| Caroline Reid is a contemporary landscape artist who lives and works in Canberra, on Ngunnawal country, Australia, a rugged semi-alpine area hemmed in by mountain ranges to the west and east, and the Snowy Mountains to the south. Although a practising artist all her life, her career in science policy left little time for a professional art career until she experienced career burnout. She turned to plein air painting at first as a means to recover physically and psychologically from an intensity of care for the natural world that left her overwhelmed with grief. This grief slowly healed as she let the life force in nature, painted so astoundingly by Vincent Van Gogh, fill her spirit.
Caroline is most passionate about painting the Snowy Mountains, Kosciusko National Park and the wilderness areas of the Namadji National Park near her home. She did not study art at university but has invested countless hours training with master artists such as Marla Bagetta and developing her skills through workshops and time at the easel.
Her art is now in numerous private collections. She has received several art awards including an invitation from the Chateau Orquevaux to be an artist in residence in France in 2022. Her art has been shown in solo and group exhibitions in several galleries. (You'll find a more detailed listing below.)
HOMELAND LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS My love of the semi-alpine region surrounding my home, where I ramble with my three dogs - sometimes even painting out of doors when the weather permits - infuses my paintings with respect, wonder and reverence for our earth. I paint to bring the feelings, sensations and memories of cherished natural places into your home. I paint my world with child-like joy and and hope you feel healing and calm in your heart when you view my paintings.
MY ART BEGINNING It all started with ants! At the age of four or five, I clearly remember lying on my belly in hot sandy dirt in the bush up the hill on our property. I was watching with utter fascination and wonder hundreds of red bull ants scurrying around with great determination and concentration working on their underground city.
I watched as worker couples met and gesticulated mysteriously with their stick-like legs, others labouring down tunnels carrying twigs and leaf bits in their mouths. Others were lumbering up from below with massive lumps of wet dirt (where did the water come from?) which I imagined was some kind of construction cement.
I remember really wanting to know what went on down below in the earth, rudely poking around with a stick to see where the holes went and feeling bad when the ants popped out angrily with concern about damage to their home. Time stopped as I experienced part of the ants' day.
When an ant bit my big toe this ended my experience, if you know anything about Australian bullants, and I raced howling home. While Mum patched me up, I could not stop raving excitedly about the ants, and the dirt and the mysterious workings underground. Mum said 'draw it for me'. Magic.
So I drew a horizontal line, some wriggly tunnels, dozens of stick-like ant people, balls of dirt, eggs and baby ants curled up down the bottom in secret chambers. Ever since, I have been fascinated with the land. Dirt and mud and water and earth make me happy. I feel at peace and a sense of childlike wonder painting my surroundings.
JOIN IN THE WONDER You are warmly invited to follow my artistic development and to get VIP invitations and the first opportunity to view my latest paintings by email. Click here toJoin My Art Community. Don't forget to click on the link you get in the confirmation email, or you will miss out.
"Your artwork is so beautiful and peaceful " - Della
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