A passion can be sublimated, postponed, pushed down and neglected. But eventually it demands to be recognised. An enthusiasm for art and photography from childhood took back seat as Pamela pursued a career in advertising (in Australia and UK), then for 25 years in the music and entertainment management industries.
Her love of both performance and visual arts, along with an ability to visualise and comprehend design and composition, played an essential role in her working life, but in her personal life, creativity continued to emerge.
Much of Pamela’s work is influenced by light, an almost life-time (she was given her first camera at the age of ten) of “seeing” through a camera lens. In her life drawing, she responds to the impact of light on the form and tonal qualities of the body’s framework. Similarly, when painting landscape, Pamela prefers to work en plein air, to capture the daylight on the surrounding shapes and textures.
More recently, Pamela has been “urban abstract sketching,” a name she has given to her quirky capturing of the old and new, the juxtaposition in architectural history in her home surrounds, as well as depicting the charm on overseas travels. Again, she works en plein air to create these urban landscapes.
She also runs introductory workshops in Life Drawing and Abstract Drawing. Pamela’s artworks are in private collections in Australia, Europe and USA.
Artist: Pamela Reid (photo credit Annie Blachly); painting en plein air in Tuscany, Italy.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS:
Prisms of Time
Plume Gallery, South Melbourne (2024)
Latest urban abstract sketches from Pamela’s observations of the architectural new alongside old, the charm amidst a rising backdrop – her local “urban landscape.“
The Muse, The Model
Midnight in Paris, Prahran (June 2024)
A collaborative exhibition of life drawings, with artist Sebastiano Motta.
Casual Life Drawing was held in conjunction with The Muse, the Model exhibition.
A Pilgrim’s Palette
Art of St Francis’ Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne (February/March 2024)
A life’s creative journey from childhood in Melbourne, where Pamela attended Mass at St Francis’ Church, to her Artists’ Residency in Assisi, Italy, home of the Basilica of St Francis. Works in various mediums including ink pen, watercolours and en plein air oil paintings.
Media Release
Urban Sketching
Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet (October/November 2023)
Further abstract sketches from Pamela’s observations around her Melbourne neighbourhood and recent European travels.
Pamela also conducted an “Abstract your Lines” drawing workshop, in conjunction with the exhibition.
Media Release
Artist Residency – Italy
Arte Studio Ginestrelle, Assisi (June 2023)
“Assisi: Where the Past lives in the Present”, an immersed response to the history, religion, art and culture that have existed for centuries and remain today, with reverence to the richness of Assisi and surrounds. Residency artwork was exhibited in the XIV edition of Assisi International Contemporary Art Exhibition 2023, Art Gallery Le Logge, August 2023.
“Meet me under the clocks”
fortyfivedownstairs gallery, Melbourne (March 2023)
Urban abstract sketches from Pamela’s observations of the sometimes quirky juxtaposition between the charm of old buildings and landmarks against a newer, looming skyline backdrop – our local “urban landscape.“
Media Release
Introduction to Life Drawing
For those who lack the confidence to believe they can create art and are willing to enjoy the experience. Devised by Pamela, instruction uses yoga poses to demonstrate the foundations to capture gesture, volume and tone of the human form. This introductory class has been popular, included in yoga studio workshops, for gyms and galleries. It’s fun and rewarding for everyone.
Life’s Drawings
Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet (April/May 2022)
Drawing is at the core of all my art. Working in various mediums, this exhibition includes Life Drawings – reflections from my professional career in the entertainment industry – and Still Life works from my Paddock to Palette series.
Postcards from my Palette
Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet (June/July 2021)
An exhibition of en plein air oil paintings on small canvas paper, from local and international favourite holiday and travel destinations.
Contours
Bimini Body Contouring, Middle Park (May/June 2021)
A bespoke exhibition, featuring a selection of life-drawings in various mediums and techniques illustrating the female form. (Pastel, pastel pencil, conte and stone lithography.)
The “Urban-Eyes” Project
Chapel Off Chapel, Foyer Gallery (25 February-15 March 2020)|
In my belief that everybody is creative, I invited the people around Stonnington City Council to paint: spontaneous, unstructured, ‘no rules’ art. While they painted, I captured the essence of the community through my camera lens. From family birthday celebrations in the gardens, to market shoppers, dog walkers and the Principal, staff and students at Prahran High School, these wonderful collaborative outcomes comprise the “Urban-Eyes” exhibition, proving that everyone is, indeed, an artist.
