It’s said that opposites attract and that’s the case in this well-crafted story of the relationship between two artists. The story is narrated by Frances, an emerging artist infatuated with Clem, an established artist, her university tutor and son of a four-time Archibald winner. There are two timeframes unfolding: the breathlessness of their early relationship and years later in its aftermath.

Frances is unsure of herself and her talent. She comes from the drab suburbs of Sydney and is shy and unworldly. Her uncertainty shows in her subjects and choice of colours. She paints what she knows: landscapes of the suburbs in muted pastels, which is either indistinct or enigmatic, depending on the viewer’s perspective.

Clem is of the former opinion. He wants her to be braver, more bold in choice of subject and colour. His art reflects his personality: savage blacks and whites on huge canvases pulsing with energy. He seeks to startle his audiences. There are, however, hints that this bluster masks his own uncertainty.

Needham understands artistic sensibility. Because of this, the narrative has a magnificent painterly, cinematic quality. The narrative asks several questions. Can two artists co-exist in a relationship without the success of one partner causing an intractable jealousy in the other? Are artistic careers and parenthood mutually exclusive for women? What does it take for the artist to understand their own work?

Secondary characters encourage Frances, but Clem becomes increasingly remote as she finds success. The relationship, once loving, is volatile. This is a marvellously immersive story of growth of a woman who is trying to secure a career in the art world.

Reviewed by Bob Moore

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kylie Needham is an award-winning screenwriter. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Communications (Theatre/Media) from Charles Sturt University and both a Master of Arts (English Literature) and a Master of Creative Writing from Macquarie University.

Kylie has won two AWGIE (Australian Writers’ Guild) Awards for television scriptwriting.

Her work has been published in the Better Read Than Dead Writing Anthology 2019, The Quarry Journal and the exhibition catalogue 2014 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Dark Heart.

She lives in the Southern Highlands of NSW. Girl in the Pink Dress is her first novel.