Remember The Wild are excited to introduce our newest Artist-in-Residence Ronelle Reid (@ronellereidart). Her beautiful illustrations will feature in our Word from the Wild newsletters over the next 12 months. Our September newsletter features two birds that are very close to our hearts – the Malleefowl (left) and Plains-wanderer (female pictured).
Ronelle’s work inspired by native Australian animals is intriguing. Her style is realistic with a touch of whimsy with pairings of creatures that wouldn’t exist together in real life, yet look harmonious in the worlds she has created.
My style is a combination of colourful, naturalist work, with quirky compositions that pair species that often don’t coexist or share habitats. In doing so, I draw attention to the interconnectedness between species and invite viewers to see how they are being forced to adapt to rapidly changing ecosystems or risk extinction.
Ronelle lives and paints on a semi-rural property in Queensland where inspiration is all around her.
I love the abundance of wild animals that make this little patch of land their home. I could watch the birds for hours, my studio is in the garden and I often have curious butcher birds or wrens watching me work through the windows. I often look up to catch wallabies chewing grass in the back paddock or an echidna trundling along at dusk.
I can’t imagine it any other way.
Her passion for art started early, inspired by a love for animals.
I have always been determined to be an artist and even when I wasn’t making art for a living I was helping animals working at an animal welfare organisation. I never made a decision to make art about the plight of nature, it was more of a calling.
We all know how challenging it is to create change in nature conservation, especially when the threats to wildlife are not seen as urgent unless you are actively engaged in nature. However, change is not impossible; it can begin with a moment of curiosity. Ronelle believes that art is a powerful way to spark conversations and curiosity about nature. She saw an opportunity to help Remember The Wild spark more interest in our unique wildlife through her art.
I have worked with a number of not-for-profits to help raise awareness of issues facing the environment and endangered species. But after following the work of Remember the Wild I really connected with the unique approach they are taking to educate and create curiosity and awareness of the natural world in a new way.
Ronelle hopes that more artists will join her in helping to create better relationships between people and nature.
Art has always been a vehicle for thought, change and conversation. It helps translate concepts and information into a visual that can be pushed into the community to help educate. This is the only world we get – if that species becomes extinct, that is it. Artists need to communicate important issues, sometimes they are not beautiful but it needs to be done.
I encourage artists to connect to a cause. Nature and the environment needs us right now.
You can find Ronelle’s wonderful and quirky illustrations on her website and at her Facebook and Instagram pages.
All images supplied by Ronelle Reid.
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