Local artist Indi Carmichael grew up watching her parents practicing and making art on a daily basis. With a mother who excelled in textiles and painted wood carvings, and an inventive father who made spinning wheels, Indi’s future in the arts was inevitable. Holding a degree in Fine Art and an Advanced Diploma in Theatre Directing, Indi has over 25 years experience in the arts.
Above: Indi Carmichael with her drawing “In the Field of Night”
When Indi originally attended art school, she struggled with colour. She found there were just too many colours to deal with, so she majored in textiles, and began her love affair with stitched soft sculptures. She said, “I could draw better with my sewing machine than with a pencil.” She also experimented with making dyes from the tannins in trees.
These days, Indi is known for her stunning black and white drawings. Drawing did not come naturally to her and she spent many years practicing to refine her skill. She began with a set of 23 old photos of family ancestors and so began to draw them. She said, “By drawing each one, it allowed them to be alive again.”
These days, it is not unusual for Indi to spend up to 40 hours to complete one drawing. “Draw what you see, not what you think you see”, is her advice to anyone wanting to improve their drawing ability.
Using a 2B through to a 9B pencil, Indi uses a University Multi media paper which is renowned for its toughness. It has to stand up to the amount of rubbing back, a technique that Indi employs in her drawings.
Above: Pencil drawing titled “Adam and the Peacock”
Currently Indi is putting the finishing touches to her drawings for the upcoming 32nd Annual Art and Craft Exhibition at Batemans Bay High School. The public are invited to attend the official opening on Friday 30 December at 6pm and meet the artists for drinks and nibbles. The exhibition will be open daily from 10am to 4pm until 15 January 2017.
