Belynda Henry 水景画展

November Reflections by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 182 x 152cmHumans are universally entranced bybodies of water. We want to be nearoceans,lakesand rivers because an ancient part of our consciousness associates them with quenching thirst, fresh food, shelter, health and abundance. It’s a primitive and emotional link – which is exactly what Australian artist Belynda Henry has captured in her latest exhibition,Waterfalls and Waterholes.Like A Waterfall In Slow Motion (Wujal Wujal) by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 142 x 182cmShowing atAustralian Galleriesin Sydney’s Roylston Street, Henry’s latest collection of work is a love letter to the Australian wilderness, from theUNESCO World Heritage-listedrainforest of theDaintreeto the bushland in New South Wales that she calls home.Emerging From Winter by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 112 x 137cmHenry’s studio is nestled in a lush valley on the Central Coast near her home, where the surrounding forest is a constant source of inspiration to her. “I’m obsessed by the [Australian] landscape,” she toldEst Living. “Landcapes move me, their colours inspire me. I paint eight to ten hours most days if possible. I hate leaving the studio and if I didn’t have my beautiful family outside I probably wouldn’t ever leave.”Mysterious Water With Palm Leaves by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 200 x 107cmHer reverence for the natural world shines through on her canvases, with simple and expressive depictions of freshwater creeks and streams. She invites us to love these waterscapes as much as she does, to connect and appreciate their beauty – which comes into sharp focus as Australians struggle through drought and bushfires before summer has even begun.Mystify by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 61 x 61cmAn acclaimed artist (she has been a finalist for both the Wynne and Archibald prizes), Henry first fell in love with painting in year ten thanks to a wonderful art teacher. “It was very clearly my passion,” she says. The natural world was always her focus, specifically landscapes, and she is happiest when immersed in nature. “I feel best hiding out in the trees, and the valley [where we live] is very quiet. We love the pristine, unpolluted environment we are raising our daughters in.”Poplar Trees With Reflections by Belynda Henry, oil on canvas, 142 x 122cmBelynda Henry’s exhibition,Waterfalls and Waterholes, run from November 26 until December 15 atAustralian Galleries, 15 Roylston St, Paddington NSW 2021.