A Gallery Full of Gems

There is something wonderfully appropriate about discovering gemstones in a gallery surrounded by artists, makers and volunteers. Like art itself, gemstones carry stories of time, craftsmanship, discovery and human fascination and, some have been treasured for thousands of years.

This month, Seaview artist Pauline takes us back to the ancient origins of jewellery making with her collection of freeform wire jewellery. Wire adornment is one of the oldest forms of metalwork, with evidence of sophisticated wire techniques dating back more than 4,000 years. Ancient Egyptian goldsmiths created intricate pieces entirely from wire, while similar techniques have been discovered in ancient tombs stretching from Persia to Peru.

Pauline uses these traditional techniques in her own work, creating each piece individually from sterling silver and 14K gold sculpting wire. No soldering is required; instead, the wire is carefully shaped, wrapped and sculpted by hand. Her jewellery combines this ancient method with the natural character and colour of gemstones such as sapphire and lapis lazuli, creating pieces that feel both timeless and distinctly contemporary.

August’s Birthstone: Peridot

Our featured birthstone this month is peridot, a luminous green gemstone associated with strength and vitality. Its name comes from Greek, although its exact meaning remains uncertain.

Peridot has an extraordinarily long history. It has been mined for more than 3,500 years, with some of the earliest significant sources found on St John’s Island in the Red Sea, northeast of Aswan. The gemstone has also been found in Burma, Arizona, Brazil, Hawaii and Mexico.

During the Middle Ages, peridot was brought to Europe by Crusaders and was often used in ecclesiastical jewellery and religious objects. Perhaps surprisingly, some peridot is not of earthly origin at all. Gem-quality peridot has been discovered within meteorites, including stones associated with a meteorite that fell in eastern Siberia in 1749.

The largest known cut peridot from St John’s Island weighs an extraordinary 310 carats and is now held in the Smithsonian Institution.

From ancient goldsmiths to contemporary artists, gemstones remind us that creativity has a remarkably long memory. Techniques developed thousands of years ago can still inspire artists today, reinterpreted, refined and given new life through individual hands.

Perhaps that is also true of our gallery community. Seaview is fortunate to have its own collection of precious gems, the volunteers and members who open the doors, welcome visitors, share their knowledge, support fellow artists and quietly keep everything running behind the scenes. Each brings something different to the gallery, and together they create the sparkle that makes Seaview more than simply a place to display art.

Feature Artist

Joanne Duckworth is an Australian watercolour and textile artist based in the Sunshine Coast hinterland town of Maleny. Her work explores the mysteries of the natural world. She paints atmospheric dreamscapes in watercolour and hand-dyes linen scarves to create one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.

With a studio practice spanning more than 30 years, her background in fine art, fashion and textiles, and transpersonal art therapy informs her evolving practice. Grounded in observation, her work is guided by intuition and a deep connection with the natural world.

Viewers are invited to enter a space between the familiar and the unknown, where the natural world reveals an otherworldly presence, evoking wonder, contemplation and connection.

Alongside her studio practice, Joanne hosts personalised Art & Nature Retreats at Ferntree Hollow in Maleny, tailoring each experience to the needs and interests of her guests. For more information visit her website www.joanneduckworth.com

Christmas in July Street Party

The gallery was once again part of the local festivities with another wonderful Street Party this time with a Christmas in July twist.

Our gallery was given a festive makeover, thanks to one of our dedicated volunteers, Mary,  who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to decorate the space and bring a little Christmas cheer to Seaview. She also enthusiastically kept the gallery open late, allowing us to join in the celebrations and welcome the many visitors enjoying the evening.

Events like these are a wonderful opportunity for Seaview Artists Gallery to connect with the wider community. The Seaview Terrace was full of activity, and the extra exposure gave visitors the chance to discover the gallery and see the diverse artwork on display.

It is a great reminder that our gallery is not just a place to exhibit art , it is part of the vibrant community of Moffat Beach. As we mentioned earlier, our volunteers and members really are some of Seaview’s most precious gems!

You are invited to the AUGUST
Country & Western Street Party!!!

Join the festivities…
Thursday 27 August, 2026
4 - 8 pm
Seaview Terrace, Moffat Beach

Open Studios: A Little Doodle, A Lot of Joy

This month we celebrated the energy of Open Studios, with Seaview artists sharing their practices and inviting visitors to have a go themselves.

Last Sunday, artist Janet Matthews hosted a relaxed doodling session where visitors could sit down and experiment with colour and line. Even Arni, pictured below, was a keen participant, joining his delightful owner and keeping a close eye on the colours!

Everyone’s work was wonderfully different, which is exactly what makes creative play so interesting. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with strangers chatting and laughing together as they worked.

