The Light Within Her
Available to view during Margaret River Region Open Studios 2026.
Enquiries are welcome prior to the event.
2026
Mixed Media on Canvas
(Acrylic, oil, vintage music sheet paper, and gold leaf)
Unframed, sides are gallery-finished and ready to hang
92 cm (W) × 101.5 cm (H)
The Light Within Her forms part of Natalie Briney's 2026 series 'Light Between Two Worlds' a contemplative body of work exploring transformation, resilience, and the quiet spaces between what has been and what is yet to emerge.
At the centre of the work, the figure stands in stillness, her hands resting gently across her heart. Her eyes are closed, not in withdrawal, but in recognition of something already present within. The butterfly becomes a symbol of transformation, held close to the heart as a reminder that growth often occurs quietly, beneath the surface, long before it is visible to the world.
Flowing white hair and softly rendered features evoke a sense of wisdom shaped through lived experience. Natalie’s figures are not portraits, but emotional landscapes, reflections on the inner journeys that accompany change, healing, and becoming.
Each work begins with a foundation of vintage music sheet paper, creating a subtle layer of memory and history beneath the painted surface. Delicate passages of pointillism build rhythm and movement throughout the composition, while layers of acrylic and oil create softness, luminosity, and depth. Gold leaf is incorporated as a symbolic element, suggesting light, transformation, and the enduring presence of hope.
The wings extend beyond the figure as an expression of protection and strength. Rather than representing escape, they speak to the unseen qualities we carry within us — resilience, intuition, compassion, and the capacity to navigate periods of uncertainty with grace.
The palette is intentionally restrained, combining warm parchment tones, muted ivories, soft olive-golds, and subtle metallic accents. These gentle harmonies invite stillness and reflection, encouraging the viewer to pause and connect with the work on an emotional level.
While deeply personal, The Light Within Her speaks to a universal experience: the discovery that the strength we seek is often already present within us. It is a meditation on inner light, transformation, and the quiet courage required to trust our own unfolding.
In Natalie’s words:
"The light we search for is often already within us. This work is about recognising that quiet strength, the part of ourselves that continues to guide us through uncertainty, growth, and change."
Each piece within 'Light Between Two Worlds' offers a calm and grounding presence, inviting viewers to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with the resilience that exists beneath the surface.
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.
Created on a 40mm frame-wrapped canvas, sealed with fixative and finished with a triple gloss protective coat.
This work is currently curing and will be ready for dispatch in approximately 3 weeks.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Natalie 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.
