Peel Open Studios returns this month, with more than 100 artists allowing the public into their work spaces for a unique glimpse into their artistic process.
Artists in 36 locations across the Peel region will open their studio doors from this weekend until April 21.
The program is in its fifth year and visitors can see works across a range of mediums, from painting, ceramics, printmaking and textiles to sculpture.
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READ NOWArt collectives and galleries are also involved in the program, with Mandurah Plein Air Artists, Terraform Studio, Murray District Arts and Crafts Society and Bouvard Art Collective all opening their doors.
This year marks the first time Halls Head-based artist Deborah Bonar has been involved in the program and will open her home studio Scribblebark Design to the public.
Bonar draws on her Aboriginal heritage for her colourful artworks and uses both acrylic paint and ochre in her dot paintings and abstract works.
“A lot of my work is influenced by my Gija and Yamatji heritage,” she said.
“Yet I live and work on Noongar country and my artwork demonstrates the importance of place in forming cultural identity and capturing our imagination.
“I like to think that my artwork celebrates my connection to country, so that’s important to me to show a love of place and country.”
Bonar said colour was an important aspect of her work and used it to convey positive emotion through the canvas.
“I absolutely love using lots of colours and my work is very bright,” she said.
“I think to me the more colours you have in a painting, you can create this positive energy, joy and happiness too.”
Local artist Wendy Line will also be part of Peel Open Studios and display her detailed landscape oil paintings.
“I will be showing a few paintings of Mandurah’s estuary — it’s such a beautiful place, especially when there’s no wind and the water acts as a giant mirror,” she said.
Line said each oil painting took several weeks to complete.
“I work in layers, beginning with a very rough and loose outline,” she said.
“I don’t create a detailed drawing; rather, the painting grows and develops organically. It’s an intuitive process.”
Peel Open Studios artists will also have works on display at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre’s Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery in the Peel Open Studios: Origins ‘24 Exhibition until April 21.
For more information, visit peelopenstudios.com/.