An inspiring weekend meeting artists in their studios
On the weekend I visited the picturesque Dandenong Ranges, located about one hour east of Melbourne and surrounded by lush green forest and towering mountain ash trees.
With the Open Studios event on I was able to explore a couple of the 44 studios open to the public. I was interested in learning more about printmaking and mixed media art.
One of the studios I really enjoyed visiting was Kylie Watson’s studio where she prints onto Japanese washi with a technique that looks similar to etching, making the paper look like delicate material. It was lovely talking to her about her travels to Japan and the inspiration behind her art. Check out her Instagram here to explore her artworks.
After some studio visits I stopped in at Cloudehill Gardens in Olinda for some lunch and coffee, enjoying the view from the deck across the gardens.
This event happens across two weekends and is certainly worth a trip to not only explore the beautiful area but meet the makers among the hills.
Top 5 open studios in the Dandenong Ranges:
- Kylie Watson – printmaker creating unique prints on Japanese washi.
- Elizabeth Gleeson – muralist creating intricate designs inspired by European designs and architecture.
- Ches Mills – beautifully detailed fine art combining painting and printmaking and inspired by the ocean.
- Gerard Russo – uses copper and wood to make unique luminaire pieces.
- Prue Crome – blending the pigments of different paint mediums to create abstract artworks.
