We acknowledge the Kaurna, First Nations People of the Adelaide Plains, who are the traditional custodians of the land upon which Cerulean Studio is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and recognise the history, culture and spirituality of all First Nations Peoples.
‘More than a Muse’
Celebrate with us at our Opening Event 27th July 2.30-5.00pm.
Open 3rd, 9th and 10th August 2025, 11 am - 4 pm.
Special SALA More than a Muse life drawing event: Saturday 2nd August 2.30 pm - 5.00 pm. Bookings essential.
Our Artists.
Alex McLachlan-Kambuts | Anastasia Benveniste | Catherine Mackenzie | Elliot Mackenzie | Gemma Harvey | Jenny Cariotis | Kelly Spiers | Liz Baker | Nazanin Khani | Richard Dall
More than a Muse Project
‘More than a Muse’ intentionally disrupts the historical master (artist)/ muse (model) power relationship that has persisted within the Western canon of art for centuries. The project offers an alternative approach to the ways in which life models, and the artists who draw or paint them, might navigate the model-artist relationship in contemporary times.
Reinterpreting the classical Greek Nine Muses, the muses are the holders of knowledge and make the decisions about what knowledge may be shared with artist-participants. Models direct and choreograph their session/s, including venue set-up, activities/poses and timings. Sessions are based on the models’ life stories, passions, knowledge or expertise beyond life modelling, to be interpreted by the artists. Each session is unique and may involve storytelling, movement, poetry, making, costume or musical performance. Models who were involved in co-designing the project curated Cerulean Studio’s 2025 SALA exhibition of works .
The SALA exhibition includes objects, texts, audio and moving image provided by the models and works by artists created during, or from, their participation in life drawing at Cerulean Studio.
We are showcasing the project at a More than a Muse life drawing event on Saturday 2nd August, 2.30 pm - 5.00 pm.
Artist statements
Alex McLachlan-Kambuts
Alex Mclachlan-Kambuts is an emerging artist from Adelaide, South Australia working across many mediums with a preference towards oil painting. Alex is inspired by nature, the play of light, and the shape, form and colour relationships that he sees in his everyday life and horticultural endeavours. Alex captures the essence of the subject whether figurative, landscape, or abstract. His main aim is to engage the viewer for more than 8 seconds hopefully provoking a response or reaction.
Many artists say that creating can be an isolating endeavour, however Alex has found it to be the opposite. Art transcends, gender, sexuality, age, and race, and can connect people from all walks of life. Alex continues to try different mediums, and experiments with different ideas, and he is continually learning, changing and evolving, attending workshops, courses and painting in groups. Art for Alex is not a static thing, and he loves the idea that there is always a new challenge out there for him.
Anastasia Benveniste
Anastasia typically works to a large scale, finding comfort in the persistence and commitment of creating intensely detailed abstract works. She is heavily influenced by natural elements such as marble and flora.
Highlights in Anastasia’s artistic journey include studying a semester of fine arts at Yale University and participating in local South Australian exhibitions. Anastasia is the 2023 winner of the Unley Connections art prize.
Cello
This piece endeavours to capture the elegance of a cello played by a Cerulean muse for the artists while they drew. Rendered in a realistic style, the drawing echoes the classical nature of the cello and its music. The unique experience encouraged the artist to reflect on creative expression beyond purely 2D mediums.
Catherine Mackenzie
Catherine is the owner of Cerulean Studio and initiated the More than a Muse project following conversations with models about her discomfort with the master/muse relationship. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Visual Art at Adelaide Central School of Art. Catherine finds great fulfilment in experimenting with art as a form of social and political expression.
Elliot Mackenzie
In late 2020, I starting making pastries for a small cafe in the Adelaide hills. This led to studying patisserie at TAFE and starting my own small batch bakery called Gordi Babka. One thing I learnt about myself in these three years is that I love working with my hands. In 2022, I was introduced to pottery and I found that working with clay is quite similar to dough, only gluten free.
Meanwhile, my mother (Catherine Mackenzie) had been tutoring life drawing for a few years and I decided to try it. I love the technique of building shape upon shape until there is a basic figure, and then adding tone and colour to create an illusion of a 3D form. So, in essence, I approach life drawing like I would a hand-built clay sculpture.
Gemma Harvey
Gemma started attending life drawing at Cerulean Studio with a group of friends having never tried it before! She has been enjoying learning new techniques and challenges since early 2024 and particularly likes creating abstract, gestural and expressive drawings.
Jenny Cariotis
I returned to study Visual Arts at the age of 40. Life took hold for the first four decades and it was time I pursued my passion. I've enjoyed watching and observing people from a distance from early childhood and often would have a sketch pad and pencil on many occasions. I would sit on a bench or in a cafe in Rundle Mall and draw people or objects of interest. I would go to the State Gallery every Sunday and admire the beautiful paintings that I wished that one day I would create.
I began drawing when I was still in primary school and would often be accused of tracing by my teachers, which was very upsetting. I loved to draw, so that's what I proved after being detained after school.
My creative side was, and has been, a large part of my mental health throughout my life. Figurative subjects are of major importance with what I produce, whether in oil or acrylic paint, charcoal or sculpture. The artistic training whilst achieving my Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts, allowed me to perceive the world in a different way. I have found that Art is a learning process you never tire from. Techniques, colour mixing, layering and application varies with every stroke you apply to the surface of your art piece. Sketching is a wonderful way to preserve references. Art allows me to represent my inner self. We are all creative in different ways but being a visual person allows a lasting memory for what I have created.
Kelly Spiers
Kelly is an emerging, multidisciplinary artist backed by a BA Fine Arts from The National Art School and various short course and classes. Kelly enjoys to learn, engage and share knowledge but life drawing has always been central to her art practice.
Lizabella Baker
Lizabella has a vivid, bold approach to her art practice. Her work captures the essence of expressive movement inspired by her background in flamenco dance. She specializes in painting and drawing using a variety of mixed media. She is a passionate and experienced art educator who takes great joy in guiding students to reach their creative goals. Lizabella is joining us as a tutor for our upcoming French Village Art and Culture Immersion experience in September.
Nazanin Mohammadkhani
Nazanin is an award-winning designer and artist known for her innovative approach and talent for storytelling, skilfully transforming ideas into impactful designs and artworks that inspire. Nazanin’s journey into the world of art began at the age of 8, inspired by her mother who valued her interest in painting on her bedroom walls and empty pages of her school books. This early exposure to professional drawing and perspective laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors. Her passion for art and design eventually led her to teach at prestigious Universities of Art and Architecture in Iran.
Richard Dall
Richard works in black and white and has an interest in mark making and line, and in telling a story, which reflects his career as a cartoonist and book illustrator. His work has been published worldwide and he is currently represented by Cartoonstock.com. He has recently gone back to the discipline of drawing from life and is enjoying and energised by the challenge.
