Specialising in acrylic and oil based paintings Giorgia Bel is a self taught artist and loves to use colour and texture to create depth in her abstract and organic works. For her, it stirs an excitement, and brings clarity also. She most often uses muted tones with subtle hints of brighter hues to stimulate a captured eye. Her focus is on imagined and seen landscapes, still life and abstract portrait.

 

 

Tell us about the pieces you have created for Merci Maison?
The pieces I have formed for this collaboration with Merci Maison are of still life moments found in my home through the year 2021. As we spent a lot of time in lockdowns, I used this time to pick and find flowers on walks and fill vases with things from outside.

The moody tones I’ve used represent the melancholy mood that trailed through the year, but in creating these arrangements and furthermore painting them, I found myself continually full.

Did the Bello Frame provide some inspiration for your works?
Yes. I have loved ceramics and unique artefacts and design for a long time. I studied design and architecture before painting.

Paint a picture of a room you imagine your work hanging in….
My work has found it’s place in many different homes and styled shoots over the past while.

I like to imagine them in a modern contemporary style home, warm elements throughout with a touch is quirkiness for good measure. 

How do you prepare for a new project or piece?
I dream up what I want it to be for- what it will mean and why. Then I try to get the concept down on paper. I do a lot of sketching and colour matching in some plain canvas paper art books, mapping out the line work- and it’s all very rough and blurry and to be honest, changes quite often once itsbegun on the canvas.

Can you talk us through your creative process and how you developed your style?
Honestly, I just played and scribbled and starched on the canvas’ in different ways with different brushes until I liked what I was doing.

My work was first my mediation and apart of a healing journey through some poor health in my 20’s.

Painting is my escape, and I love it a lot. To me it is somewhat childlike and imaginative, texture heavy and with it now as my work, it’s still freeing. I feel successful in that sense.

Where do you look for inspiration? Are there artists or muses that have a particular influence on your work?
Definitely. I have always adored and admired John Olsen. His work captivated me a long time ago. His colour mixing and the scapes. I often look at books of his work that I have for inspiration.

There are so many beautiful artists out there. I love Ken Done, Maja Ruznic, Darcy McCrae, Stanislas Piechaczek, Antonia Mrljak, Loralee Jade, to name a few.

Who or what are you greatest design influences?
I’ve always loved Tricia Guild. I grew up looking at her books with my mum and there was influences of her work throughout our home growing up. I fell in love with Interior Design because of her!

I also really love Megan Morton. I use to work at a restaurant beside Koskela when I was studying in Sydney. 

Tell us about your studio. What does it look like, sound like, smell like? What creates the perfect workspace for you?
My studio is a white painted garage space located at the back of a dance studio in Newcastle City. I’ve been there for 3 years. It’s got a large folding door that opens up onto a long lane way that travels down the side of the dance school to my space. It’s filled with plants and light.

My studio has concrete floors that are covered in paint splatter and marks. It’s rough around the edges, but it works and I love it.
My studio sounds like the playlists I create for each series. I make a new one every few months. There’s always some jazz, instrumentals, old love songs- nothing new and cool, ha!

I don’t think my studio smells like much, but I’m sure it smells a lot of paint and varnish.

If you could design your dream home, what would it look like?
I think it would like something that I mentioned earlier, in reference to a space I can imagine my work hanging in. I’ve always liked to mid century modernism style. Subtle bursts of colour, warm elements and loads of natural light. 

Where in your home do you go to think, create or be inspired?
To think and plan, I use the dining room. It’s the most naturally lit space in our house, with gigantic big windows, high ceilings and an antique dining set that’s been in my family for generations.

Merci Maison is “thank you, home” in French. What would you say you are most grateful for in your home/ creative space?
I am grateful for the company I keep in my home. My partner is my biggest advocate and support, and our dog, well he just is apart of the home we’ve made. It wouldn’t be “home” without the three of us.

At the studio, I’m grateful for my tools to work, and the fresh air that rolls in through the big doors.

It’s so close to home as well, so it makes life easy.

 To shop Giorgia's pieces, click here