Interview with Abstract Painter Robyn Saurine

Robyn Saurine was born in Australia and worked in the coal mines of Central Queensland before relocating to Singapore in 2009, and then returning to Australia in 2015. Her art is influenced by experiences and travels in the Australian Outback, Asia and Italy.  Saurine is keen to push the limits of art to explore the world of texture, portraiture, stylised drawing, colour and collage. Experimentation is an important part of her development process along with the ability not to have expectations as to the direction a piece will take or where it will end. We speak with the painter about her practice.

A: Much of your abstract work is strongly textured. How do you find texture interacts with colour in these pieces?
RS: Often texture is the base layer that centres and acts as the foundation in my pieces. The layering of colours over the textured base is how I bring cohesiveness to a piece. Therefore, I find texture plays an important role in the overall composition of a piece.

A: How is the effect achieved?
RS: Typically through the use of pallet knives, spoons, or a similar tool with whatever medium I have on hand (as I don’t like to waste any materials). Commonly used materials include paste, plaster, thick paint, gesso or just recycling used canvases. After the base is ready then I continuously layer paint while meditating on a chosen theme.

A: Would you agree that there is a sense of transition (through colour and shape) in your paintings?
RS: Yes, sometimes it happens organically. At other times, I will “force” a shape or colour to be dominant. It is completely dependent on how I believe an idea or theme should be expressed.

A: Is there a sense of crossover between your drawings and paintings in your mind, or do you view them separately?
RS: I believe they both add to each other. For example, my drawings help with form and training the eye to see the world from a different perspective, whereas my paintings start with a realistic or tangible theme, then I use methods from drawing to build an abstract image.

A: Have your travels informed your artwork, or the other way around?
RS: I think it’s interchangeable. For example, living in Australian mining towns made me conscious of using any and all materials around me as they were a rare commodity!  Asia opened my eyes to the idea that you need to “keep pushing” until you knew a piece was “done”. Italy revealed the beauty of form; in humans and in architecture.  After each new experience I find my artwork gains another level of maturity.

Learn more about Robyn Saurine’s work at www.robynsaurine.com.

To see her listing in the Artists’ Directory in Issue 69 of Aesthetica Magazine, pick up a copy at www.aestheticamagazine.com.

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Credits:
1. Robyn Saurie, Urbanscape. Courtesy of the artist.
2. Robyn Saurie, Slumber. Courtesy of the artist.