Featured Artist: Renée Treml

I first spotted Renée Treml's work at an exhibition at Kiln Gallery in Paddington, and I instantly fell in love! So you can probably imagine I was over the moon when she was interested in selling her work on Udessi ~ I know I keep saying that about all the artists, but it truly is very exciting to have all this amazing talent on board and to be showcasing their fantastic work!

Click here to view Renée's work on the online gallery, or if you are in the Brisbane area, drop by this Sunday at the Udessi market stall at the Boutique Markets, Portside Wharf, Hamilton, which Renée will be attending with me ~ she'll be bringing a fantastic selection of limited edition pieces and originals!

In the meantime, please read on to find out more about Renée...

'Galahs' set of three stretched giclée prints by Renée Treml ~ AU$120.00

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
I have been living in Brisbane for a little over a year now. My husband and I moved here from North Carolina, USA, so he could continue his coral reef research at the University of Queensland. I was incredibly excited to move here and it has been so rewarding – especially the new diversity of wildlife.

'Afternoon Nap: Corella' limited edition stretched giclée print by Renée Treml (detail) ~ AU$44.00

What is your creative background and how long have you been creating your art?
While growing up I was always drawing or painting. I got very serious about making art my career about 6 years ago. My formal education was in environmental science and ecology – I was at a liberal arts school, so I was also able to take several art and drawing courses during my studies. In 2004 I completed a Professional Certificate in Botanical Illustration, and have spent many years studying fine art through professional art classes and workshops.

Where, what or who do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from the environment around me. I am fascinated by wildlife and believe my work reflects this interest. One of my personal goals as an artist is to bring awareness to the environment and wildlife.

'Happiest Bird in the World (2)' limited edition stretched giclée print by Renée Treml (detail) ~ AU$44.00

What can you tell us about your work?
My work tends to be very realistic although I always try to add some personality to the pieces. I almost always focus on flying creatures, although my scope is broadening to include other animals, including those that hop or climb trees.

When approaching a piece, I either paint with watercolors and acrylics or illustrate using scratchboard. Which method I choose largely depends on my mood and my goals. Often I will complete a piece in acrylics only to decide it would have made a better scratchboard piece or vice versa.

'Sweetly Sleeping: Barn Owl' limited edition stretched giclée print by Renée Treml ~ AU$44.00

Where do you create your art and what is your workspace like?
My studio is currently located in a small former garage space. It is almost always chaotic, with bits of papers and pens lying all over the place. I love my studio because it has a separate entrance from our primary living space and when I enter the studio I can really let go of all the distractions of the house. The only downside is the lack of natural light, which I compensate for with lots of lamps.

'The Many Faces of the Kookaburra (2)' original acrylic on canvas by Renée Treml (detail) ~ AU$200.00

What materials and/or tools do you prefer to work with and why?
Painting: I prefer to work on a canvas which I collage with bits of paper from music and text books. I find old books at used book sales and op-shops. I love the depth and texture it provides, as well as a little hints of something from the past. I also work on textured clayboard and watercolor canvas, which are equally interesting.

Scratchboard work in progress

Scratchboard: I almost always start with white clayboard that I paint with black ink. Almost all of the scratching is made with my #11 craft blades and knife (which I am always misplacing). I recently purchased a few tools to try out and I am loving the soft effects of the fiberglass brush.

Can you share one thing with us that most people wouldn’t know about you?
I am in the very early stages of creating a picture book featuring a very odd main character... "early" meaning I have a few sketches and ideas, but not a publisher!

'Flying Fox: Repose' framed limited edition giclée print by Renée Treml ~ AU$110.00

What is your day job or are you a fulltime artist?
I am a full-time artist with a part-time job. My part-time work is as a research assistant in an environmental management/remote sensing program at University of Queensland.

'Teacozy: Little Blue Penguin' framed limited edition giclée print by Renée Treml ~ AU$110.00

What are your goals/aspirations for the future?
On a personal level, I would love to illustrate a children's book using only illustrations created in scratchboard.

A larger aspiration is to create a body of work that educates people about the environment and the impacts of habitat destruction in a pleasing and interesting way. I envision an exhibition where the messages are subtly and quietly presented, and the viewer leaves just a little more educated about the issues without feeling like the topics were forced upon them.

'A Very Tired Wombat and Three Kookaburras' framed limited edition giclée print by Renée Treml ~ AU$110.00

If you were to collaborate with other artists on an artwork, what would your dream project be?
Several years ago three friends and I started a collection of collaborative works. We all significantly shaped and influenced each piece: one of us would do the background; the next artist would change or build on the work; and so on until the piece returned to the originator. I would love to create an educational exhibit through a similar process where each piece had a specific message. The final body of work has all these consistent elements that tie it together, yet the pieces become so diverse.

Thanks so much Renée!

:: Click here to view all Renée Treml's artworks on the Udessi online gallery ::