Blouse could be bound for Bendigo

A DELICATE and intricately illustrated tissue paper blouse by two Ballarat creatives has been entered into the Paul Guest Prize for Drawing.

Fashion designer, maker, and Sovereign Hill costumier, Megan Anderson and visual artist, Pauline O’Shannessy-Dowling will find out this Monday whether their garment, Sunshower, has been accepted into the competition, to be showcased at the Bendigo Art Gallery.

“Pauline has drawn on cut-out, pattern pieces of tissue paper which I’ve sewn afterwards. This piece is a contemporary landscape with Pauline’s signature trees,” Anderson said.

“Down the left arm is a sun shower. I came with the vision for the garment, and she had the vision of what she wanted her artwork to be.”

O’Shannessy-Dowling and Anderson met six years ago, paired during a local art and fashion collaboration, Kaleidoscope.

“We just really hit it off and work well together. We bring different and unique things. Pauline has a lot of experience in the art world, whereas I don’t,” Anderson said.

“Her knowledge, combined with my enthusiasm works well. I bring my fashion background and garment ideas, and she brings her drawing expertise.

“Usually I’ll turn Pauline’s drawing into fabric, and we’ll get it digitally printed.”

It’s a relationship built, and thriving, on trust.

“Pauline trusts me to take her work away and turn it into something without destroying it. She trusts me to cut, and I trust that what she’s going to draw will be what I’m thinking as well.

“That mutual trust is integral to our collaboration,” Anderson said.