Painter and illustrator Sandra McArthur, who also teaches art in her community on the East coast of Australia, is especially interested in the artistic process as a means for one to gain critical distance from oneself. Not surprisingly, her works with oil and pastel—frequently set at the ocean's edge—evoke this notion of crossing boundaries and passing thresholds, leading one emotional or spiritual state into another. Her soft, windswept seascapes capture moments of frenzied natural beauty blurred by the calm of deep introspection.
McArthur shows us our boundaries by focusing on shorelines, those places where the familiar and the unknown constantly renegotiate their territory. Her sand is gritty and warm; her waves churn on approach and become slick in retreat. Even her still lifes evoke the duality of harsh and hospitable. Certain flowers reach out to the viewer with their petals outstretched; others turn sadly towards the darkness. In short, McArthur offers faceted ways of seeing the same object, alternative ways of living the same moment.
Painting is my primary avenue of expression. The qualities inherent in colour and movement help me express my emotions, thoughts and visions. They lead me in exploring my senses, seeking a connection with spirit. I see art as a transformative process, leading me to an inner world where insights and creativity dwell. It is a place of emotional and spiritual healing. I hope that the viewer of my work will be awakened by a spark of self-realisation and an awareness of possibilities just as I am when making art.
I have a deep connection with nature. Through my walks by the beach, I have found a sense of self. The smell of the ocean, the touch of the spray on skin, the sound of the waves, the contrast of colours and the play of light - we often have little time for such things but they remind us of our connection to a greater source.
