Catherine Fitz-Gerald

Abstractions

My abstractions do not intend to dispense with a recognisable subject, but to create works which explore slices of light, colour and texture while still bearing a relationship to the original forms.

Transposition 21 - Goolwa :: Acrylic on Canvas, 150 x 100cm

The Fleurieu Art Prize 2018 Finalist

Blue space 1, Redounding wave : Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 81cm

Blue space 2, Advancing wave :: Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 81cm

Blue space 3, Ebbing wave :: Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 81cm

Transposition 1, Persimmon :: Acrylic on canvas, 75 x 150cm

The Advertiser Contemporary Art 2016 Finalist

Transposition 4 - Persimmon :: Acrylic on canvas, 76 x 102cm

Royal Adelaide Show Art Prize 2016, Highly Commended

Transposition 2, Sauvignon Blanc :: Acrylic on canvas, 102 x 81cm

Transposition 3, Chardonnay :: Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 80cm

The Fleurieu Art of Food and Wine 2016, Finalist

Transposition 11, Matero :: Acrylic on wood panel, 40 x 40cm

Framed size 57 x 57cm, black

Transposition 14, Black Frontignac :: Acrylic on wood panel, 40 x 40cm

Framed size 57 x 57cm, black

Transposition 10, Adelaide Hills :: Acrylic on wood panel, 40 x 40cm

Framed size 57 x 57cm, black

Transposition 13, Carignan :: Acrylic on wood panel, 50 x 70cm

Framed size 85 x 105, black

Transposition 8, Tempranillo :: Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 60cm

Transposition 9, Autumn vines :: Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Shadow box framed in natural wood.

Transposition 17, Harvest gold :: Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100cm

Transposition 12, Goolwa :: Acrylic on wood panel, 70 x 50cm

Framed size 97 x 77, white

Before the wine

Originally conceived as a study of a single variety throughout a year’s cultivation, from bud burst through to final prune, the concept soon expanded to focus on the many varietals of grapes grown in different areas in South Australia and the challenges that the vintners face, before the wine.

The vines house a vibrant ecosystem where soil, drought, rain, heat and cold affect the many varietals differently. The man made twinnings of wire and structure are juxtaposed against last year’s dried twists and lush new growth tendrils and always, for me, the light defines it all. The strongly textured branches are a foil for delicately shaded grapes and the details of new growth are swept away by the blown leaves of autumn.

My latest works explore the taste profiles of grape varieties in complex layers of abstract colour.

Bud burst 1, Savignon blanc, Adelaide hills :: Oil on linen, 20 x 60cm

Budburst, green tip stage SOLD

Oil on wooden panel, 20 x 40cm

Bud Burst

Oil on wood panel 20 x 40cm

Bud burst 3, Grenache

Oil on copper, framed

Chardonnay

Oil on aluminium 60 x 60cm

Pinot Noir

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 60cm

Sauvignon Blanc

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 60cm

Shiraz

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 60cm

Grenache

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 60cm

Honey harvest :: Oil on linen, 100 x 100cm

First flowering :: Oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Fruit set :: Oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Twinings :: Oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Autumn in the Barossa :: Oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Last leaves :: Oil on canvas, 20 x 60cm

Courage :: Oil on linen, 30 x 50cm

Missed merlot, Adelaide hills :: Oil on linen, 150 x 100cm

Barossa Vintage, Tempranillo :: Oil on linen, 150 x 100cm

Savignon Blanc :: Oil on canvas, 90 x 120cm

Chardonnay chandelier, Mt Lofty Wines :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 75cm

Tempranillo, Barossa Valley :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 75cm

Shadowed savignon :: Oil on linen, 100 x 75cm

Montepulciano, with brown snail :: Oil on linen, 76 x 61cm

Mataro, with white snail :: Oil on cnavas, 76 x 61cm

Flown :: Oil on linen, 100 x 150cm

Flora

We speak of memory being ‘green’ and my memories of gardens and the songs I learned from my mother as a child are forever intertwined. So each of these paintings link to a word of inspiration and a song from my childhood. Even now as I walk through the many gardens I have been privileged to share, melodies spring to mind as each vista or detail emerges. “I see trees of green, red roses too … and I think to myself what a wonderful world.”

