Creative Advisor
Gillian Mager
Nature and the outdoors are where Gillian finds solace and herself. She loves the bush, its sights, sounds, smells, colours, and endless details that reflect a Master Creator. Wildlife photography was her first passion, but art photography has opened up new creative possibilities, alongside a growing love of painting in oils, acrylics, mixed media and encaustic. Trees have become a favourite subject, she never tires of their majesty and mystery, how they are shaped by the seasons and emerge more beautiful and full of character. She loves to touch and feel the textures of nature, marvelling at the colours and shapes in things we take for granted: rocks, leaves, bark, flowers, animals and birds. Art photography is her therapy, joy and challenge, and it has taught her to see the world in more depth, detail, emotion and colour.
Showcase
Seven pieces, and what is behind them
Click on the artwork to see it larger, and read Gillian’s own description of each piece.
Work 01
Roots give Life
Our roots ground us, give us stability, nurture us and so enable us to produce beauty which radiates to everything around us. Seasons of hardship and plenty all combine to shape the final outcome and make the beauty unique. A combination of acrylic painting, painted textures and photographed natural textures and subjects.
Work 02
Wild and free
"Running free" attempts to capture space, light and motion all interacting to create a feeling of freedom, warmth, strength and hope. A multimedia piece involving ICM, bleaching, encaustic and gold leaf.
Work 03
Gentle Giant
How do you capture the essence of these magnificent creatures? Elephants are a paradox of quiet gentle spirit and devastating strength and destruction. They have strong family bonds and they say, a memory of those that have gone before them. Their size is breathtaking up close, they can move in silence despite their massive weight and their trunks are used with intricate dexterity. Beautiful, gentle giants with tough textured hides offering endless hours of fascination and study. This image is a memory of one emerging from the shadows into the light. A combination of photography and physical paint textures and overlay portray a sense of mystery and veiled strength.
Work 04
Karoo winter
The contrasting colours of cool blue skies and warm golden grass are part of the stark beauty of winter in the Karoo.The crunch of the golden grass in the frost, combined with the needling cold is a reminder of the harsh side of this beauty. This oil on board study, captures early morning light in this beautiful and challenging part of the country. The windmill stands proud, a diminishing reminder of a bygone era
Work 05
Autumn mood
Autumn mood is a gentle embrace of the seasons quiet arrival. Two treees, tinged with russet amber and faded gol stand like sentinel in a softly lit landscape. Theri branches blur slightly into the pale sky, as if colours themselves are drifting into the breeze. A mist of green and ochre in the foreground suggests fields beginning to turn, while distant foliage echoes the deepening tones of Autumn. Rendered with a delicate, watercolour like softness, the painting captures the transince of cahnge, where summers edge fades and autumn whispers its arrival. The mood is still, relective and warm, a celebration of the beautyfound in letting go.
Work 06
Companions
The freedom of being nearly alone, but not lonely. The knowing that an ever faithful companion is never far. An unconditional love, constant and ernest. A Salty breeze brushes your face, warm sun kisses your cheek, cool water rushes over your feet awakening your senses and grounding you in the present, Yet your mind is able to drift; plans form and disappear, memories pop in and out of consciousness and sense is made of it all in the quiet ebb and flow of the minds moods. This image combining pinhole photography and ICM was bleached and rephotographed to capture the soft embrace of Peace and the refreshing of the senses from a long walk on the beach.
Work 07
The Alpha
Ever alert and on the trot, the Alpha never misses an opportunity to strike if given a chance. Eyes on the prize, head goes down and the chase begins. Rapid chatter of communication positions the back-up and send alerts to the position of the prey. Teamwork and combined effort ensure positive outcomes in hunting and nurturing of young. These "painted dogs" are a masterpiece of agility and athletiscism. They have a strong sense of respect and responsibility, caring for older members of the pack when they cannot fend for themselves. This image, a blend of photography and physical textures and colour, aims to reflect the multifaceted dynamic of these extraordinary canines.
In her own words
How Gillian got here
Nature and the Outdoors are where I find solace and Myself.
I love the bush, it feeds my soul! The sights, sounds, smells, colours and endless details reflect a Master Creator,
Although wildlife photography was my main passion, Art Photography has opened up a world of creative possibilities. I have also developed a love of painting- oils, acrylic, mixed media and encaustic all included.
Trees have become a favourite subject, I never tire of their majesty, changing moods and mystery, how they are bent and shaped by the seasons and emerge more beautiful and full of character than before.
I love to touch and feel the textures of things in Nature and marvel at the myriad of colours and shapes in the things we take for granted: rocks, leaves, bark, flowers, animals, birds etc.
Art photography for me is therapy, joy, fellowship, relaxation, challenge and so much more. Through my art photography journey I have learnt to see the world in more depth, more detail, more emotion and more colour. I am richer for it.
The path she took
She finished the Masterclass
Gillian completed every workshop in the programme. It begins with Getting Started in Art Photography, which is where all of this starts.
Look at Getting StartedThe others
Eighteen more artists
Every creative advisor came the same way, and each one has a page of their own with the work they make now.
See all the creative advisorsGillian’s creative journey began with just one course
Every artist on these pages started at the same place, unsure whether any of it would come to anything. Getting Started in Art Photography is where that begins.
Begin your journey in fine art photography