PEOPLE
erpaintingsarecaptivatingfor
theirsweepsofdimensionbuilding,
expressivestrokes.Workedin pure
dancingcolours,herfigurative
abstractionsofstilllifesandstreet
scenesarefilledwithenergyandlight.
I’mtalkingaboutLarissaBlake
rein herStudio.I don’twheretolook
Aladdin’sCave– a light-filledone
eepingviewsofOrangethrougha
largewindow;brushesstandingattheready;
scrunchedpaint-tubesanddribbled-onsample
pots.There’recanvasesbeingstretched;her
Dad’stoy(avintageRollsRoycehe’llrestore
oneday);thesturdiesteaselI’veseen;paintings
proppedaroundtheroom;anda welcomingnook
ofcolourfulpink,orangeandredcushionsand
lounges.Ohyes,anda kitchenetteformaking
allimportantcupsoftea.Larissaconfesses“I’ve
learntthatstudiosarea lotlikehandbags,the
biggertheyarethemoreyouputin them.”
Onreviewinga creativeyear,Larissais
happythathercalendaris fulluntilNovember,
butsheadmitsdrawingthelineforherartistic
sanity.Constantlyprocessing,hermindis
buzzingwithideasfromherexhibitioninHong
Kongaswellasthenextopening,soherpace
won’tslowfora while.
LarissagrewupinOrangeandcompleteda
CommunicationsdegreeattheUniversityof
Canberra,thenmovedtoSydneywhereshe
startedhercareerworkinginpublishingfor
anarchitecturalanddesignmagazinecalled
Monument.
“MyparentsareLorettaandBarryBlake.
Mymotheris a verywellrespectedand
accomplishedartist,whowasmyfirstand
mostsignificantpaintingteacher.”
Sheadds,“Then,inmylatetwentiesI
finallyadmittedthatartwaswhatI wantedtodo,althoughI hadnoformalqualifications.
I graduallyreducedmypaidemploymentto
makewayforanartpracticeandattended
workshopswithartistsI admired.I wasgiven
anopportunitytoteachpainting,whichI loved
andhavebeena painterandeducatornowfor
almost 20 years.I returnedtoOrangein2011,
andconsidermyselfa localasmyfamilyand
oursonSamis here.”
TravelinspiresLarissa’sworkandher
perennialpopularitymaycomefromherkeen
senseofplace.Havingidyllicsurroundsand
lovingeverydaythingsandtravelprovidesmany
opportunitiesfora reinterpretationoftraditional
themes.”Gardens,flowersandinteriorshave
beena constantsourceofinspirationformyart.
Colouris mypassionandI amdrawntomaster
painterswholovecolourandpaint,particularly
theAustralianpaintersAidaTomescu,Ann
ThomsonandElizabethCummings.”
So,whatis inthecalendar?“Afterreturning
fromtheAffordableArtFairinHongKong
inMay,I wasexcitedaboutthelaunchof
TheByngStreetHotelinOrange.I’vehad
thepleasureofworkingwiththeincredibly
talentedLouiseSpicerofOneFourInteriors
before,andamsothrilledtohavemywork
featuredinthenewboutiqueaccommodation,
whichopensthisspring.It’sbeenanenormous
taskforthenewcustodianstorestore
theoldhomeYallungahintomagnificent
contemporaryaccommodationwhilebeing
sensitivetotheheritageandhistory.
“InAugusteachyear,myhusbandMatt-
whoownsThomson’sGardenCentre- andI
gotoMelbournefortheGiftFairwhichis a
greatopportunitytohavea galleryfix.I’malso
workingona newbodyoflargepiecesfor
StudioGalleryMelbournefortheirgorgeous
newpremisesinHighStreet,Armadale.”Larissa’sHongKongtriphas a serendipitous
feel.Shesimplynoticedanacquaintance
gallerist’sInstagrampostlooking for artists to
exhibit.“I ranghim,chattedand sent images
ofmywork,andhesaid‘I genuinely love your
work,andI thinkyourworkwill fit really well
withinthestableofartistswe’ve got.’ So, I said
‘I’mkeen,let’sdoit!’”
Butastheexhibitionwaswholly curated,
hungandmannedbyGlobalGallery and there
wasnothingleftforLarissato do, she jumped
atbeinga touristandwentwith a girlfriend
(whoownsArtEstArtSchool in Sydney and
whohasfriendsinHongKong). “I wasn’t
intendingtogo,I wasjustgoing to send the
workover,”shelaughs.
Theyendedupstayingthe three nights in
magnificentaccommodation in a 36th-floor
apartmentwithgreatviewsof the city. Their
hostsspoiltthemwithdaytrips and trying little
bars.“Wedidlotsofwalkingand enjoyed the
localvibe,”shesays.“Thebig cultural change
wassoinspiring.I’vegotsuch a full head now
ofgreatimagestoworkfrom. It was amazing. I
collecteduntoldcreativeideas and photos.”
GivenLarissa’seternalquest for balance,
allherworksaredeeplypersonal and
autobiographical.Notsurprisingly adding, “I am
currentlydrawntoa moreminimal aesthetic
inanattempttofinda quieter more peaceful
responsetothebusinessoflife.”
“I lovethequotebyartistJean-Michel
Basquiat‘Musicis howwedecorate time, art is
howwedecoratespace.’I think art is important
inourincreasinglybusyandfast lives as it
providesanopportunitytostop and reflect,”
shesays.“Arthasthepowerto uplift and
inspire.”Also,if youarelucky enough to view
herupcomingworksbesure to look for any
dancingreddragons.bmlI’m currently being drawn to a more minimal
aesthetic in an attempt to find a quieter more
peaceful response to the busyness of life.
30 Blue Mountainslife