Raylene Coleman

Raylene Coleman was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia in 1981. She lived and grew up in Tjuntjuntjara, where she learned to become an artist from a young age. As an adult, Raylene worked at the Anangu school in Yalata before moving to Ceduna where she currently lives and works. Creating predominantly acrylic on canvas paintings, her work is inspired by the stories and art works of her elders, who taught her the specific mark making and brush stroke techniques she uses. She learned through observation, spending many hours as a young child with her elders while they painted. Another source of inspiration Raylene draws from is Country, the blowing sand, riverbeds, spinifex grass growing on sand dunes that are moving in the wind, and bush tucker. Raylene expresses her sense of wellbeing that is generated through her arts: “I feel relaxed when I paint and if I go on Country, looking at the place. Then I think of the Elders, dream time, and how the old people showed me places like rock holes and spinifex. Seeing these places. I want to pain these places and tell stories about them.” Raylene is interested in additional art techniques such as artefact making from wood and textiles.