Ursula Theinert
A painter and photographer, Ursula lost many of her works in the Black Saturday bush-fires. While saving their house from the impending flames, the studio was engulfed in flames. Ursulas dramatic landscapes have now been imbued with a fresh yet deeply dark foundation from the bush-fires. The works for this show promise to be solidly revealing.
Ursula’s website: www.ursulatheinert.com.au
An online interview with Ursula.
‘Ashes to Ashes’ is my first painting after the Black Saturday fires. It took quite a few weeks before I felt like working on my art, the whole experience was overwhelming. Along with the shock was the practical problems of no art supplies, no easels and most importantly no space to work in. Over time, we managed to get our new garage built and with the help of my dear dad, who made me a wonderful new easel and painting table and many friends who helped with brushes and paints, reawakened my desire to paint again. This painting means a great deal to me and I was amazed to see the spirituality of the scene unfold before me. It truly made me feel that I had somehow come to terms with the fire and our altered journey. I am working on another painting which is nearly finished. It is a triptych of 120 x 120cm times three and again touches on the profound spirituality that we have with nature and which I felt particularly that frightening night. It will be called ‘Fire Angels’, but does not show winged angels, but rather an ethereal presence of the spaces within and above the burnt trees.
Note the texture you can see in this detail is writing Ursula has included to do with the bushfires.