andrunworkshops.Corrugatedironandpaint-splattered
concreteprovidethebackdropforAmy’scolourfulworks
inprogress,aswellassoftfoliageandotherfoundobjects
thatinspireherart.“Whilemylargerpaintingsarealways
doneonaneaselinthestudio,I candosmallerpieces
enpleinairoroutontheverandah,”shesays.“Ilove
thewide-openspacesurroundingourhomeandthe
connectednesstonaturewhenI’mworking.”
Amy’spieceshangthroughoutthehomealongsidethose
ofvariousAustralianartists,includingtwomuch-loved
worksbyAboriginalpainterandweaverReginaWilson.
“Wewereveryfortunatetoinherita collectionofIndigenous
artworksfrommymother-in-law,”saysAmy.“Ifeela real
connectiontoAboriginalart—I thinkit’sbecauseI relate
tothatsenseofplaceandconnectednesstotheland.”
Amy’sownworkisinspiredbyAustraliancontemporary
landscapeartistssuchasIdrisMurphy,aswellasAmerican
abstractexpressionists.
Whileherhinterlandsurroundsofferanantidotetourban
living,Amy’searlyyearsinwesternQueenslandcontinue
toinspireherwork.“Ihaveveryfondmemoriesofmy
timethere,drivingupanddowninthetruckwithDadto
checkthefencesanddams,”saysAmy,whooncefinisheda
paintingonlytolaterrealiseitwasanaerialmapoftheir
StGeorgeproperty.“Asimplisticchildhoodviewofhow
I wouldhaveimaginedalltheboundaries,butI remembered
itprettywell!”shesays.“Wewerealwaysdoingsomething
withourhands—buildinggunyahsout s andmaking
mudpies.WhenI’mpainting,ittakesm tothatstate
ofchildhoodplayandexperimentation
ToseemoreofAmy’sworkandfindoutaboutupcoming
exhibitions, visit amyclarke.com.auCLOCKWISE,FROMABOVE
AmottopaintedbyCocowhen
shewaseightyearsoldhas
prideofplaceinAmy’sstudio;
thesprawlinggroundsaround
thehousearealsohometothe
family’stworescuedogs,
Woody(picturedwithAmy)
andBanjo;a sculptureby
Brisbane-basedStephenHart
sitsonAmy’sbedsidetable;
aninkdrawingbyAmyhangs
inthelivingroom.Theteapoton
theledgewasmadebyEumundi
ceramic artist Merrie Tomkins.PEOPLEEUMUNDI QUEENSLAND
24 COU NTRY ST Y LESEPTEMBER 2019