Christine’s art grew from a desire to record what she saw with both her eyes and heart!
With a great sense of her place in the world, she paints in response to her connection with her environment. Christine says she is simply a storyteller, recounting mood, light, and atmosphere in a single dimension. She works from a home studio overlooking Mt Riddell. Her garden flows seamlessly into her workspace, providing a much needed, peaceful anchor for her creativity.
The art and philosophies of The French Impressionists, The Heidelberg School and Tonal Realists have been a great influence. Christine shares their love for painting directly from life. Painting trips help her remain motivated and keep her paintings fresh and authentic. Inside her studio she paints as if painting outdoors, working quickly before the light changes. She uses tonal perspective, composition, observation and colour to lead her viewer through her work via subtle signposts.
During her career, Christine became recognised among her peers as an artist of merit winning many awards including Best Painting in St Kevin’s Art Show 2009 and the 2010 Annual Australian Guild of Realist Artists Gold Medal at the Australian Art Excellence Awards. In 2008 she was given the honorary title of Fellow of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. Christine has published articles in the Australian Artist magazine, Antiques and Art to name a few, and has illustrated 2 bushfire recovery books, “Black Saturday was my dad’s birthday” and “Can we go home now?
Throughout her career as an artist, the time Christine spends painting has been seasoned by the cycle of life. Pursuit of her art wavers and intensifies according to work commitments, family milestones and life itself. She is thankful that for her, painting life links seamlessly with home, family, work, and travel. Christine doesn’t paint as a ritual, and is not defined by her ability to paint. She chooses to paint only when she feels the need to create. She would say, “My painting and creativity is only one part of the person that God made me to be. I paint when He released the desire in me for His purposes”
Christine was born in 1952 of Italian parents and grew up in Montrose under the shadow of Mount Dandenong. She married Chris in 1972, and soon afterwards they went into business together, opening a shop. They shared work responsibilities in a way that allowed them both the flexibility they needed to raise their four children whilst still enabling Christine to pursue her art career.
Since Chris has retired, he has become Christine's much needed backstop and a faithful supporter of her creative endeavours. She can now pursue her art in a more emotionally satisfying way, following her heart freely without the constraints and challenges of working in the family business.
Christine Cafarella- Pearce, is recognized for her distinctive style and sense of design. Although portraiture was the conduit through which she first developed her painting skills, the greens, blues and ochres of Victoria, and the diversity of the red earth outback country have now made landscape her primary passion. Christine has a real heart to mentor
and support fellow artists informally or in her capacity as a tutor and workshop coordinator.
The great painters of the Heidelberg School, and their passion for painting outdoors have inspired Christine to see Healesville’s valleys, mountains and the town itself through fresh eyes. Because she paints in response to environment, moods, seasons, and weather she is equally comfortable painting any genre she is drawn too.
Christine has published articles in the Australian Artist magazine, Antiques and Art to name a few, and has illustrated 2 bushfire recovery books, “Black Saturday was my dad’s birthday” and “Can we go home now?
Throughout her career as an artist, the time Christine spends painting has been seasoned by the cycle of life. Pursuit of her art wavers and intensifies according to work commitments, family milestones and life itself. She is thankful that for her, painting life links seamlessly with home, family, work, and travel. Christine doesn’t paint as a ritual, and is not defined by her ability to paint. She chooses to paint only when she feels the need to create. She would say, “My painting and creativity is only one part of the person that God made me to be. I paint when He released the desire in me for His purposes”
The art and philosophies of The French Impressionists, The Heidelberg School and Tonal Realists have been a great influence. Christine shares their love for painting directly from life. Painting trips help her remain motivated and keep her paintings fresh and authentic. Inside her studio she paints as if painting outdoors, working quickly before the light changes. She uses tonal perspective, composition, observation and colour to lead her viewer through her work via subtle signposts.
