Virginia Hendren: Vivid Interpretations of Nature

Art Lovers | 29 January 2024

Written by Anna Itkonen

Virginia Hendren is an Australian abstract artist whose vivid and energetic style derives its inspiration from nature. Her signature free hand and energetic, gestural movements reflect her free spirit and joyous nature. Virginia resides and works in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Virginia Hendren

What do you paint, and what inspires you to paint?

“I am still building on skills and learning every day. At the moment, I enjoy painting large abstracts. And, of course, flowers! I am practising working with different paints of different viscosities and textures, working on composition and complimentary colour palettes. I don’t have a style that I have settled on yet, but I am having lots of fun.”

“I have found the calming, therapeutic, expressive act of creating something beautiful and a welcome change of pace from the busy, stressful field of nursing. I find that being an artist helps calm and centre me.”

Run Away With Me | 90 x 120cm, Acrylic & oil pastel on canvas

What is it about flowers that inspire you?

“Their beauty, the different colours and even the textures of flower petals when you really study them. I buy myself flowers, my partner buys me flowers, and I buy my friends flowers. Flowers are in my life every day, whether I am in my garden, growing my own flowers, or just stopping to smell flowers in other people’s gardens.“

Peach Kisses | 120 x 100cm, Acrylic on canvas

How would you describe your art style?

“I don’t have a set style currently as I still want to explore the many styles of art and medium types. When I create a new piece, I like to include a complementary colour palette with good composition. I like to use lots of layering, sometimes with subtle texture, using various tools and implements and my favourite brushes to apply interesting details to each piece in its spontaneous, unique form.”

Find Me In My Thoughts | 58 x 66cm, Acrylic & oil pastels on canvas

What is the journey of a painting like for you, from the inspiration till it is finished?

“The inspiration might be something I see online, in a book or my house or garden. I recently bought books on floristry and flower arranging with beautiful illustrative pictures. I get inspiration from these books. I also follow a few photographers on Instagram who photograph flowers. From there, I mix my paint as I go and let the painting take me wherever it needs to go. I don’t sketch on the canvas. It is about creating layers, warming up and getting a taste of the canvas. It is about the moment, the colours, and how they call me that day. “

“For an abstract painting, the time can just slip away. Sometimes, I paint for hours and hours in one day and don’t leave my studio until it is done. At other times, then again, I might paint for a couple of hours one day and return to the painting the following day. That also works for me as the paint is dry, and I get a slightly different result. But I am impatient, and once I start something, I like to finish it.”

Love You More | 43 x 43cm, Acrylic on canvas

Can you tell us more about the role of colour and composition in your art?

“My colour choices change from day to day. Sometimes, I cannot even identify the flower that I am painting, but it is the colour that determines it. It is a [unidentified] flower, but it is a blue flower. “

“Composition, then again, takes its own form. It can be challenging, but I’m learning to deal with that uncomfortable feeling [of being stuck] midway through creating. That feeling where I almost want to stop, but I know that the artwork is not complete. “

Dreaming Of Spring | 94 x 94cm, Acrylic on canvas

You currently work with acrylics together with other mediums. How do your chosen mediums lend themselves to your artistic expression, style and visual language? What has attracted you to these mediums?

“At the moment, I am working mainly with acrylics, and acrylics are easy to work with. I like experimenting with adding different mediums to change how the paint is applied on the canvas. I am using a bit of impasto to create texture, and I enjoy that. I can add it without sacrificing too much of the pigment of the paint, as well.”

“I have started doing a bit of mixed media, and I enjoy stenciling and paper mâché. I would also love to work with cold wax, oil paints and oil pastels in the future.”

Virginia Hendren Sun Rays & Spring Flowers

Sun Rays and Spring Flowers | 100 x 120cm, Acrylic on canvas

What do you want to communicate through your art? What do you hope a viewer takes with them?

“I want them to feel happy when they look at my art. I have had people look at and buy my paintings because they trigger a memory for them. I love it when they tell me their story and why they have bought my art. This makes my job rewarding.”

“Being able to surround oneself with things of beauty, tangible items that hold meaning and have a special place in your heart, is so important. In a world where there is war, loss and uncertainty, having art close to you can be healing and a constant reminder of the beautiful things that remain in this world.”