Oenone Hammersley’s art is a vivid celebration of nature, deeply rooted in her fascination with landscapes, wildlife, and the fragile beauty of the world. Renowned for her rainforest and wildlife paintings, Hammersley’s work offers a blend of realism and abstract forms that captures the complexity of the natural environment. Her journey as an artist began in 1980, leading her to showcase her art across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Australia.
During her three-year stay in Tanzania, Hammersley immersed herself in the region’s wildlife, creating paintings that capture the vibrancy and essence of African fauna. Her process often involves various paint pouring techniques, resulting in dynamic, textured pieces that echo the movement of water and natural rhythms. With two coats of resin applied to each piece, her work exudes a lustrous finish that invites viewers to explore each painting’s depths. Hammersley’s art isn’t only about beauty—it’s a call for conservation.
Here is the artist’s interview.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process differs for each painting depending on what I want to achieve. I use several paint pouring methods all of which have different outcomes. Some create rings and some create bubbles or cells. Mostly I want to create a dynamic painting that catches the eye and draws the viewer in to look at it in depth. I use pink and yellow colors to evoke the movement through water and white bubbles or cells that pop through the blues and greens and gives a sense of flowing rapidly. I finish my work with two coats of resin which creates an incredibly lustrous finish.
Do any personal experiences shape your work?
I am greatly concerned about the overfishing and pollution of the ocean. I donate regularly to the ocean cleanup project and Ocean Conservancy. I have done a series of paintings depicting a collage of found objects and trash on the beaches and in the ocean that I hope will encourage people to stop using plastic.
What challenges do you face as an artist?
The biggest challenge I face as an artist is that the artworld is highly competitive, which makes it difficult to stand out and gain recognition. The cost of showing in art fairs is extremely expensive and this I find challenging as well.
What do you want people to feel when they see your art?
I want people to feel uplifted and moved in some way when they see my artwork. I want them to be drawn in to look more closely at the paintings and of course to by them.
Oenone Hammersley’s art invites viewers to experience the natural world through her eyes. Her dedication to conservation and her innovative techniques combine to create works that are both visually striking and thought-provoking. From her paintings inspired by Tanzania’s wildlife to her series highlighting ocean pollution, Hammersley’s art is a testament to her passion for nature and her commitment to its protection. Her hope is to inspire others to appreciate the beauty of our world and consider their role in preserving it. Hammersley’s artistic journey continues, driven by a desire to evoke wonder and awareness through her creations.
