Written by Amelia Pontifex
~
– Jonah Lehrer, ‘Why we Travel’
Dinah Dixon is a Brisbane based contemporary realist landscape artist whose works explore the natural Australian terrain through energetic storytelling and raw colour. Inspired by her environment, whether travelling, beach walking or trips in the caravan, Dinah’s works capture an unparalleled connection to nature and her immediate surroundings.
Dinah Dixon
Typically using materials of a fast drying nature such as acrylics, Dinah is able to capture the colour palette of her natural surroundings both on the canvas and in plein air studies of colours in her journal.
Do Not Swim | 40 x 30cm, Acrylic on stretched canvas
“When I want subject matter to stand out almost like a majestic mangrove from the water, I also love using the buttery texture of oil paint to create soft contrasts.”
Afternoon Delight – Byron Bay | 125 x 125cm, Acrylic on stretched cotton canvas
While always interested in the arts, Dinah began formal painting classes for five years and studied composition, colour and drawing techniques before taking the plunge and making her art her primary focus and full time gig.
“My training changed the way I saw forms and colours. The leaves of the trees weren’t just green anymore, but now a mix of cerulean blue and lemon yellow or ultramarine blue and cadmium orange. It was enlightening.”
Into the Woods | Limited Edition Print
It was after the birth of her second child that Dinah dedicated time to honing her skills. She began private lessons, funnily enough, at a studio called ‘Art Lovers’. It was here she learnt proportion, scale and the mathematical elements that can sometimes come into painting. Eventually, through food, wine and friendship, Dinah’s mentors encouraged her to begin selling her art and thus began her journey with Art Lovers Australia.
It’s the Knockrow Life | 43 x 64cm, Acrylic on marine plywood
There are many artists that Dinah admires such as Luke Sciberras, Emily Imeson, Laura Jones, Jo Davenport, Jo Bertini and Jennifer Riddle. But it really is the ever changing scenery of mother nature that drives Dinah’s works.
Purple Haze – Fraser Island | 78 x 104cm, Acrylic on stretched cotton canvas
“I love art that tells a story, that has energy and emotion in the brushstrokes. The raw beauty of nature. I paint what I see. Subconsciously I tend to look for the calm and restful moments in the landscape that make me feel relaxed but in awe at the same time, which is what I crave in everyday life as well.”
At the end of the day | 91 x 60.5cm, Acrylic on stretched premium cotton canvas
By nature of the subject matter, Dinah typically works with an earthy colour palette favouring sunset pastels of purples and oranges and muted tones of greens and blues.
“There has to be something special about a place that strikes a chord and draws me in. I’ll feel it, that calm and awe of pure beauty. I’ll take several photographs for reference and also record the vibrancy of colour I see with the naked eye in my journal with gouache, which is always so much more than the photograph can achieve.”
Off The Bloomfield Track | Limited Edition Print
With a taste for travel and quick studies of colour and scenery, Dinah wishes to take her craft wherever the sun takes her, whether it be overseas or travelling around Australia. With her ability to capture colour as well as her adaptability of skills across mediums, Dinah wishes to explore collaborations with other artists, group shows and large scale exhibitions.
Dinah Dixon’s works can all be found on the Art Lovers Australia website.
~
FREE DELIVERY AUSTRALIA WIDE
1,000+ ARTISTS
SAFE & SECURE PAYMENTS | 7 DAY SATISFACTION GUARANTEE
