For Ivana Pinaffo, painting is a way of expressing her thoughts and emotions.
Since she was an infant, the Hoppers Crossing artist has used art to discover who she is and better understand her feelings.
“I love to see a white canvas come alive with colour and emotion,” she says.
“It brings me back to my childhood [in North Africa].”
Pinaffo is inviting people to explore and experience her work during an exhibition,
open from this Friday until May 25, at Altona’s Louis Joel Gallery.
Lasting Impressions will also showcase the work of four other western suburbs artists: Shirley Fisher, Felicity Nicholls, Karin Zeller and Virginia Coghill.
Pinaffo says the exhibition is an opportunity for residents to support local artists.
“We all have different styles and use different mediums,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful exhibition and is a great chance for people to view our art, talk to us and buy our work.”
Pinaffo begin painting full-time about 20 years ago after enrolling in folk art lessons.
She began teaching art classes a few years later, wanting to pass her knowledge on to others.
“As a child I spent lots of time painting and drawing, but I stopped when I moved to Australia at 18. About 20 years ago I wanted to learn about different mediums so I started lessons and it developed from there.”
Pinaffo says she gets her inspiration from the world around her, viewing “everything as inspiration”.
>> The exhibition at 5 Sargood Street, Altona, is open from 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, and 11am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday.
