Exhibited at the GIA Network event are the paintings of Eleonora Tonnarelli, an artist who made a bold change in her life by choosing to follow her instincts.
“I was under immense stress in a job that, in reality, only interested me up to a certain point,” she admitted, “I was about to turn thirty and I thought, ‘That’s enough, I’m taking a few months for myself to paint, to work on my style.’
“I deserved it.”
That was Tonnarelli, a physics graduate turned painter, describing the pivotal moment she decided to abandon a “safe” path and instead indulge the inner voice urging her to pursue what she’d always loved: painting.
It was in Australia, far from home and amid the upheaval of the pandemic, that she found herself questioning what she truly wanted to do with her life.
“Painting has always been there for me,” she shared, “As a child, I’d beg my parents to enrol me in drawing classes.
“Whenever I was bored, I’d create things with my hands. But then you grow up. High school, university - it starts to feel like art isn’t a viable path. So, I put it all aside for years.”
Yet whenever she had free time, Tonnarelli continued refining her skills, taking courses and always returning to the idea of dedicating herself to what she loved most.
Arriving in Australia for the first time in 2019, she immersed herself in the country’s natural beauty, travelling solo in a camper van and stopping along the way to paint.
“It was my childhood dream. I left a permanent job in Milan and set off without a real plan. That experience changed my life,” Tonnarelli shared.
After two years, she returned to Italy, but Australia kept calling her back. Three months ago, Tonnarelli returned with her partner and has already participated in several fairs and markets. She also has exhibitions lined up, including a group show at the Goodspace Gallery in Chippendale on September 3.
“My paintings aren’t for everyone,” she explained, “But when people like them, they stop and look - they’re drawn in. A seventy-year-old woman, a seven-year-old child; I love that different people can be moved by my work.”
Tonnarelli focuses mainly on portraits. “I use silicone brushes, palette knives and transparent oil paints. I almost never sketch beforehand, I put the colour directly on the canvas, then work it by removing, blending and shaping. Spontaneity is everything; if I overthink it, the painting doesn’t turn out well.”
Her style incorporates a technique similar to underpainting, but is transformed through experimentation. “I work a lot with transparency,” she said, “Sometimes there are words hidden beneath the surface, or a lightly coloured background. I almost exclusively use transparent paints so that the layers underneath can shine through.”
The faces she paints aren’t strictly realistic. Instead, they aim to evoke emotion. “I’ve always felt like emotions should be repressed, hidden away,” she revealed, “It took me a long time to allow myself to show them. My paintings are an invitation to reveal the inner parts of ourselves, not just the facade.”
Today, Tonnarelli continues carving out her own path between markets, exhibitions and constant experimentation, staying true to her need for self-expression. It’s a journey of ongoing discovery, both of herself and the world around her, fuelled by courage and a desire to embrace new challenges.
