Tender Waters is a collection of paintings made over time and in quiet observation of pristine waterways around my home on the Mornington Peninsula, Boon Wurrung and Bunurong lands, and extending to the east coast of Australia. Throughout my artistic practice, life-giving water has been a recurring theme, offering an archetypal feminine expression of the landscape. The places in these landscapes reflect personal histories, and where I sit in deep listening and observation of bird and animal movements; a kind of rewilding of the self.  ​ These living elements weave themselves into the artwork, either as symbolic motifs or integral narrative threads. In doing so, I seek to underline the profound interdependence between creatures and landscapes and the ongoing impact of colonisation of the land and climatic events. Still, an element of playfulness infuses the creation of these artworks, evident in whimsical details, such as the placement of stars or flowers within my compositions. The subject matter in Tender waters includes the juxtaposition of pristine rivers marred by weeds post-Black Summer fires, ephemeral ponds flourishing with marsh flowers and damselflies following the La Niña rains, and the graceful, yet peculiar presence of Black Swans floating beyond the shoreline on Warn’Marrin. The paintings in this exhibition delve into the subtle interplay of light, atmosphere, and the ever-shifting climatic forces that leave their mark on the landscape. Ultimately, my art is a reflection of my curiosity and reverence for the natural world and its interconnectedness, inviting viewers to contemplate their own relationship with the environment. Bio Sarah Bell is a painter who lives and works from Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula,Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts and a Postgraduate Diploma of Education from Monash University.  Sarah worked as an art educator for 14 years, specialising in inquiry-based pedagogy until transitioning to her art practice, full-time from 2018. Sarah continues to apply an inquiry-based approach into her artistic process and studio practices. Sarah has held four solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions. She was a finalist in the Lens Mist Awards, St. Kevin’s Art Award and Omnia Art Prize. Sarah recently curated the group show In Land, presenting five artists’ diverse approaches to the landscape, Little Oberon Gallery in 2023. She has a loyal following of collectors across Mornington Peninsula, throughout Australia and overseas. Sarah is a regular exhibitor in the Salon at & Gallery Australia, Sorrento where she participated in the 2022 group show, Scape at & Gallery, Federation Square pop-up, Melbourne. ​ Tender Waters is Sarah Bell’s debut solo show at &Gallery Australia and continues from 23rd March to 14th April.