The Local Collection
Created by a talented local artist, this artwork reflects a passion for storytelling, colour, and imagination. Every brushstroke captures a unique perspective, bringing personality and character to the piece while celebrating the vibrant local arts community.
Inspiration for ‘Bush in Flight’ series
Living in a rural setting near Ballarat, Carly Pitts is constantly inspired by the beauty of Australia's native birds as they soar above the gum trees, dart through the bush and bring the landscape to life. These everyday moments—often brief and unexpected—spark the ideas behind the Bush in Flight collection.
Each bird is lovingly hand illustrated to capture the movement, personality and freedom of Australia's iconic birdlife. From the playful Superb Fairywren to the unmistakable Kookaburra and graceful Cockatoo, every piece celebrates the joy of seeing these remarkable birds in their natural habitat.
Designed to be displayed as though they are flying across your wall, these wooden artworks bring a sense of movement, warmth and whimsy into your home. Whether arranged as a pair or a flock, they invite you to reconnect with nature and celebrate the simple beauty of the Australian bush.
About Kate Wise
Artist Statement
Kate Wise is a mixed-media artist inspired by the quiet beauty of Western Victoria. Over eight years of practice, she has developed a thoughtful, problem-solving approach to making, bringing together different strands of her creative life into layered, cohesive artworks. She often works in series, exploring a single theme through multiple pieces.
From 2018, Kate spent five years running her gallery in Ballarat, thanks to the help given by Ballarat Evolve. Now based in her home studio in Haddon, she opens to the public a few times a year as part of the Hidden Gems Artist Studios collective. Her work is held in private collections in Australia and overseas. She creates commissioned paintings in collaboration with clients. Kate runs art workshops, contributes to local exhibitions and community art projects.
Artist Statement
Hours turn to months. Time keeps moving, whether we are watching or not.
These twelve panels follow the quiet passing of time through the place I look at every day - the dam on my property. Artists I admire, like Monet, Cézanne, and Hockney, often returned to the same view to observe subtle change. In a similar way, I revisit this place and take time to notice how it shifts. These paintings aren’t literal views, but reflections of how those changes feel to me: water rising and falling, light moving across the surface, branches marking the seasons like hands on a clock.
The colours shift gradually through each month. Blocks of colour hold the everyday moments we rarely remember, while scratched layers reveal what sits beneath the surface. Gold catches the light at the edges and in the leaves, emphasising the precious and fragile nature of time.