During her career, Christine became recognised among her peers as an artist of merit winning many awards including Best Painting in St Kevin’s Art Show 2009 and the 2010 Annual Australian Guild of Realist Artists Gold Medal at the Australian Art Excellence Awards. In 2008 she was given the honorary title of Fellow of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists. Christine has published articles in the Australian Artist magazine, Antiques and Art to name a few, and has illustrated 2 bushfire recovery books, “Black Saturday was my dad’s birthday” and “Can we go home now?
Throughout her career as an artist, the time Christine spends painting has been seasoned by the cycle of life. Pursuit of her art wavers and intensifies according to work commitments, family milestones and life itself. She is thankful that for her, painting life links seamlessly with home, family, work, and travel. Christine doesn’t paint as a ritual, and is not defined by her ability to paint. She chooses to paint only when she feels the need to create. She would say, “My painting and creativity is only one part of the person that God made me to be. I paint when He released the desire in me for His purposes”
Christine was born in 1952 of Italian parents and grew up in Montrose under the shadow of Mount Dandenong. She married Chris in 1972, and soon afterwards they went into business together, opening a shop. They shared work responsibilities in a way that allowed them both the flexibility they needed to raise their four children whilst still enabling Christine to pursue her art career.
Since Chris has retired, he has become Christine's much needed backstop and a faithful supporter of her creative endeavours. She can now pursue her art in a more emotionally satisfying way, following her heart freely without the constraints and challenges of working in the family business.
Christine Cafarella- Pearce, is recognized for her distinctive style and sense of design. Although portraiture was the conduit through which she first developed her painting skills, the greens, blues and ochres of Victoria, and the diversity of the red earth outback country have now made landscape her primary passion. Christine has a real heart to mentor
and support fellow artists informally or in her capacity as a tutor and workshop coordinator.
The great painters of the Heidelberg School, and their passion for painting outdoors have inspired Christine to see Healesville’s valleys, mountains and the town itself through fresh eyes. Because she paints in response to environment, moods, seasons, and weather she is equally comfortable painting any genre she is drawn too.
Christine has published articles in the Australian Artist magazine, Antiques and Art to name a few, and has illustrated 2 bushfire recovery books, “Black Saturday was my dad’s birthday” and “Can we go home now?
Throughout her career as an artist, the time Christine spends painting has been seasoned by the cycle of life. Pursuit of her art wavers and intensifies according to work commitments, family milestones and life itself. She is thankful that for her, painting life links seamlessly with home, family, work, and travel. Christine doesn’t paint as a ritual, and is not defined by her ability to paint. She chooses to paint only when she feels the need to create. She would say, “My painting and creativity is only one part of the person that God made me to be. I paint when He released the desire in me for His purposes”
The Heart of Painting
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to travel the Australian outback. I have been very blessed and have fulfilled the dream. What a joy to see firsthand, the diversity and majesty of our incredible country. Our landscape and our iconic attractions blew me away. To see them for “real” it confirmed for me that photos could not be a substitute for reality. I saw wonderful beauty everywhere I looked. Each day revealed its’ own special delights and encounters and these I will cherish forever. Looking at the experience through the eyes of an artist I am convinced that it doesn’t matter what part of Australia I decide to paint, my slant on the experience will add the final key dimension to the experience.
My husband and I travelled over 19000 kilometres in 4 months and rarely spent more than 2 days in any one place. This made days set aside for painting almost impossible. I kept my sketch books and watercolours close at hand and these became my visual and written diary. They are precious reminders of my connection with the colours and form of this unique landscape. I found the reds of the Pilbara, Kimberley and Central Australia rich and varied, just as were, the greens of the gums, tea tree and saltbush. Without this first hand experience I may have been tempted to paint each area with a sameness that would have fallen well short of my reality.
When not travelling, I jump at the chance to paint “en plein air” whenever the opportunity arises. I do not wish to copy detail but to express with paint, the experience of the landscape. when painting in my studio, I journey to that place in my mind where I can recall the imagery of the scene. Then, I can tell the story of the day just as if I was standing right there with my brush in hand and I feed on the memories which captivated me in the first place.
