Meet Ellie Malin, a Melbourne artist working in painting and printmaking. Her visceral artworks are made up of a language of bold geometries and chromatic compositions. Inspired from observations of life and layer with fields of colour echoing place and memory.
Can you tell us the story behind your journey as an artist?
From a young age I was intrigued by art as a form of communication and self-expression. I always wanted to be an artist but considered different career pathways like design and psychology. Ultimately, art and creativity held a strong pull. At university, I studied Fine Art with a focus on printmaking. Developing a practice post art school was a slow, gradual process. I started off by making tiny abstract collages from my kitchen table. It was a fun, accessible process to experiment with ideas, until eventually I started working in a printmaking workshop where I explored techniques and mediums and got to work alongside like-minded people. It took time to find direction and realize what I wanted to focus on, all the while, exhibiting in group shows and getting the work out.
Can you talk us through your creative process? How do you usually go about creating your work?
The process is quite introspective, where I apply layer upon layer, purposefully revealing and concealing information beneath the surface. Soft geometric forms resemble complex architectural constructs, whilst also hinting towards patterns in nature. Colour and shape, light and dark culminate in compositions evoking memories of time and space. I find that with artwork it’s hard to pinpoint a beginning and end point. Ideas flow into one another, and I like to shift between them and find ways in which they connect. Each piece or project is a progression to the next.
What is your preferred medium/s to work with?
For painting, I love working with artist-quality acrylics on a nice flax Belgian linen and, for printmaking, I work on lovely cotton papers and traditional French oil-based inks. The inks are stunningly luminous and reflect light magically!
How did you develop your personal style and how has it changed over time?
My personal style in art has evolved organically. As I discovered my artistic direction, a distinct style began to emerge, evolving and transforming alongside my own personal growth. Some elements remain, such as my fascination with colour and form, just with a little more life experience. By observing and listening closely, I approach my work intuitively.
What do you hope people feel or take away when experiencing your work?
Ultimately, I want artwork to evoke a sense of harmony and connectedness. Viewers are invited to recognise the inherent beauty and luminosity around us and that there is always light to be found, even in the darkest of times.
From the pieces you have created for F&F, is there one piece in particular that stands out to you and why?
'Room for Light I’ would have to be the one that stands out to me. While making this work, I wanted to examine the notion of unresolved questions. Through the creative process, I attempt to convey the complexity of carrying unresolved experiences whilst the painting serves as a reminder that while some questions may remain unanswered, there is always space for light.
View Ellie Malin's artwork here
