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Last Updated: Thursday, 13 March 2025 13:55

Published: Thursday, 13 March 2025 01:55

Contemporary landscape artists and plein air partners, Cynthia Copley and Amy Stapleton, detail their friendship and artistic inspiration in a new exhibition that is on display at the Crows Nest Gallery from March 15 to April 13, 2025.

Conversations in Open Spaces explores a visual conversation between the artists.

The artists’ friendship afforded opportunities to explore myriad landscapes in South East Queensland that previously felt out of reach.

Working towards this exhibition, the artists gathered studies en plein air then created large scale works in their respective studios.

Conversations in Open Spaces presents an interesting dynamic through their artistic interpretations of the same locations.

Amy Stapleton, who has a background in photography and graphic design, has a strong design influence and captures the landscape through representational drawing and layers of mixed media.

Amy’s style moves between representational to semi-abstract with a strong emphasis on experimenting with mixed media, including acrylics, charcoal, and pastels.

She uses a variety of techniques and materials to create the complicated layers of the Australian bush and waterways.

Cynthia Copley is predominantly an alla prima oil painter.

This technique requires the painter to work quickly as the work must be finished before the first layer dries.

Cynthia enjoys capturing the light on the landscape with a particular interest in water and reflections.

Her work is representational with expressionist influences.

The exhibition’s Meet the Artist event will be held from 11am to 1pm on Sunday, March 16, 2025.

For more information, please see: Meet the Artists | Conversations in Open Spaces – Cynthia Copley & Amy Stapleton

Enquiries about the exhibition can be directed to Crows Nest Gallery on (07) 4698 1687 or crowsnestart@tr.qld.gov.au.

Crows Nest Gallery, at the corner of the New England Highway and William Street is open from 10.30am to 3.30pm Wednesday to Sunday. It is closed on Monday, Tuesday and public holidays.

Images:

1. Amy STAPLETON / See Mary run 2024 / mixed media on linen / 93 x 93cm / © Amy Stapleton (top)
2. Cynthia COPLEY / Over the edge 2024 / oil on canvas / 93 x 93cm / © Cynthia Copley
3. Amy STAPLETON / The prettiest little rockpool 2024 / mixed media on paper / 60 x 42cm / © Amy Stapleton
4. Cynthia COPLEY / Sun catcher 2024 / gouache on paper / 95 x 71cm / © Cynthia Copley (bottom)