Halina Steele

Biography

A resident of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Halina has a passionate interest in the environment, including the protection and preservation of plants and animals. Inheriting her creative abilities from her parents, art has always held an appeal for her. In 1994, Halina and her husband moved to Darwin, Northern Territory (NT) where she participated in acrylic painting, lifeform drawing and calligraphy courses with the NT University and the NT Crafts Council. In 2000, inspired by a book written by renowned UK botanical illustrator, Marjorie Blamey, Halina took up watercolours. Her love of nature and gardening motivated Halina to undertake workshops in wildlife and botanical illustration. Halina is a member of the Florilegium Society at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney (Australia), Wildlife and Botanical Artists (ACT), the Botanical Art Society of Australia and the American Society of Botanical Artists.

Subject, style and media

Halina is captivated by flora and fauna and finds inspiration wherever she looks, from exotic flowers, fruit and vegetables to Australian native plants. She sees a certain beauty in nature's imperfections and portrays the plants complete with flaws rather than embellishing her work. Halina endeavours to capture the essence of the plant without compromising botanical accuracy and likes to represent the various stages of plant development. She applies the same approach when painting birds and other wildlife subjects.

Halina's style involves various techniques from loose watercolour washes to dry brushwork. She particularly enjoys the discipline required for botanical illustration. Her paintings can take many weeks to complete as layers are built up to reproduce life-like images which capture the fine details of the plant. Halina sometimes uses gouache to give her work added intensity.

Exhibitions and Awards

Interstate and overseas exhibitions include Botanica: The Art of the Plant, Lions Gate Lodge, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, 2004, 2005, 2007; the Royal Horticultural Society London Flower Show, London 2004; and the 12th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Pennsylvania USA September 2007.

In November 2004, Halina was awarded a Silver Grenfell Medal from the Royal Horticultural Society, London for a series of 8 paintings depicting Australian Native Hibiscus; a Wildlife and Botanical Artists (ACT) Award for Paintings Featuring Australian Natives in 2005; and a Wildlife and Botanical Artists (ACT) Award for Botanical Art in 2006.

Contact

Halina Steele
Phone +61 2 6294 3222
Email steele@bigblue.net.au