Art of putting pen to paper

Thirroul artist Frances Paterson thinks handwriting is underrated in our culture.

FEW people would consider their handwriting art, but Thirroul artist Frances Paterson believes there is more beauty in shopping lists and journal entries than people realise.

Ms Paterson is currently holding her first exhibition, which is built around the theme of handwriting, at Vision and Space Studio Gallery in Austinmer.

She said her own enjoyment of handwriting has led her to consider the difference between how our culture views handwriting as opposed to others.

“I've been thinking about it and in our culture we use handwriting as a form of identity (and) we often use handwriting in terms of information, like making notes in lectures,” she said.

“In other cultures, Chinese culture for example, calligraphy is seen as a very high art form.”

Ms Paterson said the process of writing, even in Australian culture, is actually very artistic.

“There's this kind of slow movement and rhythm and energy in handwriting,” she said.

The artistic exploits of Ms Paterson include both music and visual art, but in recent years she has been concentrating on the visual side of things.

She said her attraction to art is more about the process than the product.

“I just think it's so fun to make things, and making things is just a lovely thing to do,” she said.

“It's kind of a little jump into the unknown because you are not really in control.

“You have to make the jump and then live with the results in a way because you don't always make something you like.

“We live in a very over-determined busy world and (making art is) is kind of a different place to be in.”

Ms Paterson's exhibition is called Ericture, and the official opening will take place tomorrow night at 6pm.

The opening hours of the exhibition are Friday to Sunday 11pm to 4pm and it will run through until Friday, October 26.

The works use pastel, collage, wax, washes, charcoal and even sand to create a variety of visual effects.