My paint application and colour choices echo the rhythm I see and feel in the landscape. I seek impact and power in my paintings using colour opposites and harmonies. I utilize negative spaces, and brush strokes for compositional aids, and draw on passages of light and tone to lead me through my painting. I like some of my brush strokes to be obvious and descriptive and at times, to be dominant markers in my painting. I seek out diagonal patterns of similar tonal value and/or colour to lead the viewer’s eye to the points of interest. I have little interest in specific photographic detail and instead like the shape of my brush strokes, tone and colour to describe the features of the landscape.
This underlying foundation of technique and desire, allows my work to tell its own story.
For as long as I can remember I have wanted to travel the Australian outback. I have been very blessed and have fulfilled the dream. What a joy to see firsthand, the diversity and majesty of our incredible country. Our landscape and our iconic attractions blew me away. To see them for “real” it confirmed for me that photos could not be a substitute for reality. I saw wonderful beauty everywhere I looked. Each day revealed its’ own special delights and encounters and these I will cherish forever. Looking at the experience through the eyes of an artist I am convinced that it doesn’t matter what part of Australia I decide to paint, my slant on the experience will add the final key dimension to the experience.
My husband and I travelled over 19000 kilometres in 4 months and rarely spent more than 2 days in any one place. This made days set aside for painting almost impossible. I kept my sketch books and watercolours close at hand and these became my visual and written diary. They are precious reminders of my connection with the colours and form of this unique landscape. I found the reds of the Pilbara, Kimberley and Central Australia rich and varied, just as were, the greens of the gums, tea tree and saltbush. Without this first hand experience I may have been tempted to paint each area with a sameness that would have fallen well short of my reality.
When not travelling, I jump at the chance to paint “en plein air” whenever the opportunity arises. I do not wish to copy detail but to express with paint, the experience of the landscape. when painting in my studio, I journey to that place in my mind where I can recall the imagery of the scene. Then, I can tell the story of the day just as if I was standing right there with my brush in hand and I feed on the memories which captivated me in the first place.
My paint application and colour choices echo the rhythm I see and feel in the landscape. I seek impact and power in my paintings using colour opposites and harmonies. I utilize negative spaces, and brush strokes for compositional aids, and draw on passages of light and tone to lead me through my painting. I like some of my brush strokes to be obvious and descriptive and at times, to be dominant markers in my painting. I seek out diagonal patterns of similar tonal value and/or colour to lead the viewer’s eye to the points of interest. I have little interest in specific photographic detail and instead like the shape of my brush strokes, tone and colour to describe the features of the landscape.
This underlying foundation of technique and desire, allows my work to tell its own story.
