Introducing our talented new watercolour artist (and baker), Laure – a new arrival to Kuranda. You may recognise her when lining up for freshly baked pastries at Chez Coco!
Name: Laure Nebout-Reyx
Can you describe your artistic style? What is your preferred medium, and why?
My artistic style is colourful and inspired by nature. I like to observe the little creatures and get lost in the gradients, reflections and patterns of the animals. The flowers are also so rich in colour and texture, and I can’t get enough of them. I experimented with different mediums, and I often worked with acrylics and felt-tip pens before discovering watercolour thanks to my cousin. She introduced me to the subtleties of colour mixes, and I made this new technique my own.
What motivates you as an artist
My art is a way of fully appreciating nature, down to the smallest detail. It’s only when I draw that I really observe.
The very detailed observation leads me to see the details that I would not have seen at first glance.
When I paint, I am also fully aware of the light, the smells, the noises; I immerse myself in the environment, and I become one with it to better transcribe into drawing what is offered to me.
I also hope that my art will allow people to realise the beauty of nature, and thus to love and protect it better.
Describe the best piece of art you have created
I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s a work that brings back a beautiful memory: a sunset on a lake in Nicaragua, Central America. We were, with a friend, on the shore of Ometepe Island. This island is actually two volcanoes next to each other, on Lake Cocibolca. This lake is so big that it looks like the sea.
I opened my travel diary and took out my notebooks, and I started to paint this spectacle of colours that the sunset offers on the lake and the volcano. All around me, there were a lot of people and reggae music. I drew as fast as I could, because the colours changed, the light changed from minute to minute. I have a memorable memory of it. Every time I open my notebook on this page, I am again immersed in this place.
What artists inspire you and where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes from my hikes in nature. I also recently discovered the Cairns Botanic Garden, which is an infinite source of inspiration. And then there are those moments in my garden when I see a butterfly, an ant climbing on my arm, or a bird settling down to make its nest.
How do you learn new skills and/or techniques?
I learned a lot thanks to my cousin Amandine who introduced me to the techniques of mixing colours, putting the right amount of water and pigment. I continue to learn from books, exhibitions and other artists I meet.
What has been the most challenging and rewarding part of being an artist
Every day is a new challenge! I have the feeling that every time I start a new work, it’s a new challenge!
What do you like to do when you’re not creating art?
When I’m not with my brushes, I’m in the bakery. I am a baker in Kuranda, in the new French bakery. Making croissants and pains au chocolat is also an art to me, with different raw materials of course!
Can you describe your studio/workspace and your favourite time of day to create?
I set up my studio in a small room in my house, I feel cozy in this small space, a bit like in a creative safe place.
But most of the time, I draw outside. In a garden, by the side of a path, in the middle of flowers. Sometimes I take a picture to draw later in my studio, especially for animals that move a lot like butterflies.
What is your favourite tool that you can’t do without.
I found my perfect brush! In reality, I have two favourite brushes, I only use these so I have a multitude of others. It’s as if we had tamed each other.
Do you think art is important in society?
Yes, of course! Art in all its forms is necessary because it allows us to question our vision of the world. In my opinion, art makes the person who looks at it experience emotions and allows reflections to emerge.
Each artist sees the world with his own eyes and what I like about the Arts Co-op is this variety of universes.
I also think that art should be accessible to all, it is not reserved for privileged people, it is for everyone.
