Siv Grava uses oils to create rich and vivid interpretations of Australian landscapes. She has developed a distinct style with a strong use of pattern and line. Siv’s work speaks from a traditional perspective, with references to pointillism and Impressionism. She mixes her paints from primary colours and meticulously applies them to a dark contrasting background, creating a lino print look – much like the work of printmaker Margaret Preston. Siv’s underlying love of light and the land are obvious in these stunning works that are uniquely Australian. Siv Grava is a Latvian descendant who originally studied medicine before completing a BA in Fine Arts at the Victorian College of Arts, and then a Graduate Diploma in Education at Melbourne State College. Moving to remote arid areas of South Australia in 1988, Siv worked on many art projects with regional communities. For over 40 years Siv has divided her time between community cultural development and her own studio practice. In recognition of her community work Siv was awarded an Australian Council Community Cultural Development Fellowship. Siv has exhibited widely in South Australia and interstate. She is represented in private and public collections, both in Australia and overseas, and has been short listed for many awards including The Waterhouse Natural History Art Prize and most notably the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, which she won in 1992.
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