Stefanie Carnevale was born in 1977 in Hobart Australia, she studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University Of Tasmania in painting and sculpture (1997). Her work has been exhibited throughout Australia and overseas.

Working mainly in painting, she uses nature to show life as a spiritual journey, with a combination of elements representing the interconnected web of life. See work and bio at: stefaniecarnevale.com

Artist Website: stefaniecarnevale.com

1.Your recent focus has been on oil painting. How do the digital collages you create influence the final outcome of your paintings, and how do you decide when a piece is ready to move from digital to canvas?

Using collage I can combine drawing and photographic elements, moving parts easily, to help me get to a finished piece.

2.Nature seems to play a pivotal role in your art. How do you choose which elements of nature to focus on, and what role do animals and landscapes play in expressing your philosophy of life?

I choose elements in nature from the local area (I’ve lived in Hobart, Melbourne and Brisbane). My art explores the meaning of life, and I use the style and symbology of nature to depict this.

3.You mentioned using symbology in your work to explore the meaning of life. Could you elaborate on specific symbols or motifs you frequently use and what they represent to you?

I use a universal style and symbology found throughout the natural world… Leaves, eggs, feathers, bones, animals, landscapes – all represent the ever-regenerating states of nature and are used to discuss the meaning of life.

4.The Bridge: Construction In Process VI in Melbourne was a highlight for you. Could you share a memorable moment or challenge you faced during that exhibition and how it shaped you as an artist?

The Bridge: Construction In Process VI was an exciting project – it was the biggest art event in the world at that time. I was in a group show and a solo show, and with all the work involved I learnt a lot.

5.Your connection to Tasmania and its wilderness is profound. How does the natural environment of Tasmania influence the mood or themes of your pieces?

Growing up in Tasmania has given me an obsession with the natural world and I have integrated this into my artwork. I use nature to show life as a spiritual journey, with a combination of elements representing the interconnected web of life.

6. You described realizing your artistic fate at the age of five. How has that early conviction shaped your journey as an artist, and do you ever reflect on how that moment continues to impact your work today?

Where this started is when I was about 5 years old, I visited an art gallery with my mother. I saw a painting and got a strong feeling I’d be an artist when I was older – you could say I realised it was my fate. Some of my dark paintings such as The Poetry Of Evolution have reminded me of that painting and that moment.

7. You mentioned the importance of persistence in your career. Were there any specific instances where continuing to create art led to unexpected breakthroughs or opportunities?

I’ve had times of slowing down on art-making and afterwards realised that the biggest breakthrough is – just keep making art.

8. In terms of your artistic process, how do you balance the structured planning of your work (with drawings and digital collages) with the spontaneity of painting on canvas?

The paintings are greatly planned through drawing and collage, but spontaneity is found in the photos I take and the items in nature I collect.

9. Your work has a strong philosophical element. How do you hope audiences interpret or connect with the themes of life and nature in your art?

I hope people connect with my work on an emotional level through it’s depiction of the natural world.

10. Looking ahead, are there any themes, techniques, or projects you’re excited to explore that differ from your current focus?

For now they’ll have to remain a mystery.