About Natural Fantasy

Natural Fantasy

Natural Fantasy

New Zealand pastel artist Carol Banner


Carol is mainly influenced by the Art Nouveau era which was largely based on nature and natural shapes and forms. The work of M.C.Escher has also had a big influence. His sense of design, use of space, perspective and mathematics was truly innovative, along with his mixture of fantasy, distortion and metamorphosis. The foundation for Carol's work is nature with slight variations so anything different appeals to her, hence the name for her work "Natural Fantasy".

Carol's greatest source of inspiration is nature, with its myriad shapes and textures. Dead and dying plant forms often have a distinct beauty of their own which is frequently overlooked. Patterns and colours in deteriorating man-made products also have an unusual beauty which does not escape her eye. "I have always been influenced by the graceful style of Art Nouveau, with the work of Alphonse Mucha, Christopher Dresser and Rene Lalique having a particular appeal.

Carol Banner

Carol Banner

"This style, with its curvilinear lines, symmetrical and asymmetrical forms and designs, was largely based on nature. Discovering M.C.Escher opened a whole new world for me. His sense of design, use of space, perspective and mathematics was truly innovative, along with his mixture of fantasy, distortion and metamorphosis. I also admire the work of Rodney Matthews. His use of colour, semi-abstract insects and plant forms is quite amazing. Once again, nature taken to extremes."

Carol has mainly been working with pencil and pastel for the past few years, although she is also skilled in other media. Future plans include combining printmaking with drawing and design. In her view, "A different way of looking at things, either due to mood, insomnia or shortsightedness, in various combinations usually helps produce new ideas." The title Natural Fantasy derives from nature, her inspiration, and is also the name of her Internet website. Carol was the Director of her own Katz Gallery in Carterton for several years. The Gallery hosted more than 18 exhibitions in that time.


3D online gallery

Past Work

2011 Solo exhibition 'Diversity' at Aratoi Gallery Masterton Mar - May   
2008 Merit Award at National Pastel Exhibition in Auckland   
2008 Merit Award at National Pastel Exhibition in Stratford   
2007 Opened Katz Gallery in Carterton   
2006 Highly Commended & Merit at National Pastel Exhibition.   
2005 Winner in Purely Pastel National Art Exhibition in Upper Hutt   
2005 Finalist in Cranleigh Barton Drawing Award   
2005 Solo Exhibition at Roar Gallery in Wellington   
2005 Solo Exhibition at Prime Art Space in Masterton   
2004 Mother & Daughter Exhibition in Hastings   
2004 People's Choice Award in Masterton Multi Media Art Awards   
2003 Solo Exhibition at Naxos Art Exhibits in Wellington   
2002 Solo Exhibition at McPhee Gallery in Carterton   
2001 Natural Fantasy Exhibition in Masterton   
2001 Commended Award at Golden C'Art National Art Exhibition   
2000 Printmaking and Illustration   
1999 Guest Artist at Otane Annual Exhibition   
1999 Design Basics (with Merit)   


Other Work

2012 Title page image, Eyes On: Landscapes.   
2012 Title page image, Eyes On: Abstracts.   
2012 Selected for "International Contemporary Artists" art book, vol. IV.   
2011 Feat. artist: Best of Worldwide charcoal pastel & pencil artists Vol 2   

Contact

Website address here: