http://childpsychiatryassociates.com/treatment-team/sheila-pottebaum/

Since 1978 I’ve been painting abstract pieces. My work is contemporary and eclectic, and usually takes the distinct style called neo-abstract expressionism. More recently, I’ve become devoted to working on large canvas pieces, painted with either acrylic or oils. These pieces enable a multi-dimensional framework, drawing in the observer, rather than an image being viewed from outside. I like to think of my abstract works as reflective of an observer’s ideas and emotions. Most of my abstract works are inspired from hypnagogic states I often experience (The hypnagogic experience occurs between being awake and asleep,) and take non-conventional abstract structures, often devoid of form, that are designed to challenge artistic symbolism and archetypes. It also follows, that my abstract work has an inherit deconstruction to its imagery, as well as shape, and form are non-recognisable in the conventional sense.

Sometimes I chose a theme: gender, politics, art, beauty, cosmology, or other subjects, and improvise the vision while painting, allowing the work and my vision to mould into its own synthesis. It is this symbiosis that releases those hypnagogic images in an almost unconscious manner. I see great inspiration in the physical nature of our existence, but embrace a quantum ideology: that observing my work, whilst creating it, I’m in a sense bringing it into existence, yet its final form is unknown to me until I observe the completed work. Additionally, my work is both the product of my skill and the physical laws of nature. I usually work on two or more pieces concurrently; sometimes with the same theme, reflecting similar or opposing ideas in each work. Often I chose works that have important themes, as I adhere to the concept that it is Art’s responsibility is to inspire thought towards a resolution of key issues.

On the other hand my photographic work is usually brightly coloured and offers an optimistic view of the subject, and in many cases most of my personal photographic work is self-portraiture. Conversely, some of my recent photographic work is concerned with dissecting recognisable and accepted conventional symbolism, with the intention to reassessing the validity of these conventions. I have worked full time as a professional designer for over 15 years, and have won many design awards for my digital work. Yet I see my abstract paintings as genuinely original and more significant, while my digital work is often more commercial in nature.

Estelle started painting abstract pieces from early childhood and while at Wollongong University, started creating large canvases. Her first solo exhibition was at Wollongong Regional Art Gallery, (now called the Wollongong City Gallery). During her varied career Estelle continued to paint and exhibit, and while living in Japan also exhibited at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum as part of the UNESCO International Friendship Exhibition in 1991. Estelle also started the Tokyo Eki (train station) Exhibition, displaying and selling her work in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Tokyo.

Estelle was also involved in group shows in Los Angeles, at the Los Angeles Center For Digital Art LACDA. Since returning to Australia, Estelle has continued to exhibit in both solo exhibitions in Sydney and country NSW, as well as in group shows, one example is the Redfern Artist Group. Her work has been exhibited in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Melbourne, Sydney and regional NSW. Estelle has had numerous solo shows and participated in over 100 group shows, and her art website details some of her work at ‘Abstract Artist’. In 2010 Estelle published her first art book, entitled: “Transience”, which is available at most larger bookstores, such as Barnes and Noble and online at Amazon and other retailers including the iTunes Store.