Fairytale art

 

By ALESHA CAPONE                                         

 

Star Newspaper: Williamstown, Altona, Laverton

 

17th April 2012 10:23:38 AM

 

 

Point Cook artist Satu Kirk, whose paintings are exhibited at the Odd Spot Café in Newport. 79805 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI

 

THE FORESTS and fairytales of her Finnish heritage inspire Satu Kirk’s fantastic artworks.


Several works by the Point Cook resident are presently on exhibition at the Odd Spot Café in Newport, as part of Hobsons Bay City Council’s Art in Public Places program, which will end 28 April.


“It’s something I’ve been into since I was a little kid, drawing and painting,” Ms Kirk said.


“Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved drawing and been OK at it.”


The talented painter studied art and design when she graduated from school, but ended up working in a completely different field, the public service.


Ms Kirk said it was 25 years down the track when she started painting again, after her youngest child started kindergarten during 2010.


Ms Kirk’s first solo exhibition was held at the Wyndham Cultural Centre that year, and since then her art has been displayed at venues across Melbourne.


“When I got back into it, I tried to experiment with different ideas and I kept going back to forest themes,” she said.


“So I’ve stuck with that theme and also modified it, last year I expanded to include animals which live in forests in the paintings, like deer and wolves.


“In addition to the forest, I add in other themes which I’m interested in, like fairytales and mythology.


“I like the reaction I get from people viewing the art - each person has a different take on it and I’ve got nothing but positive feedback so far, which has been great.”


Most recently, Ms Kirk organised an art exhibition over Easter for nine Finnish artists, as part a festival held by the Altona-based Finnish Society.


See www.sweetartomine.com or www.artinpublicplaces.com.au for more information.