What's On Calendar
Creative Artisans - Featured artist for March 2025
Tuesday, 01 April 2025
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Lydia Kovacs
Since childhood Lydia has always loved painting, drawing, colouring-in, and doing various craft projects. Being employed as a Draftsperson for 9 years further honed her hand drawing skills, though painting then took a back seat. It wasn’t until Lydia moved to Ballina in 1997 that she finally gave in to her creative urge to paint and she has basically painted every day since. Painting in Acrylics was her favourite medium, until she discovered Watercolours in 2017.
Lydia has her own style; however, her painting continues to evolve and is largely inspired by the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. Light, Shadow and Movement, currently hold her attention. Painting is something she feels she needs to do, a spiritual practice that is healing and sustaining for her. She feels that it nourishes her soul, enriches her life, and is part of her healing journey.
Lydia Kovacs has been a member of Ballina Arts and Crafts Incorporated (BACCI) since it’s early days, and joined Ballina Art Society in 2024. She has sold and exhibited her paintings locally since 1997, with group showings and Solo Exhibitions. Lydia was featured Artist of the Month at the Artisan Gallery in Ballina, for March 2022 and October 2023. She has received Highly Commended awards at Bentley and Ocean Shores in 2019, the North Coast National – Tursa Art Prize 2023 and 2024 and 2nd place, a 1st place and Best in Show in the Ballina Art Society’s Exhibition 2024.
Helen Mary Dunn
As a young girl growing up in North Queensland, Helen accompanied her aunt to CWA where she learnt various crafts. Influenced by the surrounding environment, her love of colour, tropical fauna and flora grew. This appreciation was then incorporated into various handmade crafts.
Over the years she developed talents ranging from macrame, sewing, creating greeting cards and jewellery, silversmithing and gem cutting. Helen went on to enter her creations in Art & Craft shows and selling at markets in Queensland and New South Wales.
Over the years she developed talents ranging from macrame, sewing, creating greeting cards and jewellery, silversmithing and gem cutting. Helen went on to enter her creations in Art & Craft shows and selling at markets in Queensland and New South Wales.
After moving to Ballina in 2010, she experimented more with mixed media using many different materials she had collected over the years. Creating new projects gave her a great reason to unearth hidden treasures, try new techniques and allow serendipity to work its magic.
Helen has refined her skills to create wire-worked suncatchers and small sculptures using copper wire, with Swarovski crystals, Czech Republic glass beads, semi-precious gemstones, Japanese seed beads and unique handmade beads. Helen’s use of Swarovski crystal catch the light giving a sense of joy.
Helen also creates themed greeting cards to complement her wire and bead creations, using various techniques and materials for a unique fun look.
You can find out more about the gallery HERE