{"Id":8355,"Name":"Maegan Oberhardt","Biography":"\u003Cp\u003EBorn in 1997 and raised on a rural property in Queensland, Australia; Maegan spent her early years surrounded by nature and native wildlife. This environment provided her with the opportunity to study their features, individual characteristics, movement, and their expressions. It taught her appreciation of the natural environment and inspired her passion for animals, becoming the foundation for her artistic creativity.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EBy the time she started high school in 2010, she had moved to the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria with her family. It was the same area that was affected by the Black Saturday bush fires in Kinglake in 2009. She had many friends who were directly impacted by that day and the devastation to the local region. After completing Year 12, she continued formal studies and by the age of 19, graduated University with a Bachelor of Design Arts.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThroughout her education she maintained a continual focus on art and experimentation in style, media, and mediums. She had become confident with her drawing skills and looked for unusual and challenging techniques to enhance her drawings in both concept and composition. One such technique has been traditionally referred to as \u0026lsquo;Fumage\u0026rsquo;. This incorporates the soot from an open flame as the media directly or in combination with other media to create an ethereal and abstract effect. This technique was popularised by surrealist greats like Wolfgang Paalen (1905 - 1959), Salvadore Dali (1904 - 1989).\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMaegan explains this by the literal description of \u0026lsquo;Painting with Fire\u0026rsquo;: the technique of dancing an open flame underneath paper to leave a fragile layer of soot and etching it away to reveal the artwork. Working over a graphite sketch, she layers the soot from an open\u0026nbsp;flame from various sources such as candles, fossil fuels, or wood. She will next begin the delicate process of removing both soot and graphite by using tools such as brushes, erasers, and various hand tools to create an incredibly realistic image of the animal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe connection within her art is in the technique. It is man-made fire burning paper (which is a by-product of trees). This comments on the conflict between man and nature. The result of that conflict is that most wild species are directly impacted by man\u0026rsquo;s carbon footprint. By combining her drawing skills and passion for wildlife, Maegan has created a unique style and a collection of artworks that raise awareness and provide a voice for many species at risk.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMaegan\u0026rsquo;s studio is located at her home on rural property in Bobinawarrah, Victoria. Abundant with native wildlife, many have inspired several of her latest pieces.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EStudies:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2015 - 2017 Bachelor of Design Arts Majoring in Graphic Design and Visual Art.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003EExhibitions:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2018 \u0026lsquo;Absence Exhibition Kodiak\u0026rsquo; Solo Exhibition in Fitzroy, VIC.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2019 \u0026lsquo;Absence Exhibition Nine Lives\u0026rsquo; Solo Exhibition in Fitzroy, VIC.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2019 \u0026lsquo;Absence Exhibition\u0026rsquo; Solo Exhibition in Hurstbridge, VIC.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2019 \u0026lsquo;Painting with Fire\u0026rsquo; Solo Exhibition and introduction into Morpeth Gallery, NSW.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2020 \u0026lsquo;Festival of Two Palettes\u0026rsquo; Group Exhibition at Morpeth Gallery, NSW.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2020 \u0026lsquo;A Hommage to Wildlife\u0026rsquo; Group Exhibition at Aarwun Gallery, Canberra.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2020 Solo Exhibition at Bright Chalet, VIC.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 \u0026lsquo;Festival of Two Palettes\u0026rsquo; Group Exhibition at Morpeth Gallery, NSW.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 \u0026lsquo;Easter Solo Exhibition\u0026rsquo; at Bright Chalet, VIC.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 \u0026lsquo;Feathers, Furr, Skin and Scales\u0026rsquo; Group Exhibition at Morpeth Gallery, NSW.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 \u0026lsquo;Holmes Prize\u0026rsquo; Finalist Art Exhibition at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, QLD.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003EMemberships:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 Associate member of the Society of Animal Artists.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2022 ARC Living Artist - Art Renewal Center\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003EDistinctions:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2020 Semi-finalist in ARC 15th International Art Salon.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E2021 Finalist in The Holmes Prize for realistic Australian Bird Art.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003ERepresented in Private collections across Australia and the United States of America.\u003C/p\u003E","Awards":"\u003Cp\u003ESemi-finalist in ARC 15th Art Salon,\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFinalist in 2021 The Holmes Prize for realistic Australian Bird Art\u003C/p\u003E","HasAlbums":false,"HasPortraits":false,"HasRelationships":false,"HasArticles":false,"HasDepictedPlaces":false,"HasLetters":false,"HasLibraryItems":false,"HasProducts":false,"HasSignatures":false,"HasVideos":false,"HasMapLocations":false,"TotalArtworks":17}