: ‘Aspects of Love’ Oil on linen 102x71cms. Catherine Abel Gallery 17 Market Street Trentham is open Saturday & Sunday 11am to 4pm or by appointment. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

L: ‘Cubist Nude’ Oil on linen. R: ‘Satori’ Oil on linen, 150x122cms, 2012. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

L: ‘Satori’ Oil on linen, 150x122cms, 2012. R: Le Jardin D’Or, Oil on linen, 107x72cms, 2011. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Rich colour and strength of character. L: ‘Satori’ Oil on linen, 150x122cms, Catherine Abel, 2012. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Catherine in her studio. Behind her hangs the painting of author Julia Leigh, for which she was a Finalist in the Archibald Portrait Prize competition. “When Julia told me of her love of oriental design and fabrics, her Chinese jacket was the perfect choice to wear. The ring, which is the letter ‘J’ from an old Remington typewriter, is my own addition: a symbol of the creative ego that writers and artists alike must have in order to do what they do.” Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

These are a few of her favourite things. The glass cabinet displays glassware that Catherine collects & loves as well as her own range of brooches. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

“Bauhaus” and “Avant-garde” scarves designed by Catherine and printed on silk by ‘A Piece of Chic‘ (a young silk scarves label based in Lyon, France). Catherine’s scarves were shown in Berlin & Paris. Catherine’s own range of brooches. Both can be purchased at Catherine’s Gallery in Trentham. Images – supplied. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

“Bauhaus Silk Scarf”. Catherine’s design features on a silk scarf made by up-coming French design house A Piece of Chic, based in Lyon, France. Image – supplied. Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Paintings from Catherine’s Landscape series inspired during her 6-month house-sitting stay in nearby Malmsbury. Catherine’s artworks are available for purchase from her Gallery and can be viewed online. Photo/Production – Danielle White/The Countryphiles.

Tell us a little bit about your background – what path led you to where you are now?

Who knows which path in this complex labyrinth of life led me here … All I know is that Lao Tzu was a spot on! Step by step I keep moving. Sometimes I feel trapped in a maze going around in circles and other times I’m on the open road alone with the wide space. After all these years, I’m learning to see around corners. I was born in Atherton QLD and now I live in Trentham. Only a GPS could track where I’ve been.

Even before I was walking I was drawing.  Art has always been a significant part of my life but it took me a long time to begin painting.  I was a young single parent and the risk of plunging into the commitment of becoming a fine artist was a scary thing when you’ve got a little one to care for and you’re alone and there are bills to be paid.

I had an idea of how I wanted to paint but I’d never really seen the style and subject matter until I saw a painting from the 1920s by the Polish artist Tamara de Lempicka. It was the most beautiful piece of art I had ever seen and I said to myself I’m going to paint like that one day! It was over 10 years later that I finally picked up a brush and began.

Tell us about ‘Catherine Abel the artist’. How did you come to develop your two distinct styles of art?

My painting has developed into a unique style because I take my guidance from what truly inspires me from the inside – the European masters and the artists living in Paris at the turn of last century.

You are an Archibald finalist for your painting of author Julia Leigh. How has this impacted your work?

Being in the Archibald definitely gives kudos to the regime and a temporary boost to the self-esteem although, personally, I don’t believe art or artists should be judged against each other like that especially when the finalists are selected by the Trustees of the gallery!

Can you give us a little insight into your creative processes?

The creative process starts with sketches and ideas then a photo shoot with a model.  I use fabrics and props and often we improvise and if I’m lucky I get something that inspires me. From there I work until I have the final sketch of the figure but often don’t decide on the background until much further into the painting. I don’t like to spend too much time figuring everything out – I like to let the winds of inspiration guide me along the way.

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?

The artists and writers living in Paris at the turn of last century.

“Art history is a profound teacher.

To achieve mastery one only has to tap into the Greats who have gone before us and surrender to their counsel. Their creative spirits still exist.” (My quote)

You’ve just moved to Trentham. How does having a studio in the country influence/inspire your work?

