Summer Soulstice - Jane Holmes & Kirsty Riddle

Introduction by Inka Gallery member artist Deb St Leger:

Kirsty Riddle went to the beach one day and she has brought to us an expansive vision of shells and a metaphor about human experience. Her drawings “Found 1,2 and 3” depict shells writ large, these pale skeletal forms, heavily weathered by time and tide, reluctantly emerge from their ink/charcoal surrounds. Now deprived of their inner life forms they speak of loss, timeless endurance with a touch of sadness. These drawings, depicted with sensitivity and delicacy, with occasional tightly framed details, disguising the original subject matter, conjure mysterious images of beauty and stoic pride. In contrast the other end of the wall four crabs dance up the wall full of colour and joy.

Jane Holmes, on the other hand, went to Paris. But this is not the Paris of grandiose history, fabulous art, where the capitol of cuisine competes with the centre of the fashion world for attention. This is Jane’s special Paris, the overlooked details and the forgotten histories of everyday lives. The back street cafes and small shops with their striped awnings, colourful flower boxes and decaying wrought iron balconies. Her watercolours of cafes are full of character and beautifully observed details. The solar etchings are densely, yet subtly layered with the images and objects of antique window displays. These works are about the mundane everyday, yet they are filled with the scent of ageing elegance and forgotten routines. Jane serves us up the essence of Paris on a small plate.

Fashion Style
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
46 x 57.5 cm
$280

Three Shells
Kirsty Riddle
Ink
35.5 x 63 cm
$300

Flower
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
37x 44.5 cm
$230

Found I
Kirsty Riddle
Charcoal and Ink on Paper
76 x 64 cm
$450

Mannequin Paris Style
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
46 x 57.5 cm
$280

Found II
Kirsty Riddle
Charcoal and Ink on Paper
64 x 76 cm
$450

Melons at Market
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
37 x 44.5 cm
$230

Found III
Kirsty Riddle
Charcoal and Ink on Paper
64 x 76 cm
$450

Paris Cafe I
Jane Holmes
Mixed media
48 x 63.5 cm
$580

Four Crabs
Kirsty Riddle
Ink
89.5 x 37.5 cm
$350

Paris Cafe II
Jane Holmes
Mixed Media
48 x 63.5 cm
$580

Shell on the Shore
Kirsty Riddle
Ink and Charcoal on Paper
59.5 x 51 cm
$400

Paris Streets
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
37 x 44.5 cm
$230

Shells with Blue Crayfish
Kirsty Riddle
Etching
51 x 44 cm
$200

Paris Style
Jane Holmes
Limited Edition Solar Etching
46 x 57.5 cm
$280

Shells with Pink Crab
Kirsty Riddle
Etching
51 x 44 cm
$200

Stewarts Bay
Kirsty Riddle
Oil Pastel
58.5 x 45.5 cm
$300

Kirsty Riddle

I find most of my inspiration in the infinite colours and forms in the natural world. Increasingly I draw, paint or print objects or scenes that have emotional meaning to me. I like to share my life experiences, both joyful and painful in the hope that the viewer can relate to my experience. I like to experiment with using a range of mediums including oil paints, pastels, inks, charcoal and coloured pencils.  

Jane Holmes

I have loved Paris all of my life.

As a small child I dreamed of one day visiting Paris, France.

Last year that dream came true. Four days of touring Paris by Rickshaw, covering many more miles by foot, produced over 2500 photographs of my journey which have become the inspiration for this series of mixed media works  and solar etchings.

My trip then ventured into another six European countries from Amsterdam to Budapest and then onto Prague. My experiences from this trip of a lifetime will form the basis of my portfolio for many years to come.