Hi friends! 

My name is Maria. I am an emerging artist living in Melbourne, Victoria.
Currently I am completing a bachelor of Fine Arts at Monash University, focusing mainly on painting and drawing. Recently I have a been presented with an exciting opportunity to be part of a group show in Sydney at the end of the year and I need your help to make it happen!

The exhibition is called ‘Her-Story’. It will be comprised of various works by six emerging female artists working in a range of disciplines including painting, drawing, ceramics and mixed media. The show will be exploring the artist’s connection to being a working female artist today and showcase the diversity of artistic approaches and techniques implemented by the six women artists involved. The artists will approach the theme from their unique perspective, drawing on their personal and powerful stories.

For my own approach, I have decided to develop a series of artworks that bring together and extend my interest in native plants, especially ones that can be found in the area where I currently live. As someone who was born overseas (in Russia) and moved around profusely, I am very aware of the influence nature has on my experience of life in any place, my sense of connection and belonging to the land, its history and its spirit. Winter is over and spring is finally making things bloom here in the outer suburbs of Melbourne, and I want to capture this transformation in my art. I will make drawings and paintings incorporating native Australian plants which I find this spring in my area of Cranbourne and also further out in regional Victoria. Through the process of creating this body of work, I hope to develop a deeper understanding and connection to this land that is my home and share my discoveries and creations with the world.

A bit about my artistic journey so far.

Prior to making the commitment to pursue art full-time, I worked as a freelance Graphic Designer for several years. Graphic Design was something I kind of fell into, perhaps because it seemed like a reliable and financially stable career with a chance to do creative work. It was difficult as I always secretly knew that fine art was my true calling and after years of making art on the side, I couldn’t ignore the cries of the ignored and despairing little artist inside me any longer.
When I started learning to paint with oils everything became clear, I fell in love with the medium and I fell back in love with life. Since then I haven’t looked back, I paint almost every day and I know my skills are improving with every session. Applying to do another degree at the age of 32 was a very hard decision to make and required sacrifices. At times, it is hard to make ends meet and I do everything I can to manage the university work load with some freelance work (the occasional art sale provides a welcome boost), but being on the right track feels incredible and very rewarding. I am extremely grateful to be able to finally pursue my true vocation.

My artwork is diverse, it ranges from detailed realism to expressive abstraction depending on the project. I am very passionate about working from observation, this includes life-drawing, portraiture and still-life. Other times I let myself play and experience the pure joy of paint through exploration of shape, colour and form.

So back to the campaign. 

I am confident that participating in this upcoming group show would not only give me a chance to expose my work to an interstate audience, but also teach me valuable skills that are imperative for my development as an artist. I will have the opportunity to learn how to best frame and transport my artwork, set up and curate an exhibition in collaboration with other artists, organize and run the opening night, connect with buyers and collectors and much more!. All these experiences will not only progress my professional career, but also help build my confidence as an independent practicing artist.

Your pledge will help all of this happen and your support will not go unnoticed! Receive amazing rewards for your contributions in the form of authentic, original and personalized artwork made by yours truly. You can follow my process and see how my work for the show comes together on my instagram feed.

www.mariaradun.com

Here is an estimated no frills breakdown of costs for which I am raising this money:

Equipment I still need (canvas, paints, mediums, brushes etc.): $300
Artworks (printing framing, stretching, priming etc): $500

Airfairs (there and back): $350

Accommodation is free (I'll be staying on a fellow artist's couch) 

Artwork transportation (courier company costs): $250

Media and promotions  (advertising, signage etc): $200