Dwarf nectarine :: Oil on linen, 60 x 60cm

Quince blossom :: Oil on linen, 60 x 60cm

Imagination :: Oil on canvas, 40 x 30cm

“Imagination is funny, it makes a bee think of honey…”

Renew :: Oil on Belgian linen, 30 x 50cm

Be :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 75cm

Care :: Oil on Belgian linen, 30 x 50cm

Fruit

These works are an homage to the family garden, inspired by the fruits of my childhood. A reminder of when we stepped from sizzling summer to dappled shade and on tiptoe picked fruit warm from the sun. That first delicious bite with juice dripping down your chin, the memory of which can make your mouth water even now.

Apricots :: Oil on linen, 150 x 150cm

Quinces, late light :: Oil on canvas, 91 x 91cm

The Advertiser Contemporary Art Awards 2007, Finalist

Fingerlime, Oil on canvas, 50 x 120cm

Australian native citrus

Quandongs :: Oil on linen, 51 x 51cm

Passionate Pommegranate :: Oil on canvas, 90 x 90cm

Custard apples :: Oil on linen, 100 x 150cm

Dragonfruit New Year :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm

Apple Harvest :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 100cm

Plums, Jewls of the season :: Oil on canvas, 61 x 61cm

White Currants :: Oil on canvas, 45 x 45cm

Raspberries :: Oil on canvas, 90 x 90cm

Very Berry 2 :: Oil on canvas, 40 x 40cm

Persimmon harvest :: Oil on linen, 61 x 76cm

Raspberry with mulberries :: Oil on linen, 36 x 36cm

Christmas Cherries :: Oil on linen, 100 x 75cm

Landscapes & Climate Change

Explorations of landscapes in different mediums.

A vista. an aerial or a detail, the focus is always the light.

Dawn

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 120cm

Salt Lake

Oil on aluminium 60 x 120cm

Victor Harbor Gold Award

Rising Tide 1, Coogee Beach NSW,

Oil on aluminium, 120 x 100cm

Finalist Paddington Art Prize

Kati-Thanda, Lake Eyre in flood

Oil on aluminium, 60 x 60cm

Coogee Rockpool 1

Oil on linen, 91 x 91cm, shadow box framed in natural Tasmanian oak

The Windbreak SOLD SALA 2022

Oil on aluminium 30 x 30

Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Flood Waters 3, SA SOLD

Oil on aluminium, 30 x 30cm

Kabminye Afternoon :: Oil on linen, 140 x 200cm

Clovelly Rock Pools

Oil on wood panel, 40 x 40cm

Clovelly Rock Pools

Oil on wooden panel, 40 x 40cm

Still Life

Unlike medieval concepts of still life which reflected the transience of earthly delights, my focus is abundance. Allowing the happiness found in the small details of life to fill our vision and focus, reminding us that present joy and this moment are sufficient.

I pay tribute to the long traditions of still life painting, but am also influenced by iconography and silk screen printing.

