Austen

Artist Biography

Precision and delicate intricacy are the hallmark of works by Austen. Reminiscent of the decorative floral designs of Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris, or the dramatic spacial layering of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the painted ornamental panels and detailed drawings of Austen convey the organic complexities of nature stylized into coherent decorative form.

Born in Los Angeles, Austen studied at California State University, Northridge, and Arizona State University, earning a B.F.A. in painting. She has lived in Los Angeles, Chicago and the south west.

Like the French Impressionists and Dutch genre painters who went before her, Austen is drawn to the beauty that is found in everyday life. Whether she takes her inspiration from Rembrandt, the soft abstracted light-play of Claude Monet, or the complicated creative chaos of Wassily Kandinsky, Austen thrives on the details of her environment, witnessing the beauty around her, and distilling it into forms and colours that are pleasing to the eye.

In agreement with Monet, Austen reaffirms her philosophy of art when she states: "I believe art is a means to refresh the soul and ease the tensions of everyday life."

The artist prefers to work in a rich realistic style using oils, acrylics and pencil, but experiments with a diverse range of creative expressions. When not pursuing her creative life, she enjoys reading, sewing, travelling and spending time with her husband and two girls.