Currently exhibiting at Margaret River Region Open Studios 2026, Flametree Wines, Dunsborough. PLEASE NOTE: This artwork will remain on exhibition until 27 September 2026. Purchased works will be available for collection or delivery following the conclusion of Open Studios. 2026 Mixed Media on Canvas Panel(Acrylic and vintage music sheet paper) 45 cm (W) × 45 cm (H) framed Professionally framed and behind non-reflective glass Gentle Light is a reflection on tenderness, quiet strength and the gentle connections that can steady us as we move through periods of change. With her eyes softly closed, one hand resting over her heart and the other placed tenderly upon the leopard beside her, the angel appears entirely at ease in his presence. There is a sense of trust between them, an unspoken companionship in which neither needs anything from the other beyond simply being there. The leopard brings another kind of strength to the work. Powerful by nature, yet calm and watchful here, he becomes a symbol of courage. His beautifully patterned form and almost endearing bow introduce a touch of personality and warmth, while the angel's protective gesture suggests that tenderness can move in both directions: we can be comforted by those beside us while also offering comfort in return. Her flowing white hair suggests wisdom shaped through lived experience, while her richly patterned ochre and antique bronze gown brings warmth and luminosity to the composition. Thousands of individual points move across the fabric, forming delicate botanical patterns and following the folds of her gown. The same intricate pointillism flows through her hair, wings and the leopard's markings, creating a richly tactile surface that reveals more the closer it is viewed. Beneath their figures, fragments of vintage music sheet paper remain visible, passing softly through her face, skin and hands and continuing through the leopard. Around them, layers of warm parchment and timeworn texture create an ethereal, almost ageless space in which the two seem suspended together. Natalie has long affectionately referred to the female figures within her paintings as “my girls.” Although not portraits in the traditional sense, each seems to take on her own personality as she emerges:- delicate yet strong, confident yet sometimes shy, deeply sensitive yet quietly resilient. Perhaps this is because there is a little of the artist woven into each of them: the contradictions and complexities that exist within all of us, and the understanding that vulnerability and strength do not need to be opposites. Gentle Light forms part of Natalie Briney's 2026 collection Light Between Two Worlds, a contemplative body of work exploring thresholds: those spaces between past and future, fragility and strength, the seen and the unseen. Each work begins with vintage music sheet paper, forming a subtle textural foundation beneath layers of acrylic paint and intricate pointillism. Warm parchment tones, muted ivories and softened, earthy colour create luminous, layered surfaces that invite the viewer to slow down and look more closely. While deeply personal, Light Between Two Worlds speaks to universal experiences of change, vulnerability, endurance and hope. At the heart of the collection lies a quiet question: how do we move through life's transitions with grace instead of fear? In Natalie's words: “This body of work is about honouring the space in between. Where we are no longer who we were, but not yet who we are becoming. It’s a place of reflection, surrender, and light.” PLEASE NOTE: Images are provided for styling, framing and interior inspiration only and may not be to exact scale. Please refer to the listed dimensions before purchasing. This artwork is signed and dated on the reverse and comes with a Certificate of Authentication. ABOUT THE ARTIST Natalie Briney is a Western Australian artist living and working on her family’s farm south of Margaret River. Surrounded by bushland, open skies and the rhythms of country life, her work is deeply influenced by nature, stillness and the quiet strength found in the everyday. Her paintings are held in private collections across Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia.
