Artist: Gemma Rose Brook

Gemma had to split her residency up with 2 visits to work around her day job and on the 2nd visit she was happily painting with my whole family watching at Easter - such fun memories. She also took the time to paint two pet portraits for us, which are incredibly sweet and a perfect reminder to stay present and enjoy life. - Kate

Artist Bio:

Gemma Rose Brook is an Australian plein air painter, based on Kaurna land. Her work has been selected for The Paddington Art Prize, Heysen Biennale, The National Emerging Art Prize, The Fleurieu Biennale and won first prize in the Royal Society of the Arts SA, 'Youthscape' prize. She has been selected for multiple residencies including the prestigious Country Arts POP residency on Kangaroo Island and the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice. Her work has been exhibited and collected nationally most recently at Michael Reid Southern Highlands and the Adelaide Festival Centre. Her intimate paintings with an unique expressive mark and distinctive palette draw on modernist, colourist and formalist depictions of the subjects she paints from life. The paintings she creates explore a hypersensitive and embodied experience of environments that is informed by her lens as a neurodivergent artist with a psychosocial disability.

Q: How did the landscape here at Coorong.life shape or shift your creative process while you were in residence?

A: Initially it felt strange painting the Coorong after just making on Kangaroo Island and it was difficult at first to get a sense of the new landscape. It took me a bit to transition to the softer light and tone of this new place. During my residency I began making both plein air nocturnal works and regular landscape works of the environment for separate series. I have been lucky enough to have multiple shows with these plein air paintings I made at Coorong life so I am grateful for this shift professionally as well.

Q: Was there a moment during your stay where something clicked—either in your work or within yourself? What happened?

A: I felt quite isolated the first couple days but slowly the landscape and place became felt and familiar. The environment sort of clicked for me and became more alive once it was familiar as well. This is when i started to make really good work.

Q: What drew you to paint while you were here, and did that feeling evolve over your time in this place?

A: I painted both needles and the surrounding landscape as well as nocturnes. It’s hard to pinpoint the energy or exact essence of this place but I know it has made such an impact on my work. I’m so grateful for this residency on Ngarrindjerri land.

Q: How did it feel having a base/home in a place like this to wake up, and then decide where to paint and what adventures did you have here?

A: It was key to have a home base for making. Some of my favourite adventures include crossing at Panka point onto One Mile beach for a cold swim, yoga on the water’s edge each morning and painting as the moon as it rose.

Q: What advice would you give to the next artist stepping into this residency?

A: Go at your own pace of making and settle into the landscape but also don’t forget to take time to just be there too. Take time to pat Brandi Lee too!