Janet summed up the day perfectly: “I found that strangers talked and laughed together while they worked, which was great to see. It really made my day!” And judging by the smiles, it made theirs too.

Arni checking out the colours!

Negative Space and Colour Patterns

In her latest body of work, Deborah Mangan explores the tension between concealment and revelation, layering colour and energetic patterns beneath a veil of white. Birds, trees and fragments of  colour emerge from the surface, inviting the viewer to look beyond what is immediately visible. The result is a fascinating interplay of chaos and calm, where what is hidden becomes just as important as what is revealed.

My recent painting project explores the relationship between concealment and revelation, using layers of colour and pattern, form and absence to create a conversation between what is visible and what remains hidden. By layering a stark white topcoat over intensely bright colours, the work expresses the negative spaces allowing the viewer to perceive the work in a divergent and contradictory process to the normal way we usually view a painting. The strategic use of negative space creates a distinct and separate chaotic composition between the solid surface and hidden layers. Colourful form and hidden elements create a conversation between what is seen and what is hidden.

Intent and Concept

The core of this project rests on the concepts of containment and revelation. The underlying bright colours represent energy, movement, and vigour. Applying a heavy white topcoat mimics a veil that allows fragments of the original surface to remain visible as negative space. The final white layer of paint does not erase the colour but rather frames it, creating texture, and interest asking the viewer to look closer at the compositional contrast and variation. The white paint does not remove entirely what came before but transforms it creating new shapes, rhythms and pathways waiting to be discovered.

Materiality and Process

The process is physical and subtractive at the same time. Multiple layers of high-saturation acrylics are applied to establish a rich, chaotic foundation of light, pattern, brilliance and energy. The negative space is preserved by overpainting with a heavy contrasting colourless paint layer. The thick, opaque white layer is applied over the colour fields, selectively applied thinly and then thickly to expose the vibrant underlayers. The bright colours underneath represent the vitality of life while the white creates moments to pause and consider what exists between the layers. I deliberately chose birds and trees as symbols of life, natural cycles, energy and belonging. The tree branches reflect differences in environments, relationships and lives. Things remain hidden and concealed until the viewer discovers them.

Little Charmers Take First Place

Congratulations to our talented Seaview artist Bernardine Hine for receiving First Place in the Quilts Across Queensland at the RNA Ekka 2026, in the Open, Pictorial Art Quilt , Any Technique category.

Titled “Little Charmers”, the 71 x 51 cm artwork was inspired by a magical birdwatching experience, when the artist witnessed a lively congregation of Red-backed Fairywrens, singing and cavorting together.

Each tiny bird was individually embroidered before being carefully collaged with hand-dyed and painted fabrics. The work was then brought together with intricate free-motion machine quilting, creating a vibrant and wonderfully detailed celebration of these little birds. A very fitting first-place finish for an artwork inspired by a memorable encounter with nature.

A Remarkable Run of Awards for a Pastel Master

Congratulations to Tricia Taylor on an extraordinary run of recent achievements, including First Prize in the Animal section for “Flight”, Best in Show for “The Air I Breathe” and the prestigious Pastellist of the Year 2026 at the Pastel Society of Australia Annual Awards.

This year’s PSA awards attracted 170 entries from artists across Australia and New Zealand, with works judged across five sections: Animals, Abstract, People, Scapes and Still Life. From these sections, one work is selected for the coveted Best in Show award. The Pastellist of the Year recognises an outstanding artist whose body of work across the exhibition demonstrates exceptional achievement.

For Tricia, the Pastellist of the Year award is particularly significant. It is the first time she has received the honour since 2010, 16 years ago. A Master Pastellist since 2011, her long-standing dedication to the medium has established Tricia as an artist of exceptional skill and recognition.

Tricia’s connection with pastel extends internationally through Unison Pastels in the UK, who handmake their pastels. Tricia Taylor is one of just 10 Signature Artists worldwide and has collaborated with Unison to create their own signature set of sunset pastels.

The accolades don't stop there. Tricia’s oil painting ‘Let Your Light Shine’ was also recognised at the Matthew Flinders Art Prize, adding another wonderful achievement to an already remarkable year.

Looking ahead, Tricia Taylor will be participating in the Bribie Art Trail in September. Her Beachmere studio will be open to visitors on 12 and 13 September, From 10am–4pm, providing a wonderful opportunity to meet the artist, explore her studio and see her work in person.

For more information about the Bribie Art Trail, visit bribie-art-trail.org.

Enjoy the unique experience of meeting the working artists who attend the gallery daily

—always welcoming, knowledgeable, and happy to share insights into their creative process.

OPEN 7 DAYS
9.30am - 4.30pm