Australian contemporary artist, Victoria Velozo, captures the raw beauty of nature, combining realism and abstraction. By combining a range of traditional mediums such as oil, watercolor, and acrylic paint together in the same painting, she creates a well-intended tension within her work.
“My own personal style involves continuously creating tension in the artwork,” she explained in a piece she wrote for Artsy Shark. “I achieve this through the combined use of premeditated realism and abstract improvisation. Realism is used as a measure of my ability and the abstract work displays my artistic expression.”
In her most recent series, Velozo focused on the rich birdlife inhabiting grasslands. Through it she hopes to encourage a connection between humans and nature, whilst focusing on the birds that live within this unique environment. “I want to create a subconscious connection to the environment,” she says. “I believe viewing a painting of nature evokes an intuitive reminder of the fragility and sacredness of the natural world.”
Crows, ravens, and eagles are seen throughout her work, captured in stunning detail. Those are placed against an abstract version of an environmental landscape, bringing energy and antics to the painting and creating interest and narrative to the small birds’ struggles.
According to Velozo, grasslands are among our most vulnerable and endangered habitats due to urbanization. But as the conversation revolving around our natural environments is now at the forefront, she hopes her work can stimulate care and concern for this place we call home.