(The Urban-Eyes Project was supported by a City of Stonnington Arts & Culture grant.)
Urban-Eyes media release
Stage Door
Chapel Off Chapel, Foyer Gallery (1-27 October, 2019)
Stage Door is a fusion of my professional and personal passions, paying homage to my showbiz family, friends, and career in the entertainment industry. From the artist’s studio to treading the boards, this exhibition captures the rhythms of life behind the Stage Door.
Stage Door Media Release
The Village Artists – Middle Park
Middle Park Bowling Club (February 2019)
In the tradition of the Village Artist, I sketched and painted with the children of our neighbourhood. The resulting exhibition represented my work and the young artists, reflecting not only their creativity, but also our contemporary lifestyle within the historic, architectural backdrop of our village, Middle Park.
(The project was supported by the City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund)
en plein air
Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet (February 2019)
Feature wall exhibition of oils on canvas paper artworks painted during various travels including Tuscany, Portugal, UK and Aireys Inlet.
http://www.eaglesnestgallery.com.au
Wish You Were Here
Chapel Off Chapel, Foyer Gallery (February-March 2018)
A life-long passion for roaming with her camera and sketchpad, an art history/painting workshop in Tuscany, a wedding in Portugal and a recent residency in England’s Lake District, have been the collective inspiration for Pamela’s latest exhibition – a series of “postcards from my palette”.
Media Release
Pen to Paper
Foyer Gallery, The Capital Theatre, Bendigo (July-August 2017)
A shared passion for literature and art has further inspired this exhibition, ‘Pen to Paper’. Influenced by the words of writers and classic literature authors including John Ruskin, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Frank Lloyd Wright and W. Somerset Maugham, ‘Pen to Paper’ is a collection of works on paper created using various mediums including printmaking techniques (lino-cut, monotype, intaglio etching), as well as drawings in charcoal and pastel.
Media release
Women in Love – along the Great Ocean Road
Eagles Nest Fine Art Gallery, Aireys Inlet (2016)
With new artworks, and a continued passion for life drawings, inspired by the words of classic literary authors who probed the extremities of being in love.
http://www.eaglesnestgallery.com.au
Women in Love
Chapel Off Chapel, Foyer Gallery (2015)
An exhibition of life drawings, evoked by the words of literary authors who delved into the intricacies and extremes of emotions in love. Titled after D.H.Lawrence’s novel, artworks have been influenced by writers including William Shakespeare, Emily Brontë, Pierre Choderlos De Laclos and W. Somerset Maugham.
Media release
Upstaged!
“Midsumma Festival”, Heritage Hallway, Gasworks Arts Park (2011)
Boys and girls of the theatre (various mediums)
Media release
Light and Day
Angela Robarts-Bird Gallery, Gasworks Arts Park (2009)
Images of early morning wanderings from around the world: printworks and other mediums
Media release
Fabric
Theatre Foyer, Gasworks Arts Park (2008)
Off-cuts of Japanese silk fabrics inspired the backgrounds for artworks with life forms
Media release
Body of Work
Theatre Foyer, Gasworks Arts Park (2007)
Life drawings, and collage of life forms, in pastel, charcoal and graphite
Media release
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
Midnight in Paris Group Exhibition 2024
Space2b Affordable Art Show 2024
Art Red Hill 2022
Albert Park College Art Show 2021
Art Red Hill 2020
Toorak Village Art Walk 2018
Albert Park College Art Show 2018
Albert Park College Art Show 2017
Albert Park College Art Show 2016
Ryzanoff Gallery “Natural & Urban Landscape” exhibition 2016
Albert Park College Art Show 2015
Albert Park College Art Show 2014
Do Your Own Picture Framing artists’ exhibition 2014
Albert Park College Art Show 2013
Do Your Own Picture Framing artists’ exhibition 2012
Albert Park College Art Show 2012
Bayside Rotary Art Show 2012
Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2012
Do Your Own Picture Framing artists’ exhibition 2011
Hobsons Bay Art Show 2009
Flinders Art Show 2009