Musings on the beauty of the Bellarine

From the coastlines and bush to the vibrant colours of sunrises and sunsets, soak up the beauty of the Bellarine in local artist Lea Duffy’s exhibition Coastal Muse.

The exhibition is open this month at the Queenscliff Neighbourhood House Gallery (QNH), displaying an array of Duffy’s mixed media artworks, each inspired by the Bellarine coast.

As the name suggests, Coastal Muse incorporates the colours and coastlines of the Bellarine in abstract and unique ways.

“It’s what lights me up, I live down on the Bellarine and I spend a lot of time on the water and for me it’s my happy place,” Duffy said.

“It’s where I go to think about things, to meditate, I always have been so drawn to the water.”

Duffy said she was particularly drawn to vibrant colours and interesting texture and enjoyed blending and shading to create fluid art and mixed media, all of which is evident in Coastal Muse.

“If you look at my paintings, I use a lot of blues, you can see I am drawn to the ocean.

“It’s my interpretation of the colours of the ocean and how it moves.

“It’s my muse, it’s where I get my inspiration for all sorts of things in life.”

The exhibition will be Duffy’s first at the QNH Gallery, where she will be showcasing mixed media works.

“For me it was really lovely to do this exhibition to be a part of this extended community,” she said.

“I was just there on the weekend and people love to come in and enjoy the art and there are lots of conversations of how I do the fluid art.

“And I just love that the exhibition is near the ocean, so it all goes together.”

Among the mixed media and acrylic pieces, Duffy will be displaying her signature fluid artworks.

“I’m continually exploring new concepts and techniques,” she said.

“My aim is to create beautiful abstract art that is open to individual interpretation.”

Duffy hoped the exhibition will be a calming, peaceful experience for visitors.

“Creating my artwork brings me a deep sense of peace and calm, it’s a magical place to escape the world while getting swept up in the process of creation,” she said.

“With each piece my intention is to bring joy, peace and tranquillity to those who are drawn to it.”

Coastal Muse is open now until March 5 at The Queenscliff Neighbourhood House Gallery, 3 Tobin Drive, Queenscliff.Among the mixed media and acrylic pieces, the exhibition will feature Duffy’s signature fluid artworks. Photo: SUPPLIED