CURRENT EXHIBITION... 'Weathered' a solo show by painter Fiona Verdouw

Weathered

Fiona Verdouw

NOVEMBER 03 - 30 2025

Artist's Statement - Fiona Verdouw

This exhibition is part of my ongoing interest and exploration of how life alters us. I see similarities between the lives of eucalyptus trees and people.

Each tree is unique - not only in their patterning, colours and textures, but in the way they have been shaped by their surrounding environment. Like us, each tree bears the impact of a lifetime’s experiences - from growth and aging, to accidents and trauma. Whenever I encounter these tangible alterations in eucalyptus trees I am reminded of the ways in which life choices and circumstances have impacted me. As I paint these trees and their leafy offerings, I contemplate seasons of new growth; amputated dreams; physical ageing; scars from difficult relationships and the temporary nature of life on this earth.

Observing and painting a tree’s bark with its peels and twists feels like a reflection of those messy, personal moments we all go through - and how, over time, they shape who we become. Fallen leaves remind me of the many ways we contribute in life and what we leave behind: Those things we create, do and say over the years. Not a lot lasts, but in the moment, they count for something and their impact on those around us - however brief - is undeniable.

My painting process is careful and considered but also fairly immediate. Once paint is laid down, it is not often covered or reworked. I enjoy watching a painting unfurl in sections of colours and tone. Sometimes it is not until the final blocks of colour go in that I can be sure of a painting’s success. I hold an artwork’s final outcome in my mind’s eye, but exactly how they will turn out is dependent on the choices I make during each painting session. In this way, it could be said that even my paintings are also marked and influenced by the circumstances they encounter as they grow.

Coming up at Wild Island...