Selected Exhibitions
2015 Warburton Fire Brigade Centennial Exhibition Group
2014 World Vision 40 hour Famine Solo Exhibition
2013 A Joint Perspective, a trio exhibition
2012 Dromana 150 Exhibition
2011 Australian Art Excellence Winner and Runner–up Award Exhibition
2011 Heart and Soul Exhibition, Heart Gallery
2010 Melba’s Marvelous Melbourne Group Exhibition
2009/14 Yarra Valley Open Studios
2009 In the eyes of the Beholder Solo Exhibition
2009 A Taste of Italy Joint Exhibition
2008 Duo Exhibition at Darren Honey Hall Healesville
2006 Through my Eyes Solo Exhibition
2005 Yarra Valley and Beyond Solo Exhibition
2005 V10 Group Exhibition
Private Collections
2003 The Balgownie Collection, Yarra Glen: 24 paintings in permanent exhibition.
2003 Mayor of Townsville: permanent display, Townsville sister city in Japan.
2009 Ongoing Private Collection: Marysville Victoria
Publications
2016 CD cover Tay Oskey: Illustrator
2014 Yarra Valley Country Life Autumn Edition
2013 Australia Artists Magazine: Cover /The Heart of Painting
2013 The Weird and Wonderful Outback Adventures of Gertrude Glob and BB: Author/Illustrator
2011 Australian Artist Magazine: Cover/ Article for Australian Art Excellence Winner
2011 An Artist’s Journey: Christine Cafarella-Pearce, Biographer Anita Berry
2010 Christine Cafarella-Pearce: Catalogue of Paintings
2001-2010 Informative Articles in Antiques and Art Magazine
2011 Can we go Home Now: Illustrator
2009 Black Saturday was my Dad’s Birthday: Illustrator
2005 CD cover, Beth King and the Hemingway Collective: Illustrator
1996-1999 Covers, Real Estate Weekly Victoria
Art Projects, Teaching, Demonstrating and Achievements
2016 Art Mentoring Program for elite Art Students, Healesville Primary School
2015 Living book Healesville 150th Celebration Event, Healesville Library
2014 World Vision 40 hour Famine Event: donation of 15 drawings sold by silent auction, Healesville
2000-2016 Christine demonstrator/teacher, supporter of regional arts programs
2015 Art Journal Interview with Cora Zon on YV FM
2010-201 Curator and Manager, Heart Gallery, Healesville
2001-2010 Curator and Manager, The Looking Glass Gallery,
2008 Fellow of Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2000 Fellowship of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2005 Resident Artist, St Mary’s Catholic School, Kilsyth
Awards
2016 Runner up AGRA Winter Exhibition
2013 Winner Best oil, Spring Exhibition, Sherbrooke Art Society
2013 Winner, Yarra Glen Art Show,
2012 Winner, Marine /seascape, Grand Edrington Art Show
2011 Winner, Best in Show : Sherbrooke Art Society,
2010 Finalist Australian Artist Magazine Landscape Challenge
2010 Winner Gold Medal, Australian Art Excellence Award: Aust Guild Realist Artists
2010 Winner, Best painting in Show, AAEA, Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2010 Winner, Best in Show, Yarra Glen Art Show
2009 Best Oil in Show St Kevin’s Art Show
2009 Winner, Deans Oil Art Award, Camberwell Rotary Art Show
2008 Best under $1000, Bayswater Rotary Art Show,
2008 Best in Show, Mont de Lancey Permanent Art Show Collection
2007 Artist of the Year , Ringwood Art Society,
2007 Best in Show, Ringwood Art society Artist of the Year Show
2006 Best in Show, Yarra Glen Art Show
2006 Winner Winter Show, AGRA
2006 Winner Summer Show, AGRA
2004 Winner Frederick McCubbin Award, Sherbrooke Art Society
2003 Best in Show, Lilydale Show
2003 Best oil, Lilydale Show
2003 Best in Show, Roberts McCubbin Primary Art Show
2002 Winner Contemporary Art Section, Ringwood Art Society
2001 Winner Autumn Show , Ringwood Art Society,
2000 Winner Best Other Medium, Cobram Rotary Art Show
1996 Best Drawing, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1997 Winner, Phillip Barresi Art Award, Ringwood Art Society
1997 Best Pinting under $500 - any Medium, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1997 Best Painting under $600, Yakkerboo Festival Art Show