Zest for life

Oil painting

Apricot Reflections

Oil on polycotton, 76 x 152cm

Kiwiberries with kiwi :: Oil on wood panel, 20 x 20cm

Xigua

Oil on canvas, 101 x 81cm

Available as a limited edition print of 10

A Balanced Diet - Chilli :: Oil on wood panel, 20 x 15cm

Framed size 26 x 21cm

Icon - banana, the horned God

Oil on copper 20 x 15cm

Tempt you? :: Oil on canvas, 80 x 120cm

Persimmons with personality :: Oil on linen, 50 x 120cm

Still life apples :: Oil on linen, 80 x 120cm

Icon :: Oil on canvas, 122 x 81cm

A balanced diet, Fig :: Oil on canvas, 90 x 75cm

Persephone's Choice :: Oil on canvas, 81 x 122cm

Royal Adelaide Show Art Prize 2016 - First Prize, Still Life

Hercule's eleventh labour :: Oil on linen, 91 x 122cm

Gaia's Gift :: Oil on linen, 76 x 102cm

Alice looked...but there was no wine :: Oil on linen, 90 x 90cm

Stella cup :: Oil on linen, 90 x 90cm

Perfumed Pear, Oil on copper, 20 x 15cm

Trees

Nature as inspiration is not a new concept, but somehow it always feels new, fresh, with something urging you to create. To explore the tensions between light and shadow, lost and found edges, texture, glaze, reality, memory and the emerging expression of it.

As the season turn we see the promise inherent in spring’s bursting buds fulfilled by summer’s abundance and the changing traceries of autumn give way to the quiet intimacy of winter.

Resilience :: Oil on Belgium, 102 x 61cm

Anticipation :: Oil on canvas, 90 x 60cm

Enthusiam :: Oil on linen, 90 x 60cm

Cherry on branch :: Oil on canvas, 51 x 40cm

Wrong time rain :: Oil on canvas, 60 x 76cm

The Advertiser Contemporary Art Award 2007, Finalist

Purpose : Oil on canvas, 122 x 60cm

Rememberance :: Oil on canvas, 25 x 50cm

Inspiration :: Oil on linen, 75 x 150cm

Persimmon, last of the season 3 :: Oil on linen, 122 x 107cm

Last of the season Quince :: Oil on canvas, 100 x 75cm

Winter :: Oil on canvas board, 12.7 x 8.7cm

Winter : Oil on canvas board, 12.7 x 8.7

Children's Gallery

When I have a solo show I have encouraged the children I know to paint their own concept within my exhibition’s theme. In the early years Russell Starkey from Greenhill Gallery generously hung their NFS work for the entire length of the show and also put on special children’s openings for their school friends and family. Many children have participated and their commitment has been extraordinary. Even at two years old they knew they were painting for ‘Wussell at ve galwee, for the ‘spition.’

When some of these children saw a need and wanted to respond to global or local events, they had no hesitation at all that they could put on a SALA exhibition, add in a bake sale and raise money for charity.

Art fostered their understanding as global citizens, gave them a voice and the confidence they could do something about issues important to them.

I firmly believe in valuing artwork irrespective of the age of the artist, so here’s to getting these beautiful works off the fridge and onto the walls.

Rainstick workshop, for the Water Ways 2021 Exhibition

These rainsticks became part of an installation and later an impromtu Performance of Said Hanrahan, a humourous poem about the ending of a drought.

Rose Park Primary Year 5, 2020

Partial view of the Year 5 response to the Water Ways installation and film, exhibited in City of Burnside Atrium following a series of workshops. Collaborative banners with individual works giving voice to social issues that concerned them.

Strawberry splats, Sarah age 2

Beauty in a vase, Sarah age 5

Mardilade, Joseph age 10

My 2012 exhibition ‘Inspiration and Memory’ celebrated 80 years of my Mother’s life (lovingly known as Mardi). In this painting Joe captured perfectly the theme of the show. My mum taught me to make marmilade and I taught him, so this painting of lemon, grapefruit and kumquat marmilade which reflected three generations favourite flavours, Joe titled ‘Mardilade’.

My grandfather's old tools reimagined by Sarah and Jeremy.

Jeremy Royal Adelaide Show 2016 - Medalist

Pink roses, Jeremy age 4

Apricot roses, Jeremy age 9

In his first oil painting, Jeremy’s highly textured roses contrasted with beautiful transparent glazes to form the shapes of the hand blown glass vase. This artwork was deliberately created to be a companion piece to his earlier painting of pink roses.