I have another great artist found via Instagram to share in my latest Artist Spotlight Series feature.

I am always drawn to animals now combined with neon and a special etherial quality creates magic which I cannot resist.

Meet the rising star from down under,

Carley Cornelissen

Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

What is your training? 

I studied Visual and Fine art for six years after I finished high school, and for the last nine years I have been working in an Art and Craft store where I have learnt so much and got to experiment with all types of mediums.

What inspires you and your designs? 

Pattern and colour are my daily inspirations, I am constantly finding inspiration in textiles and interior design. Endangered animals are the core inspiration behind my works, I love to create new environments for them that are bright, happy and colourful. Also combining animals that wouldn’t normally associate is a particular favourite of mine. I love pandas, rhinos and birds, and especially Australian animals like wombats, koalas and wallabies.

What is your favorite piece? 

This piece from last year “The New World” feels like the piece I always dreamed about making. It isn’t my most colourful piece but I feel like it tells the story of a new world for the animals just like I wanted.

Also painting on a bowling pin for a group show last year was a very rewarding challenge!

How has your area influenced your work?

I live in a warm tropical climate where it is sunny most of the time so I think that does encourage my love of bright colours and often tropical birds and plants that I see around make an appearance in my pieces.

What is your favorite restaurant in your area ? 

There is a new amazing vegetarian restaurant called Elixiba that has opened near us recently. One visit and I’m already hooked!

What is your favorite cocktail?

It would have to be a virgin mojito! I haven’t had a drink in over three years now, I am much more productive without it. I do live for coffee though, I am very obsessive about it!

How do you balance personal life and work?

I am not very good at this, just ask my husband! I work full time and paint after work and on my days off so it doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else.

Dream trip?

My husband I hope to one day travel around Europe on his motorbike, we were seriously planning it for a while but everything got to busy so now we are going for a road trip to Tasmania in our van/camper. We haven’t had a proper holiday for three years so I am very much looking forward to it.

Dream commission? 

Any big walls! I have done two large walls so far, one in my lounge room and one for a local public art project. It is definitely my goal this year to do more really large scale works.

Your favorite host / hostess gift to give?

Hmmm, I am the worst gift giver in the world, sometimes I give friends and family artworks! But when visiting people I always turn up with mineral water because that is what I drink all the time.

Who is your style icon?

I’d probably say the Melbourne artist Kirra Jamison, I’ve loved her artwork for so many years now but I also love her incredible apartment and clothes. She has also opened a great yoga studio which I hope to visit when I’m in Melbourne next.

Your favorite up and coming artist?

So many, thanks to insagram I get to discover so many talented people every day. I am obsessed with street art and am such a fan of Two One, my other favourite artists would have to be Kour Pour,

Miranda Skoczek

and Adehla Lee.

 What is your most treasured possession?

Is a cat a possession? Probably not, they tend to do whatever they want but if so I would have to say my cat Thomas, I absolutely adore him, he’s my baby. Other than him I would have to say my car. It’s a little vintage British racing green convertible. I’ve had it for five years and it’s not the most practical every day car but I love it.

 

What are you reading?

Instagram posts? That’s about the extent of what I have time for at the moment but I will probably grab an easy read when we go on our roadtrip.

What are you listening to?

Just some dance music in my headphones when I am on the treadmill at the moment, I watch a lot of Netflix when painting rather than listening to music. I love House of cards, Suits, all sitcoms, at the moment I am obsessed with Nashville.

 

What are your favorite blogs / publications?

I really love The Jealous Curator blog, that would definitely be my go to.

A couple of interior magazines that I really like are Real Living

and Inside Out, they are a great source of colour inspo for me.

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Be sure to check out Carley’s stunning portfolio on her website and follow her on Instagram. 

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