1997 Winner, Wirreanda Award, Marysville Art Show
1998 Best Pastel Work, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1996 Distinction Award, Ringwood Arts Society
2015 Warburton Fire Brigade Centennial Exhibition Group
2014 World Vision 40 hour Famine Solo Exhibition
2013 A Joint Perspective, a trio exhibition
2012 Dromana 150 Exhibition
2011 Australian Art Excellence Winner and Runner–up Award Exhibition
2011 Heart and Soul Exhibition, Heart Gallery
2010 Melba’s Marvelous Melbourne Group Exhibition
2009/14 Yarra Valley Open Studios
2009 In the eyes of the Beholder Solo Exhibition
2009 A Taste of Italy Joint Exhibition
2008 Duo Exhibition at Darren Honey Hall Healesville
2006 Through my Eyes Solo Exhibition
2005 Yarra Valley and Beyond Solo Exhibition
2005 V10 Group Exhibition
Private Collections
2003 The Balgownie Collection, Yarra Glen: 24 paintings in permanent exhibition.
2003 Mayor of Townsville: permanent display, Townsville sister city in Japan.
2009 Ongoing Private Collection: Marysville Victoria
Publications
2016 CD cover Tay Oskey: Illustrator
2014 Yarra Valley Country Life Autumn Edition
2013 Australia Artists Magazine: Cover /The Heart of Painting
2013 The Weird and Wonderful Outback Adventures of Gertrude Glob and BB: Author/Illustrator
2011 Australian Artist Magazine: Cover/ Article for Australian Art Excellence Winner
2011 An Artist’s Journey: Christine Cafarella-Pearce, Biographer Anita Berry
2010 Christine Cafarella-Pearce: Catalogue of Paintings
2001-2010 Informative Articles in Antiques and Art Magazine
2011 Can we go Home Now: Illustrator
2009 Black Saturday was my Dad’s Birthday: Illustrator
2005 CD cover, Beth King and the Hemingway Collective: Illustrator
1996-1999 Covers, Real Estate Weekly Victoria
Art Projects, Teaching, Demonstrating and Achievements
2016 Art Mentoring Program for elite Art Students, Healesville Primary School
2015 Living book Healesville 150th Celebration Event, Healesville Library
2014 World Vision 40 hour Famine Event: donation of 15 drawings sold by silent auction, Healesville
2000-2016 Christine demonstrator/teacher, supporter of regional arts programs
2015 Art Journal Interview with Cora Zon on YV FM
2010-201 Curator and Manager, Heart Gallery, Healesville
2001-2010 Curator and Manager, The Looking Glass Gallery,
2008 Fellow of Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2000 Fellowship of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2005 Resident Artist, St Mary’s Catholic School, Kilsyth
Awards
2016 Runner up AGRA Winter Exhibition
2013 Winner Best oil, Spring Exhibition, Sherbrooke Art Society
2013 Winner, Yarra Glen Art Show,
2012 Winner, Marine /seascape, Grand Edrington Art Show
2011 Winner, Best in Show : Sherbrooke Art Society,
2010 Finalist Australian Artist Magazine Landscape Challenge
2010 Winner Gold Medal, Australian Art Excellence Award: Aust Guild Realist Artists
2010 Winner, Best painting in Show, AAEA, Australian Guild of Realist Artists
2010 Winner, Best in Show, Yarra Glen Art Show
2009 Best Oil in Show St Kevin’s Art Show
2009 Winner, Deans Oil Art Award, Camberwell Rotary Art Show
2008 Best under $1000, Bayswater Rotary Art Show,
2008 Best in Show, Mont de Lancey Permanent Art Show Collection
2007 Artist of the Year , Ringwood Art Society,
2007 Best in Show, Ringwood Art society Artist of the Year Show
2006 Best in Show, Yarra Glen Art Show
2006 Winner Winter Show, AGRA
2006 Winner Summer Show, AGRA
2004 Winner Frederick McCubbin Award, Sherbrooke Art Society
2003 Best in Show, Lilydale Show
2003 Best oil, Lilydale Show
2003 Best in Show, Roberts McCubbin Primary Art Show
2002 Winner Contemporary Art Section, Ringwood Art Society
2001 Winner Autumn Show , Ringwood Art Society,
2000 Winner Best Other Medium, Cobram Rotary Art Show
1996 Best Drawing, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1997 Winner, Phillip Barresi Art Award, Ringwood Art Society
1997 Best Pinting under $500 - any Medium, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1997 Best Painting under $600, Yakkerboo Festival Art Show
1997 Winner, Wirreanda Award, Marysville Art Show
1998 Best Pastel Work, Bayswater Rotary Art Show
1996 Distinction Award, Ringwood Arts Society