Natalie Bessell (b. 1992) grew up in San Diego, USA and has lived in Melbourne, Australia since 2021. She is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on painting and wall sculptures. Her artistic practice primarily involves oil pastels on wood and painted glaze on ceramics. Using figurative and abstract elements, Bessell creates scenes of people and plants in soft colours and shapes.
We are pleased to share our recent interview with Natalie about her journey as an artist.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your art practice?
My name is Natalie Bessell, I am an artist and mother living on the Mornington Peninsula. I attempt to translate the beauty of my environment; plant life, the sea, and people into reliefs and paintings.
Can you talk us through your creative process?
Oftentimes, my creative process starts with a special moment. For example, I am in the garden and I notice a certain something that stays in my mind. I make a tiny sketch of it and then it actualises in the form of glaze on ceramics or oil-pastel on wood.
How do you usually go about making your work?
Sometimes I work from a simple sketch and memory and other times I work from photographs that I take. When I work from these photographs, I make a point not to copy it. I use it for colour and form without trying to make it look exact.
How did you develop your personal style and how has it changed over time?
In the beginning of my career, I was focused on telling different stories, sometimes related to me, sometimes not. I wanted to show my technical skill so my work was more figurative and rendered. Over time, my focus shifted to telling only my personal story. I have also lost the desire to impress. I truly enjoy my art practice now, something that I could not say for most of it. I started making art professionally as a teenager. I have grown up through my art. The most valuable development in the last few years has been learning to trust myself more. I let myself make anything I want now, it’s great.
Do you have a preferred medium to work with?
Yes, for the last three years I have only worked with oil pastels on wood or paper, clay, and glaze.
Tell us about the pieces you've created for the El Rancho series.
I am from San Diego, California, so the theme of this collection is close to home. The pieces that I have included in El Rancho range from a golden sun to psychedelic flowers. I have visited the deserts of California and Mexico—the geography and the people come through in my work. The artisans of Mexico, specifically wood carvers, inspired the frame that I carved for ‘Buen Sol’ and natural-died textiles that I have seen made in Oaxaca inspired the texture created in many of my oil pastels like ‘Sisters’ and ‘Field of Flowers’.
Explore Natalie Bessel’s Collection
Explore El Rancho Collection
