Hi, I’m Carly, an Australian painter who works mainly in oil. I focus on figurative painting, particularly the female form. My work is slow and intentional, exploring presence, restraint, and the weight of observation.
I studied art in Florence, Italy, where an immersive studio environment shaped my commitment to practice through learning academic classical methods of painting and drawing. Living and working there reinforced my belief in process over immediacy, and in history as an essential material for a young artist. These principles continue to inform my work since returning to Australia.
I approach painting as an ongoing inquiry rather than a search for resolution, often revisiting subjects across multiple works so that small shifts in perception can accumulate over time. This repetition is central to my practice, reflecting an interest in depth over novelty.
Alongside my studio practice, I share parts of my process online through writing and long form video. I speak openly about the realities of being a full-time artist, the tension of bringing each artwork to life, and the long stretches of time that growth requires. Teaching and sharing have become a natural extension of my practice. This is an open invitation into the studio.
My approach to teaching mirrors how I paint. It is intentional and grounded in real studio experience. I am interested in helping beginners and returning painters build confidence through simple, repeatable methods that prioritise observation and consistency over perfection, supporting artists in returning to the studio and continuing to create.
Everything here is shaped by the same objective that continues to guide my days in the studio:
"The object isn't to make art, it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable." — Robert Henri