It was 10 years ago when I first saw Starr’s paintings for the first time and was instantly marvelled. Her style of painting with her brushstrokes and colour entices you to view the world through the fairy tale she creates. Whether she paints iconic cityscapes, the fantastical, the female form or a commissioned piece, Starr tells her stories through recurring themes.
Her paintings have been showcased in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States. Her unique style is linked with the Expressionist movement, but with a modern twist. She creates her works with elements of inter-textuality encouraging the viewer to recognise the importance of each moment within the painting. We were lucky enough to have a chat with her to discuss The Wonderland series, her inspiration and what else is in the works.
Firstly, can you tell us a bit about your history as a painter? Is it something you were always passionate about or did that come later in life?
You could say, I was born an artist 🙂 I guess it’s all I ever knew. I was painting at a very young age and selling works well before my teens. I was quite obsessed as a child with painting and drawing and never lost that joy of creating a new painting. I have painted or drawn almost every day of my life and cannot imagine anything other than being an artist. In my teens, I was painting people’s portraits at markets and had a stall at McWhirters in Fortitude Valley. From there, I studied Fine Art at the Queensland College of Art and the rest is history as they say. For me, passion as a painter is the most important quality and I find that my sense of colour is just as important in producing my work.
You have a very unique style of painting which is unlike any other artists I have seen. You classed it as ‘expressionist with a modern twist’. Has this always been your style or has it evolved over time?
My style has developed organically over time, often in the face of trends that I refused to adopt. Early in my career I sketched in Nikko pens as I liked a strong line. That style has carried on till this day in my current work. My colour palette has always been bright with my earliest works showing the same intensity. I always believe that each artist has a style unique to them and while it can evolve over time, it always remains true to the individual.
Are there any artists who inspire you?
I have always been inspired by the masters like Van Gogh, Picasso and Andy Warhol. My all-time hero however, has to be Monet! It was a privilege to see his work in the flesh and saw me reduced to tears. As far as Australian artists go, I love Ken Done and his use of colour. I also love Stewart Macfarlane’s style and integrity of his artistic practice, as he works only from life.
Where do you find your inspiration for the next project?
I find inspiration for my paintings all around me, wherever I am. I have been fortunate enough to travel to some of the world’s most beautiful cities and some amazing natural landscapes. It’s fantastic to be able to paint your own world, made up of the things that surround me. I also have quite the collection of props that regularly feature in my work. I am blessed with a lovely group of beautiful muses that are simply delightful and inspire me to new heights in every collaboration.
The Alice in Wonderland Series – can you tell us a bit more about the journey she takes throughout the paintings?
My Alice series is based on the Lewis Carroll tale and influenced by the Disney movies I adored growing up. To make the series special to me, I have taken Alice and brought her into my own world. She is almost like a friend who I share adventures with and we journey through this modern world and all its ever-changing technology and pop culture. A lot of people think that I am painting Alice as myself, but no… if you knew me you would know that I am far more like the Mad Hatter. ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland‘ has been a tremendous part of my life and it is amazing to be able to tell new stories with these much-loved characters.
Is there any one painting which is your favourite?
Of course, my favourite paintings are my ALICE series hands down. They are labour intensive and a lot of myself goes into every painting. However, if I had to pic another favourite it would be ‘The Girl Who Waited‘ from my Imagination series. I drew inspiration from my sketch books for that series and twisted them into painting with loads of colour. The painting has a Van Gogh inspired sky, my pink corvette, the Story Bridge, a redhead girl ( possibly me ) and Dr Who’s TARDIS in it, with hints of the wonderful Alice. All in my favourite colour palette with intense blue and lots of brightness!!!
When can we expect to see your next exhibition pop-up in Brisbane?
I am currently working on new works for all my galleries. My plan for this year is to look at new territories around the Australia and the world. The only problem is finding the time to paint for them, but where there is a will, there is a way! I will be popping up at Red Hill Gallery in October for a smaller scale show. My recent LONDON CALLING exhibition was a sell-out and I had so many commissions that even now, I am still painting my way through them to get them all done and work on new ideas. I am so very grateful to my fans in Brisbane and around the country for their overwhelming support over all these years. I heart Brisbane!
