Still Life, Blue Sky

As an artist, Bethany Saab is an exception to the general order of things. She is someone who’s built a broad following and achieved great critical success without the formative advantage of formal training. She now reaps the fruits of this tireless, independent work. Her still life paintings of fine white china, summery floral blooms and bright fruits are enthusiastically collected and frequently in demand.

Saab’s latest venture is Still Life, Blue Sky now on show at Michael Reid Southern Highlands. Not one to corner herself into a safe creative pattern, the artist introduces two exciting new elements to her repertoire: acrylic collage and trompe l’oeil.

We find, for the first time, painted hands in various poses and false frames that are natively set in amongst her assortment of objects. If one already felt they were taking an implied ‘seat’ at her painted tables, these new works jump outwards from the canvas deliberately and boldly.

Bethany Saab is an artist that succeeds in both small and large scale. Take note of the grandeur of ‘Child’s Love’, and, less than a quarter of its size, the small charm of ‘Turnips II’. Both capitalise on the space they are given and both stand as equals in Saab’s creative imaginary.