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Brenda Gael Smith

Contemporary Textile Art

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Copa Abstractions

Copa Abstractions Catalogue

Copa Abstractions Catalogue Cover Brenda Gael Smith
This 28 page catalogue showcases the development of the Copa Abstractions project over 52 weeks. It includes inspiration images and the resulting collection of vibrant, abstract textile sketches. Order directly from Blurb.

Copa Abstractions

52 textile sketches inspired by Copacabana and environs and completed as part of a self guided Weekly Art Project.

Week #27 Blue Groper is available for sale. All other works are in private collections.

Pigface πŸ”΄
Bottlebrush πŸ”΄
Shoal πŸ”΄
Seaweed πŸ”΄
Gum Nuts πŸ”΄
Crooked Banksias πŸ”΄
Jacaranda πŸ”΄
Tumbleweed πŸ”΄
Angophora πŸ”΄
Tumbleweed II πŸ”΄
Eastern Rosella
Incoming Wave πŸ”΄
Water’s Edge πŸ”΄
Norfolk Pine πŸ”΄
Dunes πŸ”΄
Kelp πŸ”΄
Seagrass πŸ”΄
Tidelines πŸ”΄
Cool Change πŸ”΄
Dolphins πŸ”΄
Grevillea πŸ”΄
Gum Blossom πŸ”΄
Orange Gum πŸ”΄
Crimson Rosella
Flannel Flower πŸ”΄
Cockatoo Feather πŸ”΄
Rainbow Lorikeet πŸ”΄
Banksia Cone πŸ”΄
Kookaburra πŸ”΄
Galah
King Parrot
Palm Flower πŸ”΄
Blue Groper
Black Swan πŸ”΄
Cockatoo Crest πŸ”΄
Whale Tail πŸ”΄
Seaspray πŸ”΄
Banksia πŸ”΄
Tailfeather πŸ”΄
Pelican πŸ”΄
Wattle πŸ”΄
Native Fuchsia πŸ”΄
Gymea Lily πŸ”΄
Bromeliad πŸ”΄
Sunset πŸ”΄
Brush Turkey πŸ”΄
Coastal Banksia πŸ”΄
Lagoon πŸ”΄
Roots πŸ”΄
Rockpool πŸ”΄
Cordyline πŸ”΄
Pigface & Gazania πŸ”΄

Copa Abstractions: Weekly Art Project: Brenda Gael Smith

I acknowledge that I live and create on the land of the Darkinjung and Guringai people and recognise their continuing connection to this place. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all First Nations people.

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Contact

Brenda Gael Smith
Contemporary Textile Art

brenda@brendagaelsmith.com

PO Box 131, Avoca Beach
NSW 2251 Australia

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Serendipity Studio News

Sign up for periodic updates from my studio - new artwork, exhibitions, workshops, tutorials and other news

On exhibition

  • 9 November 2025 – 31 January 2026 Performance Arts Culture Cessnock
    AHEAD OF THE CURVE
  • Integrifolia #3
    26 February – 1 March 2026 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival – Hampton, Virginia
    Minimalism
Thanks to @melbmqg for hosting Abstraction in Acti Thanks to @melbmqg for hosting Abstraction in Action in Melbourne last weekend. Together we explored abstraction in concept and in practice. The resulting compositions were inspired by a range of subjects from silverware to umbrella ferns; alliums to brick walls; Melbourne skyscrapers to Egyptian ruins; artichokes to Luna Park. Such fun!

I look forward to teaching this workshop again at @quilt_symposiums_2026 There are some spaces available and I would love for you to join me!

Repost @melbmqg with @use.repost
・・・
Our MMQG group was fortunate to have Brenda Gael Smith come and spend a weekend with us, opening our minds to all the possibilities of abstraction in our textiles, art & quilting.  It was a wonderful two days of colour, shapes, lines and trying to let go of all the quilty rules we’ve been conditioned with.  Many commented on how liberating the exercises were and we look forward to seeing some of the pieces completed soon.  Thanks so much Brenda! @brendagaelsmith #abstractioninaction #textileart #modernquilting
How do you come up with new designs? My recent wor How do you come up with new designs? My recent work Elephant in the Room (40x40cm) is about difficult conversations. The underlying composition has its genesis in newspaper clippings and paper collage. It’s dynamite! πŸ’£πŸ’₯

Join me next week for my TEXTplosion Zoom Event and learn how to harness the power of paper collage to generate abstract designs. This 2-hour introductory presentation explores: fragmenting text; isolating and highlighting areas of interest; playing with enlargement, exaggeration and distortion; coalescing lines and shapes; converting 2-tone designs into colour; and digital tools. 

There are two session times on Thursday 6 August Sydney time.  Zoom #1 is in Wednesday afternoon US/Canada time and Zoom #2 is on Thursday morning UK/Europe time.

Booking link in my profile. I will share a set of resources and the recording will be available for 30 days. πŸ’£πŸ’₯

#TEXTplosion! #brendagaelsmithworkshop
Join me on Zoom for TEXTplosion! Book online for: Join me on Zoom for TEXTplosion! Book online for:

 πŸ’£ TEXTplosion Zoom 1: 6-8am Thursday 6 August (Sydney time)
 πŸ’£TEXTplosion Zoom 2: 7-9pm Thursday 6 August (Sydney time)

Harness the power of paper collage to generate abstract designs. This 2-hour introductory presentation explores: fragmenting text; isolating and highlighting areas of interest; playing with enlargement, exaggeration and distortion; coalescing lines and shapes; converting 2-tone designs into colour; and digital tools. Zoom 1 is in Wednesday afternoon US/Canada time and Zoom 2 is on Thursday morning UK/Europe time. Includes 30 day access to the recording.

#brendagaelsmithworkshop #learnwithbrenda
Thanks to @peppermintpatcher and @the.skyelife for Thanks to @peppermintpatcher and @the.skyelife for sending me photos from β€œOpposites”, the @saqaart Oceania Regional exhibition currently on display at the Craft & Quilt Fair at Darling Harbour in Sydney until tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 18 July).

Night and day are often framed as opposites: darkness and light, moonlight and sunshine, rest and activity, asleep and awake. However, night and day can also be viewed as interdependent forces in a continuous cycle. Each defines and deepens the other. Day brings outward motion, visibility and engagement, while night offers inwardness, reflection and renewal. Together they create a
rhythm of life. Night and day function as a continuous pulse,reminding us that balance is not found in opposition but in the steady movement between them. 

#brendagaelsmithart #nightandday

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