Ricci McAuliffe – Paintings from Nature

While life initially had its own intentions for her, Ricci McAuliffe painted herself into the visual arts corner in 2019. 

Living between Inverloch and the Yarra Valley since the mid-1990s, her work thrives off the abundant diversity of the neighbouring bushlands. Exploring native floras through an abstract lens, her works are unique impressionistic perspectives that celebrate the imaginative beauty and intense delicateness of Australia’s natural culture.

With a desire to represent not only the look of the land but the feel as well, she blends acrylics together with sand, before supplementary layers in oils are added, to create a highly texturised appearance, characteristic of the distinct topography. Obsessed with colour creation and composition, she spends lengthy time periods comparing and contrasting combinations, before finally allowing them to flourish on the canvas.