ARTIST Angela Lea is set to welcome the community into her art studio this weekend where they can immerse themselves in a world of colour, passion, and artistic freedom.

Referred to as her “haven”, Angela’s studio is located in her backyard with clear walls allowing her to be one with nature where she can be inspired by the beauty and sounds of our district.

Running from 10am-4pm this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at her home at 82 George Street, Hamilton, Angela said that while her artworks are for sale, the main goal of her Open Studio is to share her passion and motivate others to pursue art.

“I certainly would be happy to support people and their interest and inspire them,” she said. 

“I’ll show them some of my historical art pieces that I’ve got documented and even some of my reference material so they can see how I’ve done it.

“I’ll answer people’s questions, I’ll be painting and - as a qualified teacher - I’m happy to teach anyone who’s interested in learning to draw realistically, and I can support those who are keen on creating expressively or in an abstract manner.”

Full of colour, light and emotion, Angela’s studio acts as a window into her soul, highlighting her artistic journey from her first drawing done at one year and three months old, compared to her latest works of art.

Being a multi-media artist, Angela enjoys using different mediums in her pieces, including acrylic, charcoal, high pigment inks, and pencils, as well as interior house paint because of the sheen it provides.

“I love using an interior house paint by Porters, Duchess Satin. It’s got a sheen to it and I really enjoy being able to capture energy and feeling with that paint,” she said.

“After all nothing is matte in this world.”

Angela said she draws inspiration from her environment, with her new home of Hamilton proving to be a warm, welcoming, and supportive place for her to pursue her art.

“In the last year I’ve landed here and found my haven,” she said.

“I guess I’m thriving here in Hamilton and feel extremely well supported by the community at large and getting to know the people as well – it’s very healing here.

“The Hamilton Gallery - I feel like they’re my family.

“I really feel like this Open Studio that I’m having here is like lift-off for me in a big way and I’m going to be doing a lot more of it.”

Sitting in her studio, Angela is surrounded by works old and new, not only created by her but also her family members, such as one piece by her great grandfather that was passed down to her.

Sitting on a table against the back wall of the studio are two damaged pieces that for some would seem odd in the space, but for Angela act as a driving force and a symbol of her strength of character.

Created as gifts for an ex-partner who committed domestic violence against her, Angela said the damaged works acted as a “symbol to self that this is where I’ve come from”.

“My perpetrator threw them outside and left them outside for a year and then dumped them in my driveway - they were presents to him,” she said.

“I’ve done a lot of healing and just like I looked after myself getting away from such a negative situation, I am caring for my damaged work.

“That’s why I keep those there, as a reminder of the importance of moving forward, and as a teacher hopefully I will inspire other people.”

Being the victim of two domestic violence situations, Angela said she is now – after decades of doing art – recognising the therapeutic qualities of creating, and plans to continue to explore her domestic violence experiences through her work.

“I’ve never talked about my painting as therapy before, it is clearly therapeutic now and I’ve done what I would probably describe as interesting pieces - there’s one piece that has been sold on my website called The Bite Behind Me,” she said.

“It’s a really good example of current work that’s reflective of where I’m at in terms of expressing myself.”

The Bite Behind Me depicts a headless and legless horse in flight being bitten from behind, incorporating leaves from the property where the domestic violence occurred to represent her perpetrator.

The latest theme for her pieces, such as The Bite Behind Me, is fight or flight and self through equine metaphor, with some of Angela’s other pieces depicting landscapes, cats, and portraits.

During her most recent violent relationship, Angela said she did not unpack her art supplies in her studio which was symbolic of her state of mind, however, now in her “haven” she is looking forward to growing her collections and using her art as a platform to start conversations, particularly around domestic violence.

“My work is getting more personal so it’s just sort of a natural progression,” she said.

“I’m one of those people who does not hold back in conversation and my art is my conversation.

“I will definitely be exploring it as a subject because it’s had a huge impact on me. Both relationships were just devastating in terms of how it impacted me emotionally and my mental health suffered.

“Getting it out there and talking about it and being expressive about it is so important for the community at large.”

Everyone is welcome to Angela’s open studio with no RSVP required for the event and additional visits available via appointment.

For more information on Angela’s works, visit angelalea.com