Oil Painting
Luke Mannion
Liz's artworks are composed to capture a sense of overall intentional contrast and harmony with use of texture, colours and lines in portraying the natural world and beauty in the asymmetry or symmetry as it were.
Artist Profile
Luke works with both oil paint and oil pastels – drawn to the interplay between drawing and painting within a single piece. By layering these materials, his work retains both gestural energy and intricate detail, creating a dynamic visual experience.
Luke’s artwork explores the simple domesticity of a queer household, focusing on everyday moments that define intimacy and home. Through a palette of bright colours that blend traditionally masculine and feminine tones, his work exists in a space that is both and neither. By embracing fluidity in colour, texture, and form, he captures the beauty of ordinary life and the nuances of identity.
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work with both oil paint and oil pastels – I am drawn to the tactile nature of each medium and the way that they interact on the surface. This combination allows me to merge the fluidity of painting with the immediacy of drawing, creating pieces that carry both gestural energy and careful detail.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
My creative process begins with observation and inspiration, often drawn from the quiet, everyday moments of domestic life. I start by sketching ideas on my iPad. From there, I develop these concepts into larger oil paintings, allowing the work to evolve naturally as I layer colours and blend traditionally masculine and feminine tones. As the pieces take shape, I refine details and consider how they fit within a larger body of work. I frame all of my own works to prepare for exhibition.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I work from my home studio in northern Sydney, usually accompanied by my dog, Poppy. With inspiration striking at various times throughout the day, having a home studio allows me the flexibility to work whenever creativity calls.
