Weekend Art Workshop for Adults: Sam Mitchell

Overview

If you haven't checked out Sam Mitchell's work yet, you should. It is difficult to describe her style, and near impossible to compare her works to those of other artists. Acerbic, sarcastic, rebellious and irreverent are the adjectives that spring to mind, but you might be able to come up with ones that are a better fit. Mitchell is an Elam graduate who has had her work displayed in both local and international exhibitions, been featured in recent publications, and received numerous awards. One of the most prestigious of her many accolades being the Paramount Award at the Wallace Art Awards proceedings in 2010.

The piece that gained her such significant praise was Mitchell's rendition of Janus. You might be familiar with the character from classical studies, where Janus, the Roman god, was often depicted as a man with two opposing heads, one facing the future and one the past. The figure so entrenched in classical tradition, is entirely reinvigorated and reimagined in Mitchell's version of Janus. The piece sees a double portrait of a blue tinged man facing the edges of the portrait and sporting a cat over each shoulder.

Mitchell's love for collecting and recycling is evident in the painting's clear nod to pop culture, tattoos and the internet. There is an element of discontinuity and incongruence between the mythological character and his modernised rebellious recreation.

Aside from Janus, Mitchell's portfolio is vast. Go have a look. If you're into it, and want to chat to the talent herself, then head along to her workshop. You'll have the chance to gain some rare insight into her practise and process, and you can create something for yourself at the same time.