Exploring Abstract with April Psonis
An invitation to pause and question preconceived notions of beauty and power, April Psonis creates art that abstracts the human form to capture the essence of female empowerment.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Jeremy Wright, SIBU Gallery & April Psonis
April Psonis in her Melbourne studio space. Photo: Jeremy Wright. Hero photos: April Psonis
From Left: Elbows on the Table #2 and Balance by April Psonis. Photo: Courtesy of SIBU Gallery
“With its magnificent curves, inherent strength, and ability to create life, I aim to capture the essence of female empowerment.”
Detail of Balance by April Psonis. Photo: April Psonis
‘It’s so hard to juggle being a mum and finding time to be creative as I find it hard to just “turn it on” – it doesn’t feel natural when I schedule time to paint, I really have to be feeling it.’ Photo: Courtesy of SIBU Gallery
Born and raised in Tasmania and now Melbourne-based, April Psonis works with oil pastels, acrylics and heavy bodied texture paste on canvas to create abstract portraits of the human form.
With creativity embedded deep within the generations of her family, April began making art from a young age; drawing and painting from as early as she can remember before picking up various commissions over the years and then taking the leap to pursue her passion as a full-time career.
‘After having my daughter, I soon realised that returning to work would have to be in something I was truly passionate about and that fulfilled my creative bones,’ says April. ‘It has been a very slow burn, but I like how that has shaped my style and direction,’ she adds.
April’s style has developed and evolved organically throughout the course of her career as an artist. While her original style was focussed predominantly on realism, her paintings today show semi- abstract observations that challenge the ordinary and draw on a diverse range of influences but are mainly inspired by the female form.
‘I invite viewers to pause, and question preconceived notions of beauty and power, to challenge marginalisation’s and societal constraints,’ explains April. ‘My artistic representation of the female form seeks to redefine femininity to exist unapologetically and boldly.’
April’s artistic focus on the female form became more poignant following the birth of her daughter, where she felt somewhat of a loss of creative identity. ‘When I picked up the brush again, I found a new love for it,’ she reflects. ‘It was a different feeling to what I had felt before; like a new release... like I wasn’t trying so hard.
Gathering inspiration each day from sculpture, interiors, art and food, April’s process begins with an idea and takes off when she feels a sense of enthusiasm that sparks her creative momentum. ‘Once I get that feeling of excitement for a concept I’ve been developing in my mind, it just flows,’ she says. ‘I just have the concept and colour palette in my mind and hope that it translates on canvas.’
Eschewing trends in favour of painting subject matter that appeals to her personally and holds a sense of emotional gravitas, April reflects on some of her greatest lessons as an artist. ‘Previously, I was trying to create works that would sell [...] I’m not sure what it was that changed in my way of thinking, but I just stopped trying so hard. I became freer in my style and just started painting what I liked and what I thought was important — I think this now really shows in my work.’
April is currently exhibiting a full body of work as part of her solo show at Sibu Gallery, in Sydney. Visit April’s or the SIBU Gallery website to learn more about the exhibition.