Working from her “Artists Proof” studio gallery in Red Hill, my next guest is surrounded by an abundance of green, lush bush tracks, farms, vineyards and the gentle bustle that is life in Red Hill. I am pleased to introduce you to Jennifer Buntine for the Friday Files.
In case you’ve missed that last few posts, you can catch up with them here. I have been speaking to the artists based on the Mornington Peninsula and Jennifer Buntine is well and truly a name you will know.
With a life long interest and dedication to art, drawing, ceramics and print making, Jennifer takes her inspiration from the stories of people she has met through her travels, the colours that surround her and her beautiful garden. Her paintings, fine art prints and ceramics tell stories about people. Many of her works include the figure and she is particularly adept at transcribing emotion, gestures and narrative through the figures and forms she creates.
Monotype printing is a process creating an original, often one-off print, by drawing or painting onto a smooth, non-absorbent surface. Thick 300-400gsm smooth printers paper is pressed onto the surface and the first print is taken from this. Sometimes a second ghost print can be taken, and Jennifer may further enhance this print with additional hand applied colour or lines to make another original painting. You can see many of these prints on Jennifer’s instagram and if you visit her studio during an open studio weekend, you will see her walls adored with many of these prints, framed and unframed.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Jennifer has lived for 30 plus years on the Mornington Peninsula, and for many of those years at Red Hill. Jennifer studied at Melbourne VCA (Victoria College of the Arts) to complete her fine art degree, travelling each day up to 50km each way, returning each night to Red Hill, to her family, garden, and animals. And how could she resist! The rolling hills, morning mists, towering trees, winding roads, vineyards, farms, glimpses of the bays and back beaches, clusters of letter boxes, and dappling light all add to the layers of life and peacefulness of Red Hill. I think it must get into your blood.
Jennifer has a studio gallery on her property where she creates her work. This is opened to the public on Open Studio Weekends which are coordinated by the Peninsula Studio Trail, Inc.
While I was visiting Jennifer’s studio, she showed me many of her artworks, both older work that she has on display which includes painting, ceramics and prints and work currently in various stages of completion.
I was especially drawn to the narrative that she described to me for many of the pieces. To look at them without knowing these stories, is to see only half of the magic. Having studied life drawing for many years, Jennifer creates her figures using these narratives which might be simply the idea of a girl and a pony playing in a field. Or a small Japanese girl, neat in her school uniform, sitting across from Jennifer on a Tokyo train. The narrative is developed, the story constructed, the tale is woven and created into unique works of art that capture your imagination. They speak about the ideas and inspiration, but also the artist and the art of observation. I’ve included some images below, with permission from Jennifer.
From left to right: Coloured monotype prints framed; prints on 3D boxes; Jennifer's studio
As a member of the Print Council of Australia (PCA), Jennifer is taking part once again in the biennial Print Exchange 2022 which celebrates the depth and diversity of Australia’s contemporary printmakers. Participating artists enter 12 prints which are swapped with other member artists. One copy is kept as an archival record by PCA. Jennifer was finalising her submission when I visited her.
Jennifer is an exhibitor in the current Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, National Works on Paper exhibition which is on until 27 November.
And, Jennifer is exhibiting her work for the Peninsula Studio Trail Inc upcoming Annual Exhibition, in Mornington between 23rd September and 3rd October. Click here for the details on Event Bright for Opening Night. Please share with your family and friends. We’d love to see you there. This is not a ticketed event.
Jennifer’s studio will be open for Open Studio Weekend in November, follow this link to check the dates and details and plan your trip.
Contact details for Jennifer Buntine are as follows:
Website www.jenniferbuntine.com.au