BERNI AYREART
Painter, Printmaker, Photographer and Artist bookmaker. b.1961 -
Berni had an accomplished early Art career in her early twenties before changing her career path to become a Bio Medical Photographer and Photo Journalist. She also kept busy studying DNA Technology, Geneaology and Social work parttime.
Berni's creations are inspired by the Australian landscape and her connection to and understanding of Indigenous culture and art expression. She imparts a geniune knowledge of place, sense of country and a level of respect for the landscape and its fauna and flora.
Berni's works have been described as alluring and sensitive, enticing the viewer to consider her journey and sensory experience exploring tracks, valleys, forests, back paddocks and open enscarpments. Her technique often first painted 'en plein air', encompases a variety of painting and printing techniques intriguing her peers, and inviting all to take a closer look, to discover patterns, textures and light affects within her highly detailed brush work.
In her studio in regional Victoria, it is a norm to see collected sticks, leaves, barks and dirt, shells and seaweed...a wealth of scattered objects to inspire creativity and offer valid palette of natural colour, textures and detail from the landscapes she has explored. While her extensive photographic portfolio from years of travel throughout Australia ensures continued inspiration on hand when her health fails or the colder seasons prevents her roaming outdoors.
Berni's landscape paintings and Fauna and Flora studies exhibited over the last 30 plus years are highly valued and sort after, now that Berni only paints intermitently.
Background:
Berni is self taught, with only early instruction from her school Art teacher, the Avant-guarde artist George Balyck. Her incidental friendships with artists she found painting around Sydney's habourside led to further informal tuition but mostly encouragement, especially when many gave Berni their old brushes, tubes of paint and discarded canvases. Some of these Artists included James R Jackson, and Luna Park Artists: Martin Sharp and Peter Kingston.
In 1977 on leaving school Berni was invited to exhibit at the prestigous Artarmon International Art Gallery where she was awarded an 'Encouragement' certificate and a Scolarship to study overseas. Her parents declined the scolarship opportunity citing her age. Further invitations to participate in exhibitions followed into the 1980's, from the Rocks Art Gallery Sydney, Birkenhead Point Gallery, and the organisers of the open air Artist's exhibitions held in Hyde Park Sydney where Berni often sold all she exhibed.
Participating in workshops at the Woollarha School of Art and a Graphic Arts Diploma further aided and nutured her talent until changing career in 1984.
Today, Berni's works and comissioned murals can be found in State Gov collections, Local Government work spaces, museums and conference centres. Her Australian landscapes and detailed Fauna and Flora illistrations, prints and photography are exhibited in regional galleries across Australia, galleries in Great Britain, Canada, and held in the Royal collection of Tonga, and the City collection of Rotorua New Zealand.
Berni is a frequent entrant in the Maritime Art Prize, Archibald, and various Australian Landscape Prizes, and an exhibiting member of the Victorian Artists Society.
She is a commited volunteer mentor for VCE Arts Students, isolated regional and indigenous students, and those with additional needs, Berni welcomes students into her studio and conducts student tours and adult tours of Galleries, offering inspirational guidance hoping to fuel others passion to create. Berni also continues her volunteer role as an Arts Culture and Heritage Adviser for local and state Governments.
'My aim when I paint is to respectfully record what surrounds me and share my sensory experience with others the best way I can through my art. I am continually inspired by the Australian landscape, its unique fauna and flora, the seasonal changes, textures, colours and light play. I am guided by cultural understanding from a First Nation perspective and my care for 'Country'. While my early works were influenced by the city and suburbs where I spent my school years, I have found my true place in rural Australia where I am more comfortable to immerse myself in my work surrounded by all that nature offers.
Updated March 2025
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