I love the peace and quiet away from the city and its frenetic urge towards mindless activity.  I feel that a life dedicated to creative pursuits is best supported by a country lifestyle and environment.

What does a typical day in the life of Catherine Abel ‘The Artist’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

Mornings start around 7am with a coffee tucked back in bed doing a half hour to an hour of personal writing, followed by a 40-minute Hemi-Sync meditation. Then up and Adam and into the studio. I’m a typical artist-hermit and would rather be cooped up with my paints and being creative than anything else. Then around 4pm I take a long walk in the forest. Quiet evenings are spent reading or watching Northern Exposure on DVD :-)

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

Yes absolutely! I just resonate with the lifestyle revival of country life that has been happening lately. I swoon over every page in Country Style magazine. I think it’s the history and the feeling of a bygone era that I love about the country, especially Victoria. I felt a similar thing when I lived in the Blue Mountains.

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

What I love most is being able to walk somewhere and not see another human. Paradoxically, I love the closeness of the community and the interpersonal relationships of the locals with each other.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life so far?

The most challenging aspect is just recently breaking up from a six-year relationship with a boyfriend also an artist – a metal sculptor – who kept saying he was going to move to the country and make a life with me but never made even the slightest move to toward it. He’s addicted to the city and the illusion of achievement. I hope he wakes up one day. Truth is, being an artist, it doesn’t matter where you are – build it and they will come. So now I’m looking for my male Countryphile equal who understands the rhythms of nature, is highly creative and happy in his own skin.

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

I’m half Italian so COFFEE! I am so lucky I have Colliban Foodstore right across the road from my gallery and home. They have the warmest atmosphere, excellent coffee and splendid food and it’s always full of nice people.

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

Last unforgettable dinner was at Colliban Foodstore (don’t worry I’m not being paid for the plug). Paul, the owner, put on an amazing Bastille Day feast.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Usually getting ready to open the Gallery, which is only open Saturdays and Sundays. I miss going to the markets…

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

I really think it’s something people should experience no matter what age and even if it’s just for a few years. From experience, it really gets you in touch and gets down to the core of who you are and what you want from life. Then you go back to city life bringing a dimension of yourself that you would never have uncovered had you not left for the country. As Thoreau said in “Walden” -“I left the woods for as good a reason as I went there. Perhaps it seemed to me that I had several more lives to live, and could not spare any more time for that one.” Life, in my experience, is just a continual cycle of breathing in and out; expanding and contracting.

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

Make sure you really love trees … because there’s a lot of them in the country!

What can we expect NEXT from you in the future?

I’m really inspired to get the gallery to a level I’m happy with. It’s kind of a work-in-progress at the moment. I’ve been working with vision ImageLab in Sydney to produce a series of limited-edition archival Giclee prints of some of my earlier works. I’m really excited to release the first one – Gare de L’est this week. I’m also looking forward to receiving the silk scarves I designed earlier this year for a French company in Lyon – A Piece of Chic. There will be two designs – ‘Bauhaus’ and ‘Avant Garde’.

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

I’m looking forward to going overseas again either this year or early next year. It’s been two years since I went to Switzerland to paint a commission and my inner-traveller is yearning for broad horizons and fresh inspiration. I’ve been invited by Franky Vivid to be a guest resident artist at the Everleigh Social Club in Chicago and paint Burlesque Star Michelle L’Amour, which will be just an amazing experience. Plus, I’ve always wanted to visit Canada and the forests there.

What would be your dream project?

To build my dream house and studio/gallery (with my Creative Countryphile Man) in the middle of nowhere on a hill where I can watch the sunset every evening. I’m such a romantic.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

1. NGV
2. Victoria Street for Pho
3. The hothouse at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (it smells so good in there)
4. Dean’s Art Supplies
5. Quick Brown Fox – I might live in the country but I don’t want to look like I just came out of a potato patch! (in that order)

Catherine Abel
Catherine Abel Gallery
17 Market St, Trentham