The Lounge: Art to relax with

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16 Nov, 2022

 

The Lounge, a boutique collection of fine art by local artists Tracey Christie, Flora Tondo and Tori Thomas, opens at the Mangawhai Artists Gallery on the morning of Thursday November 24. These bespoke artworks aim to complete walls and homes with that unique touch.

Tracey Christie works in mixed media, using vibrantly painted paper to collage and construct new forms that are then digitalised.

“My current series for ‘The Lounge’ is driven by ideas of carefree days at the beach, memories of my youth and feminine identity,” says Tracey. “You will find a series of vividly hued portraits that have ambiguous identities, often inspired by characters in a novel, of wily, uncompromising heroines from a wide range of backgrounds. These portraits are pure escapism and an homage to feminine beauty.”

The composition of pattern and colour act to frame, conceal and reveal different parts of the face.

Rebecca Barclay-Clist, the artist behind Flora Tondo, is mostly drawn to colour, marks, and form.

“Blooms that remind me of family, friends and occasions are where my interest in the flower began,” says Rebecca. “Flowers can be used in significant moments of delight, to celebrate or sympathise with. Flowers are beautiful, yet resilient. They stimulate fond memories and remind us of the goodness of God.”

Rebecca’s works are distinctive in style and have signature elements like the distressed gold leaf edge and glossy resin layer which appears to add yet another dimension to the already beautiful disc-shaped creations.

Tori Thomas’s works are influenced by colour, composition and expression. Her works are inspired by the work of famous artists Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko and Georgia O'Keefe. The theme of her works is based around the same subject matter but it is the use of colour, texture and composition of each painting that sets them apart.

“I love looking at how many different colours can work together,” says Tori. “I like to push the boundaries of colour composition and balance. Working with the contrast of heavy and light, expressive and controlled brushstrokes can create a sense of expression and depth to my art.”

Tracey’s artmaking is as immersed in the process as it is about the outcome. Whilst the final product is a fine art print, each artwork is painstakingly hand done.

“I enjoy seeing the mark of the artist hand with irregularities and untamed paint,” says Tracey. “Then the collage process starts, cutting and layering painted paper till the figure and composition begins to emerge. Once a work is complete, it is photographed and then digitized for an art print which enables the work to be enlarged and reproduced in a limited-edition series.”

Acrylic paint sits beneath the lusciously glossy resin finish of a flora tondo.

“Flicks and dashes of colour are employed to create beautifully quiet blooms and wild gardens that whisk you away through a circular portal,” says Rebecca aka Flora Tondo. “You may also see a glint of gold leaf used to enhance the works while adding a shimmery glamour.”

Tori mainly works in oils, pastels, acrylic and spray paint.

Tracey studied painting and design at Unitec and has a Bachelor of Design with Honours. She has been a secondary school art teacher since 2006 in Auckland and locally at Otamatea High School. She is interested in sustaining her practice through fine art prints and making her work accessible year-round. Her works can be viewed at tracey-christie-art.com.

Rebecca studied at Dunedin School of Art in the ceramics department. Post grad, with painting equipment being more accessible and the urge to create unstoppable, Rebecca began a flourishing painting practice. Flora tondo pieces are regularly made and are stocked in various galleries and stores, plus online at floratondo.com.

Tori studied at Unitec and graduated with a Bachelor of Interior Architecture. She was an inhouse artist for an advertising agency, did many events where she was an artist in residence and exhibited her art in galleries around Auckland and in the Auckland art fair.

The Lounge has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Come, unwind and be enveloped in the beauty of decorative artworks by Tracey Christie, Flora Tondo and Tori Thomas. Discover the perfect artwork to fill your walls with colour, texture, and sentiment so you can come home, relax and be surrounded by beauty.

n The Lounge is open daily 10am to 3pm from Thursday November 24 until midday on Wednesday December 7 at Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir St.

 

The Lounge artists, from left, Tori Thomas, Rebecca Barclay-Clist aka Flora Tondo, Tracey Christie. PHOTOS/SUPPLIED

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