Australian Designers
Charmaine Brown, skin name Napurrurla, was born in 1981 and has always been a resident of Lajamanu.
Napurrurla has created a strong body of work over more than a decade, and continues to paint when her health permits. Her colour choice is bold and bright, a reflection of her gentle and delightful personality.
Employing an array of dots and expressive colours, Napurrurla often explores her traditional Jukurrpa (Dreaming) as well as her Christian faith, which is an important attribute of her character.
Napurrurla’s work previously achieved the highest sale price at the 2014 Arts Law Fundraising Auction.
Artwork – Budgerigar Dreaming
‘Ngatijirri’ are small, bright green birds with yellowish foreheads that are native to central Australia and Tanami desert region. They are commonly seen in the areas surrounding Lajamanu and are known affectionately by locals as ‘showoffs’ for the energetic and playful nature of their flight.
Traditionally, men would hunt for ‘ngatijirri’ nests, robbing them of eggs and juvenile birds, which are both considered delicacies. The men would also hunt for adult flying ‘ngatijirri’, which they would kill by swinging branches, killing sticks or ‘karli’ (boomerangs) to hit the birds in flight.
In the Dreamtime, whenever the flock of ancestral ‘ngatijirri’ landed, they would perform ceremonies, then sing and dance as they flew before nesting in the trees. The sites of these ceremonies are depicted in the paintings of this Dreaming (Jukurrpa) as concentric circles, while cross-like shapes depict the footprints of the birds on the ground. It also indicates the large scale of ‘ngatijirri’ flocks that fly throughout the Tanami. After strong rains, ‘ngatijirri’ will often successfully breed several times in a short period, resulting in an explosion of the population. They will fly from tree to tree in search of food for their young, who nest in hollow trees.
Custodians for the Ngatijirri Jukurrpa are Napaljarri/Nungarrayi women and Japaljarri/Jungarrayi men.
Ngatijirri Jukurrpa – Budgerigar Dreaming, 2014 © Charmaine Napurrurla Brown/Licensed by Copyright Agency, 2023
Jocelyn Proust is an Australian designer who has established an international reputation for creating striking abstract prints in a clean graphic style. Bold use of colour is the signature element in Jocelyn’s designs and is always the starting point for her creative process. Her designs are often a fine balance between simplicity and complex detail.
Jocelyn often draws inspiration from her natural environment. From observing, photographing and drawing plants and birds in her garden, she uses these natural elements to create unique designs.
Jocelyn is now widely recognised for her Australian Native Flora and Australian Birds Collections.
Pattern – Banksia Pods Design
I have always been fascinated by the Banksia in all its stages of life, and have used it many times in my designs. The Banksia Pods design was inspired by the woody pods remaining after the Banksia has bloomed. I wanted to show the contrast of the bold earthy shapes of the pods with the flowing leaves to create an interesting and unique design.
JOCELYN PROUST DESIGNS™ is a trademark of Jocelyn Proust Designs, used under license. © Jocelyn Proust Designs All rights reserved.