Studio Visit and Interview with Allison Taplin
Studio visit with Allison Taplin.
Studio Visit and Interview with Allison Taplin
Words by Madeline Young and Allison Taplin, photographs by Madeline Young.
For many years, we've had the pleasure of working with landscape artist, Allison Taplin. Her stunning interpretations of Australia's vast and magnificent skies have made her one of our most beloved artists. With each brushstroke, Allison captures the serene beauty of the open sky, drawing viewers into a tranquil world where the peaceful expanse of blue seems to stretch endlessly. Her art invites us to pause, breathe, and experience the quiet stillness of nature.
First & Last is Allison’s first solo exhibition with us here at The Corner Store Gallery. We invite you to take a walk through Allison’s peaceful paddocks with us this October 9th - 19th. Join us for drinks with the artist on Saturday October 12th from 2pm and find out more about what makes Allison tick.
Studio knickknacks, Allison Taplin.
Tell us a little about your background and how you started painting.
I’ve been a nurse for over 25 years, most recently in surgical oncology, which I find both challenging and rewarding.
I’ve always been creative, but didn’t really start painting until we lost our eldest son a few years back. I was feeling so lost and hurt and started dabbling in watercolour as a bereavement therapy. I found the fluidity of watercolour so absorbing and soothing. In a very real way painting helped to heal me and it continues to both comfort and inspire me to this day.
Allison in her sunlit studio in the Macedon Ranges.
What mediums do you prefer to work with and why?
I love oil paints for their soft creaminess and versatility – I love using fat brushes to blend and create soft clouds and a knife to layer up texture and colour. I also still really enjoy the flowiness and unpredictability of watercolour, I love never knowing exactly how it will turn out - it always feels a bit magical!
How do your personal experiences shape your art?
I find inspiration all around me – the views of our beautiful ranges from home and local walks and from my regular commute and from the loads of photographs I take when we travel. From the beginning I have painted out my feelings and I still find painting soothing and restorative. I will often head to the studio if I am feeling low or stressed and the act of creating with paint settles and grounds me.
Allison Taplin’s paint palette.
Can you describe your studio/workspace and how it influences your creativity?
I first started painting in my lost son’s bedroom and felt so connected to him in that space. Since then we have moved to the town in which he is buried and I’ve created a new studio space in our home. The room has a big window looking out onto the garden reminding me of where I am and connecting me to this beautiful place. I’m lucky enough to fit in a couple of easels and a long workbench which is perfect for framing and drying pieces, as well as storage shelves for new panels and framing. I love being in this space even if I’m not painting, sometimes I don’t feel like creating, but I still feel a sense of calm and joy in the studio surrounded by little collected leaves and the sense of possibility.
What's next for you?
I just want to keep painting, on linen, on paper and on these beautiful blocks of reclaimed timber I dig out of our woodpile! I’m keen to explore different mediums and tools and to keep growing as a painter.
Allison Taplin, Dawning on Me, 2024, oil on canvas, framed in oak float frame, 68 x 93.5 cm.
Allison Taplin, Day Spring, 2024, oil on canvas, framed in oak float frame, 42 x 32 cm.
Allison Taplin, First Light, 2024, oil on canvas, framed in oak float frame, 83.5 x 103.5 cm.
