Eliza Overduin
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
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Eliza Overduin was born in Sydney and draws on her heritage as the foundation of her art form.
Her father, Henk, was a noted artist in his own right and both he and Eliza were influenced by great Dutch artist MC Escher, who actually taught Henk in Holland. Eliza claims her influence stems from Escher, though her inspiration comes from her father. Both artists reflect a powerful tonal theme weaving through their work.
Bowral in the Southern Highlands of NSW is currently Eliza’s home. The fusion of natural beauty and space in this unique area of Australia accentuates the inspiration for the artist to create work of distinction and simplicity.
As is the nature of charcoal, Eliza’s work is black on white cloth creating a simple, intricate and unique interpretation of her subjects.
Eliza has exhibited in numerous locations across NSW and has sold work both nationally and internationally. What began as a hobby, has now developed into a solid and exciting career which promises to continue in its growth. Her success is founded on the guiding principle of loving what she does.
All works are original. Prints, Lithographs etc are not part of the artists philosophy and every piece comes with a certificate of originality.
These works focus primarly on form, richly enhanced by integrating black on white through charcoal and cotton canvas. Flora nudes and chattels of simple strength and beauty feature throughout.
From the charcoal to the stock, I only use the best quality products.
From the charcoal to the stock, I use the best quality.
The stock itself is a form of cotton as opposed to regular paper. This makes it much more durable as well as the fact that it is acid free. As it is cotton, it is a much more difficult material to work with but is completely worth it in the end as visually it works in complete harmony with the charcoal.
When you look at the process of creating a piece, many people ask "Where do you start?". Well, it begins, as all ideas, as a concept which slowly unfurls into a two dimensional image as the final product.
A sketch pad is one of my best friends. It's where all concepts are put into the first stage of action. Many reference books as well as the real thing (flower or nude model) are used to create this initial pencil sketch. Once the sketch is where I want it to be, I need to cut the cotton stock to the correct size for that particular piece. The cotton stock is available in two sizes however my work is available in a few different sizes and dimensions. The dimensions are measured and I cut the stock with a scalpel to size.
I then re-draw the image onto the cotton stock at my desk, again initially with a pencil. Once the image is complete, the addition of compressed charcoal begins. This is the make it or break it stage. As charcoal is such a definite medium, once it is on, it cannot be removed, particularly on cotton. There is no eraser in the world that can remove it. Therefore, this is the most crucial stage in the entire process.
I work the charcoal until the image is complete. I use many different techniques when applying and working the charcoal but it is all done by hand and with the use of my fingers. Occasionally I will also add willow charcoal. This part of the process can take a very long time and if one line is out of place or smudged the wrong way, the piece must be started again from scratch on fresh stock.
Once the piece is completed, I then (very carefully) transport it to my framer for the final stage in the process. I do not spray my work with any sort of fixitive as it will yellow the stock over time. Therefore, the transportation of the work is a very careful process as it could destroy the piece.
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SANTI
Rescued: October 2013 | Released: June 2019 | Status: Wild & Monitored
Santi arrived at International Animal Rescue’s centre in Ketapang in October 2013 when she was around three years old. Her final owner had surrendered her to the forestry department, claiming she had become too expensive to care for. Prior to this, Santi had passed through multiple owners, was confined in a cage, and fed a poor diet of cake and bread.
Despite her traumatic early life, Santi was in relatively good condition on arrival and showed promising signs of resilience. After completing her quarantine, she was introduced to baby school where she quickly impressed keepers with her excellent climbing skills and confidence in the trees.
Santi later progressed to forest school where she continued to develop vital survival skills such as foraging and nest building. Though smaller than her peers, she gradually built confidence and independence, preparing her for life in the wild.
In June 2019, after nearly six years of rehabilitation, Santi was released into the Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park along with four other orangutans. Her journey from captivity to freedom stands as a testament to her strength and the dedication of the IAR team. She is now living free in the forest and is monitored by IAR’s post-release team to ensure her continued success.
