About the Artist

Artist Statement by Effie Theodoridis

My inspiration comes from nature, specifically plants. I am constantly amazed at the variety of plants and the fantastic array of shapes, colours, patterns and textures that they display. Many of the plants in my work exist in our garden and in the neighbourhood where we walk our dog.

I see plants as not only a visual delight but also as a life giving force and for this reason I often include some form of 'life' into the composition, for example, birds, butterflies, fish etc... Like most people, I have always enjoyed quietly watching fish as they swim aimlessly. Their graceful, presumably playful movements suggest a relaxed, peaceful environment thus conveying, to some extent, the same emotions to the onlooker. My aim is to capture their smooth flowing movements as they negotiate the spaces and challenges provided by the aquatic plants. The light reflected in the water has an amazing effect on the colours and shapes and provides an interesting contrast.

We are fortunate enough to have a relatively big garden and at certain times, especially when it is feeding time at the chicken coop, or when the trees are laden with fruit, it could be referred to as a bird watcher's paradise. Doves, crows, magpies, sparrows, lorikeets, just to mention a few, have me mesmerised and delighted at their appearance and antics and make perfect models for my paintings.

My tertiary studies and training for a career as a secondary Art and Design teacher have influenced my style. I feel I have been able to achieve my aim of combining art and design elements to create interest in my work.

I fully relate to Paul Cezanne's sentiments where he states "I have not tried to reproduce nature: I have represented it." My main focus is to use colour and shape to create an interesting, harmonious balance. Although a somewhat abstract (simplification of form) style, the images I use are representative of recognisable forms of life. My aim is to create an arrangement of repetitive shapes and colours to form patterns (almost decorative) that lead the eyes into, around and out of the painting. If successful, a painting should lead the viewer into the composition and leave them wanting to search for areas that capture their interest and imagination, thus enticing a personal, emotional response.