Diane Groenewegen
Artist and Collector
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I am inspired by all the ephemera I have collected over the last 40 years. Collecting is an important aspect of my being - I have always done this. Starting early from tiny scraps of fabric from my mother's dressmaking to beetles wings found after the Christmas season. As a small child I imagined the beautiful creations I wanted to make from these precious objects.

There are fabrics, lace, buttons, costumes, aprons, braids, wooden cotton reels and lots more. From the simple and domestic to the precious and unusual. The idea of transforming these objects into a new art form gives me no end of pleasure and feeling of accomplishment. Giving new life to something that has been cast aside. The collections are my inspiration as well as the materials I use to create with.

I endeavour to capture a 'look', a 'feel' or an 'atmosphere' from the past or from my imagination.

The use of pattern and colour really interests me - as can seen in ancient costumes, embroideries, printed & woven cloth and in architectural detail.

I enjoy printmaking - I love the repetitive nature and developing of a pattern from printmaking. I first discovered this at high school and went on to do my major work for the leaving certificate in screen printing. (I still have this printed cloth from 1962!)

After school I studied at the National Art School and specialised in screen printing and design. Later in the mid 1970's I studied art education at Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education.

I love to teach and inspire others. To help them to find their own images and ideas and to have confidence to make their mark. For over 40 years I have taught in primary and high schools, colleges, quilt and textile groups and museums.

I am happy to travel anywhere in Australia to teach. Classes include "Gold, gold, gold - fabric embellishment", "Foils", "Vintage fabric collage" and "Printmaking". For more detail please email me.

These artworks are some of the themes of my work over the years.