Nicole Gastrell
My painting style has been driven by several cultural influences, I am Australian born with Egyptian, Irish and Syrian ancestry. My Mother’s family can be traced back to Aleppo in the 1600’s ,a city in Syria historically rich in Islamic art. The vibrant colours, geometric shapes and patterns from my mother’s culture married interestingly with the religious and folk art from my father’s Ireland. Sacred Art from the East , Henna Art and the Australian Aboriginal dot style of painting that became prominent in the 1970s have also significantly influenced my style.I paint primarily in acrylics and enjoy experimenting with mixed media and texture. Last year 2009, I was involved in a number of exhibitions and I was also selected to be part of the one month, online, Blake Art Prize Director’s Cut.
I can be contacted via email gastrell@bermark.com.au
