Skye Elizabeth James
Biography
Skye Elizabeth James is an artist from the east coast of Australia. Skye has practised across different mediums since completing her Fine Arts diploma in 2004.
Over the 17 years since, Skye has practised photography and contemporary abstract painting, working with darkroom expert Les Porter, exhibiting works in Newcastle museum, published in White magazine, marketing work in stores such as Pollyanna & me and the wilderness society . Community work with Red Cross and Westpac helicopter whilst teaching photography and papercrafts for over 10yrs
2020 Skye dedicated her Art Practice to raising awareness of mental health stigma and domestic violence, issues close to her heart from exposures to trauma, her series the lonely chairs finalist in the council awesome awards.
2021 ATIM publishing Skye’s works twice, receiving a collectors choice award and featured with 50 international artists advocating for human rights and social issues.
June 2021 Skye exhibits with Las Laguna Gallery in group exhibitions "painterly" and "textures" 2021 Skye received an honourable mention in Fusions4th annual women's choice award, she exhibited with Palliative Care Australia. Skye is Participating in the current touring photography exhibition " Out of the Mist- Reflections of Mental Health" whilst working on community projects such as “The lonely Chairs” which she hopes to Launch 2022 to help give woman a voice when escaping violence !!! Skye’s art practice is featured as episode 99 on “Tell Craig your story” a podcast and you tube channel from former novacastrian Craig Maguire now situated in Shanghai interviewing internationally Skye discusses her plans for the year and future prospects ‘.
Artist Statement
My mess became my message.
ART for me is a means to create discourse and promote awareness surrounding issues close to my heart drawn from my compassion towards others and personal experience with mental health and domestic violence, my art practice has also been a place for my own personal healing. art is my life support. sharing my art gives me a voice and purpose in the world.
I like to produce concepts that my audience can relate to this is prevalent in my series the lonely chairs that have been in the works for the last three years whilst I have been raising my 3-year-old son on my journey through single parenthood, each chair abandoned and created into something beautiful I wanted to convey the beauty in the broken as someone who has felt broken and reinvented themselves I wanted my audience to feel they are not alone as we all face uncertain times that often isolate us.
2022 , the Butterfly Effect exhibition has bought a further motivation with my art to expose the current systems that are meant to keep us and our children safe ,being a single mum of a vibrant 4yr old boy certainly compels me to be his voice and encourage him by example to always stand up for what he believes in ,Be a voice not an Echo !!!
My works reflect a well thought out practise of abstract imagery consistent of a contemporary approach to impressionism ,I am fascinated by concepts that push boundaries with colour and use both bold and complementary colour schemes creating depth .my somewhat misplaced use of colour conveys a sense of nonconformity .my mismatching nature is very intentional and mindful to create beauty in my unconventional approach. influences have been Frida Kahlo and the great impressionists such as Renoir or Degas my works reflect influences of Kahlo’s confronting yet popular imagery that boasts bright bold colour themes .my brush strokes, use of line and form to create expressive imagery reflects a influence of impressionism.
I’m blessed to live on the coast of Australia where my back yard is the lake and beautiful bushland I find this often inspires my subject matter .
I like to leave space for my audience to interpret their own thoughts and feelings and encourage viewers to really come on a journey with me through my body of work. Inviting my audience in a place of connected energy between artist and viewer to me this is one of my greatest joys with practising art .
My obsession with eradicating Stigma , helping others and the deep emotions and personal relationship I have with my art practice. I’m able to reflect on the challenges that have shaped me as a person. Healing with Art and beautiful things in broken spaces, mismatches and marvellous adventures are all what is A.R.T side of the Moon.
Country Australia
