I have won numerous awards in fashion and am now beginning to receive recognition in art and sculpture across Australia. These two fields are closely linked in my work, and I have earned prizes totalling $30,000; you can find more details on my website, www.Luisamanea.com.
My journey began when I sketched wedding gowns for brides at my high-end label, Allure Couture, in Perth. Brides were so taken with my illustrations that they often requested to purchase the sketches of their gowns.
After relocating to Cairns, I discovered a vibrant art scene that welcomed me, and soon, my work gained attention. Fashion illustration opportunities arose as various organisations requested my services for major racing events, including:
- Cairns Cup Carnival: 12 events
- Cairns Amateurs: 12 events
- Laura Races: 1 event
- Charters Towers Amateurs: 1 event
- Brisbane 2020 Spring Racing Carnival: 3 events
It was a dream to be commissioned to paint event attendees in their stunning outfits. These commissions led clients to collect my more significant acrylic artworks featuring fashion figures for their private collections.
The Benson Hotel in Cairns hired me for two events, where I provided fashion illustrations for New Year's Eve 2022 and the Melbourne Cup 2022. The Hilton Cairns has also hired my illustration services in 2025.
For me, creativity transfers effortlessly between different mediums. The principles of proportion, colour, technique, and uniqueness remain constant.
I've held three exhibitions over the past three years, including a major exhibition at the Tanks Art Centre in February 2020, showcasing 47 works, which resulted in strong sales.
I was honoured to be selected among the top ten for the Flemington Melbourne Cup Myer Fashion Designer Awards in 2020, 21 and 2022. I’ve realised that I excel in art, sculpture, and digital art just as much as in fashion design.
Having diverse skills across multiple creative fields allows me to recognise the few limitations in my work, inspiring me to push my boundaries and combine different skills into a single piece. Currently, my pottery is selling faster than I can produce it. A highlight of my journey was becoming a finalist in a nationwide competition at the Per Tucker Art Gallery in Townsville in 2022 and getting published for my sculpture, "Love Me Knot."
My ability to do this stems from years of experience working in 2D and 3D formats through my fashion design career. This, along with the extensive study of facial features for portrait work on canvas, has made me feel that I am nearing my ultimate goal: mastery of sculpture.
In 2025, I was chosen to be involved in the Thresholds exhibition at Northsite Gallery in Cairns.