“A Touch of Viridian”

Wendy Donald

4th - 15th March
Opening night Friday 6/03 6-8pm

Exhibition Statement

by Wendy Donald

Extrovert, vibrant with accents of colour, these monoprints with overlays  stand as a testament to the joy of life.  A Touch of Viridian and Ladies in Frocks make a real change from previous introspective series and set out to explore what happens when you dress the human form. 

It was after a number of my monoprints were removed from an invited show that the idea came to me to make tiny garments to cover the nudity.  Ladies in Frocks was quickly followed by A Touch of Viridian, where the painted clothing added touches of modesty to the works, and the private parts are well hidden.

Women often find themselves struggling with art practice, regularly interrupted, sometimes for years or even decades.  Our studio is too often the kitchen table where we need to clear things away to serve dinner.  In my case it was carving out time between full time work, running a household and managing my family.  In retirement I finally have the uninterrupted time to work.  I still struggle, living with a rare, incurable progressive disease that lays me low at inconvenient times. I work around the disease and I found my voice in my work. When I had my nudes rejected I was inspired. 

I have chosen to work with monoprints (where each print is an original) but am slowly moving toward painting again.

In 2025 I received two City of Yarra Grants, one to help with the cost of a retrospective exhibition and the second as the artist payment for displayed works.  During this same year I exhibited at Swan Street Studios Gallery, Swan Street, Richmond, in a curated show at Urban Campfire, Neighbourhood Justice Centre, Collingwood.  I have exhibited in previous years and in a variety of venues, including 2018 and 2019 at Soma Gallery, Brunswick is where I sold out the first show. I studied at the National Gallery School (now Victorian College of the Arts), under John Brack, Ian Armstrong and Murray Walker. 

All artworks featured in this catalogue are available for purchase. Please see link below.