Distil

Naarm/Melbourne-based, Stacey McCall’s latest collection of elegantly composed tablescapes builds on the tremendous creative success of her previous series, Breathwork, which saw her move towards a loose and fluid painterly style while paying tribute to the simple, handmade objects that furnish our everyday lives.

Reflected in the title of her series, Distil beautifully displays the artist’s deft ability to conjure the spirit of her subjects with an economy of graceful gestures and pared-back textural markings that emerge through soft clouds of earthy hues.

“An artist friend told me she thought my work captured the ‘essence’ of something, pared down to the most essential aspect,” says McCall. “I took this description and definitely applied it to this body of work. “I am still very interested in capturing an emotion, noticing an interesting shape, texture or colour, rather than trying to paint in a realistic way.”

Brought to life with delicate washes and areas of soft or scratchy drybrush effects, McCall’s new works convey a sense of the artist drawing closer and closer to the objects of her affection as she quietly sketches out their form and ghostly essence as if through a gossamer haze.

“I usually apply a classical technique – a detailed underpainting with layers of colour – but my intention is to extract the essence of something, the simplicity of form, very much inspired by painters such as Ben Nicholson and Giorgio Morandi.”