121. Between The Lines

Artwork number: 121
Artist: Rachael Priestly
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Description: 'Between the Lines was inspired by a visit to the historic Cook family property at Dandaragan during the July school holidays. Looking south-west from above in the late afternoon light, I was struck by the contrast between the straight red dirt road and the winding creek as they traced different paths through the landscape. Generations of the Cook family have cared for this land, introducing perennial pastures and continuing its evolution as a certified organic farm. Rather than creating a literal aerial record, I wanted to capture the rhythm, warmth and geometry of the landscape through luminous colour and simplified forms. This painting celebrates the enduring relationship between people and place, where thoughtful care has shaped the land while the natural watercourse continues to follow its own timeless path.
Artist statement: I create expressive paintings that move between realism and abstraction, inspired by the Australian landscape, animals and the natural world.
I'm drawn to the character of my subjects and the way colour, light and atmosphere can capture a moment or evoke a memory.
Working primarily in acrylics, I explore layers of colour and texture, simplifying forms and allowing each painting to develop intuitively.
I hope my work encourages viewers to pause, look a little closer and find their own connection to what they see.