Artist statement

Backyard Ribcage is completely devoid of human presence, and yet is solely human. The work focuses on the places we inhabit, rather than our physicality within them. Tonal distortion of texture, shape and light are created by mechanical pencil, creating a shadowy sense of desolation, both haunting and captivating. The work offers moments frozen in time, allowing observation and contemplation of the often-overlooked spaces that we move through amongst the complexities of everyday life. Backyard Ribcage is influenced by the urban landscapes of Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013), my own experience growing up in Brisbane and my dreams which are often in black and white.

Process

In creating these works, I aimed to focus on everyday scenes captured in my own life, drawn from images captured on my phone. The compositions were enlarged through observation; I sketched by eye and enhanced tone and texture through meticulous mark-making with graphite and mechanical pencil.

About the artist

I'm Riley, an 18 year old aspiring illustrator and visual artist from Ferny Hills, Brisbane. Although I consider myself a multidisciplinary artist, I love working in biro pen, oil paints, photography, and fibre arts. I'm inspired by both imaginary and observational subject matter, often intersecting. I plan to travel, study, and continue creating work after high school. I currently post work under the name @Hairless_Fisch.