Hello Friday and hello lovely Maddabling blog readers. I hope your collective weeks were wonderful. What does your weekend hold? I *need* to do some gardening, the vege patch is looking a little sad and I think I have some beetroot ready to harvest.
This week it is my absolute pleasure to introduce to you all a wonderful local creative - Meleah Farrell; Abstract Photographer.
I really do adore the wonderful art that Meleah makes. As part of the Art Trail, we visited her gorgeous studio on the weekend just past. Let me take you on a journey now.
When you arrive at the Studio, you park in a woodland clearing and walk up a bush path to arrive at Meleah's studio.
The studio is divine, it is so light and airy and is perched upon a hill.
There are lots of hidden treasures to be found, just open your eyes and mind to the fantastic images; you can also enjoy the wonderful vintage items on display in the studio!
One thing that Meleah enjoys is playing a guessing game with her visitors, being that her art is of an abstract nature. She is happy to share with you what is behind the abstract image in her photographs, but you may have to make a guess first :)
It was really wonderful to visit with Meleah, and discuss her craft in person, being that most of my blog posts are created through emails and I don't always get to meet the artist face to face. So a big big thank you to Meleah for this opportunity.
PLEASE RESPECT THAT SOME OF THE IMAGES HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED AND USED HERE WITH MELEAH'S EXPRESS PERMISSION, PLEASE DO NOT REPRODUCE OR USE HER WORKS (SPECIFICALLY LOTUS, CAREENED, THE EMPIRE and FROM WITHIN) IN ANY WAY WITHOUT HER EXPRESS PERMISSION.
I invite you now to share A Moment with Meleah Farrell - Abstract Photographer. See you all on Sunday night for the weekend blog post x
A Moment with Meleah Farrell;
Abstract Photographer
1. Tell me about your
creative side, how did you get started?
I developed an interest in photography in my teenage years but
growing up, creativity for me was fore mostly found in dance.
It was when I was living in a small, rural fishing village in
north Malaysia back in 2001 that I started to pursue photography as a hobby a
little more seriously. I bought my first SLR camera, started a course via
correspondence, began to learn how to take back the controls of image making,
and I was hooked.
2. What are your
current sources of inspiration?
I have always taken inspiration from my everyday and the
spaces around me.
Recently, some of those ‘spaces’ included the stimulating and
magnetic New York City, the diverse and whimsical city of Montreal and the modestly
beautiful state of Maine – all on our North American ‘vay-cay’.
My camera was glued to my side the entire time. It was such a
wonderful, explorative and all inspiring month of creating and playing
photographically.
3. Do you have a favourite photography technique?
Not one favourite, no. I LOVE lots!!!
The subject matter, along with the available light, tend to
dictate what techniques I use, or indeed break, when creating each image.
However, I have recently been messing around with the technique
of ‘bokeh’. I love the blurry, creamy like properties it produces and the
playful nature of its process.
4.You recently held some creative abstract photography
workshops - can you tell me a little more about them?
I was approached by the Denmark Community Resource Centre to
run a series of abstract photography workshops in the lead up to its annual
Photography Competition. It was hoped that the workshops (titled “Shift Your
Focus”) would have its residents thinking more creatively about “what connected
them to Denmark’ and see some images that reflected a different perspective of
their town.
For me, it was my first time being on the ‘other side’ of a
workshop forum. A little daunting at first but I absolutely enjoyed every
moment. My workshoppers were a diverse bunch and it was really special to be
able to share and connect with each of them through photography.
My next workshop adventures are with the Albany Summer School
in January 2014.
5.You are holding an exhibition as part of the 2013 Bendigo
Bank Southern Art + Craft Trail, what can you tell us about
"VOID"?
VOID is a photography exhibition exploring the spaces between,
interim distances and absences in our own landscapes.
I have tried to capture the connection of those void spaces around
us. Whether it be amongst clouds, though reflections, in shadows or amid bright
lights……
With this exhibition I not only wanted to present the viewer
with visually challenging images, but I wanted to deliver a finished product
that side stepped the normal ‘photography print in a frame’. With VOID I have
printed/mounted my imagery not only onto paper but brushed metal, textile,
stone + acrylic – transforming them into jewelry, outdoor art and home
wares.
6. How do you hope to see your creativity
evolving in the future?
I count myself as a pretty lucky gal that
I get to create every day, for a living. For the future, I just hope to
continue to engage with, nurture and push my creativity.
Dear readers, do you want to see more? Here is how you can connect:
Keep up to date with the latest happenings on Facebook here:
Visit the Meleah Farrell Abstract Photography website here:
