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Rhonda Mason

@rhondamason.co

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Writer. Designer. Visual artist.
Based in Sydney.
New work launching 5 November.
For early access, send your email address via DM.

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An excerpt from my ‘Daybook’ project.

Partly inspired by Haruki Murakami’s ‘First Person Singular’ and partly inspired by Audrey Niffenegger’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’, ‘Daybook’ chronicles the ordinary moments of my ordinary life as a writer, designer, and visual artist. (And a mother of six sons.)

You can read more about my ‘Daybook’ project when my new website launches this Thursday on 5 November—in just two days’ time.

#writingabook #publishingabook #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Layouts above were created in Adobe InDesign without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

‘Duality of Negative Space’ is a poster that I designed for one of my earlier art collections bearing the same title. Every painting in that series featured an irregular object depicted in black on a white or ivory background. The initial objects were all seven-eighths of a square, but other objects in the series began as rectangles that evolved into beautifully complex shapes.

The absence of something—or someone—is always full of grief and heartache.

Yet, in the end, it’s that same absence that shapes us into the people we are today.

This, to me, is the duality of negative space.

As I was curating my first poster collection, I felt strongly compelled to include this one. Because it still speaks to me. And I know it will speak to others too.

My poster collection launches on 5 November, along with the rest of my new work. Also, the winner of my poster giveaway will be drawn on 6 November. To enter, see the post I’ve shared in my Stories.

#behindthework #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner by @rhondamason.co

‘The Journey Matters’ explores the imperfect beauty of being human, as well as the universal human experience of journeying from day to day, not knowing what the next day will bring. Each artwork in the collection is dated the day it was made, and the artworks are titled according to the order in which they were created.

This is ‘Journey 029’.

An original artwork featuring permanent and lightfast black ink on 300gsm Arches cold-pressed cotton paper.

Coming soon, on 5 November.

If you’re a subscriber, you should’ve already received an invite via email to preview my new website and my new work. If you can’t find yours, let me know via DM.

#australianabstractart #australianabstractartist #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Images above were photographed on my Fujifilm X100F at Golden Age Cinema & Bar in Surry Hills and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

In a strange and unexpected way, this unassuming image was the starting point of my new visual identity.

It was our twenty-first wedding anniversary, and, earlier in the evening, my husband and I had been to Jugemu and Shimbashi—our all-time favourite Japanese restaurant in Neutral Bay. For just under two hours, we treated ourselves to our beloved dishes: agedashi tofu, pork and beef gyoza, Japanese scallops, slices of pork belly, teriyaki chicken, a hot bowl of udon with duck and Japanese mushroom, and their signature Shimbashi roll (which I’ve been a fan of since my university days).

My husband and I had both dressed up for the occasion. He was in a grey button-up shirt, black suit pants, and a gorgeous brown tie, and I’d gone for a black woollen skivvy, my new moss-green trousers, and these soft and buttery black leather boots. My dangly earrings and my leather clutch bag finished off the outfit, and we both felt a tad glamorous that night. We were like two big kids enjoying a fancy night out, while our sons cooked for themselves back at home. (Thanks, boys.)

As we paid for dinner, I insisted that we go somewhere else for a coffee. We ended up at Maisys—the cult 24-hour cafe that’s been around since we were teenagers ourselves. The waiter who served us was super friendly and hospitable. We could’ve chatted to him all evening if we were so inclined. My husband ordered a mocha, and I settled on a decaf soy latte. As the coffees arrived and I took my first sip—delicious—I caught sight of my boots and trousers against the backdrop of the flooring, and I thought, That looks nice.

I quickly snapped three shots on my X100F, and while the first two look awkward, I liked this one.

Months later, when I began working on a moodboard for my new visual identity, this image made its way onto the board, and it didn’t take long before it was front and centre.

Proof that living life is the best inspiration for our art and work.

#behindthework #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner by @rhondamason.co

Self-portrait | 05-09-21.

This is the photo I’ve chosen for the About page on my new website.

It was taken five years ago, during our 107-day Covid lockdown here in Sydney. The first week of lockdown, I decided I would attempt a series of self-portraits as a form of creative release. It also became an exercise in self-documentation.

I’m overdue for a new series, but, for now, these images from 2021 still feel pertinent to me, as they were taken at a time when I’d just started figuring out the work I wanted to do. I was deep in the ‘not knowing’ phase, and, whilst it was unsettling and comfortable, it was also enthralling and exhilarating.

One more week till launch.

#behindthework #selfportraiture #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Image above was photographed on my iPhone 11 in my home studio and edited in the Unfold app without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

An excerpt from my ‘Daybook’ project.

Partly inspired by Haruki Murakami’s ‘First Person Singular’ and partly inspired by Audrey Niffenegger’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’, ‘Daybook’ chronicles the ordinary moments of my ordinary life as a writer, designer, and visual artist. (And a mother of six sons.)

You can read more about my ‘Daybook’ project when my new website launches on 5 November. Or, if you’d like a sneak peek ahead of the official launch, you can subscribe to my newsletter by sending me a DM with your email address. All subscribers will be invited to preview my new website on 31 October.

#writingabook #publishingabook #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Layouts above were created in Adobe InDesign without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

A short excerpt from Chapter One of ‘An Imaginary Dialogue With My Son’.

This is a fictional series in which I create a fantasy world: A world inspired by the objects I found during a winter holiday in 2019. A make-believe space where my son Cameron and I meet and converse like long-lost friends. An imaginary place for the two of us to explore together.

Just the two of us.

All ten chapters of the series can be found on my new website, which will launch on 5 November. If you’d like a sneak peek ahead of the official launch, you can subscribe to my newsletter by sending me a DM with your email address. All subscribers will be invited to preview my new website on 31 October.

#australianfiction #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[The original image above was photographed on my Fujifilm X100F in my home studio and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI. The tiled image layout and the layouts featuring text were created in Adobe InDesign without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

‘The Journey Matters’ explores the imperfect beauty of being human, as well as the universal human experience of journeying from day to day, not knowing what the next day will bring. Each artwork in the collection is dated the day it was made, and the artworks are titled according to the order in which they were created.

This is ‘Journey 057’.

An original artwork featuring permanent and lightfast black ink on 300gsm Arches cold-pressed cotton paper.

Coming soon, on 5 November.

If you’d like to read more about the collection ahead of the official launch, you can subscribe to my newsletter by sending me a DM with your email address. All subscribers will be invited to preview my new website and my new work on 31 October.

#australianabstractart #australianabstractartist #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Images above were photographed on my Fujifilm X100F at Golden Age Cinema & Bar in Surry Hills and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

When I asked my three older sons to assist me on the photo shoot for my poster collection, their responses were, as always, amusingly varied.

Oldest son: ‘Sure. What do I have to do?’
Second oldest son: ‘Err… I don’t know, Mum.’
Third oldest son: ‘When? And how much?’

Eventually, I got them all on board, and, early on a Saturday, the four of us trundled out of the house with two backpacks, a tote bag, an A2-sized artwork folio case, and a rolling suitcase in tow.

‘What’s in the suitcase, Mum?’ my second oldest enquired.

‘Just stuff we might need,’ I told him, smiling.

We caught the metro out to Central station, and, from there, it was non-stop action for the next four hours. We shot inside Ace Hotel Sydney. We shot at Paramount Coffee Project. We shot outside Poly. We shot opposite Hollywood Hotel. And we shot outside The Rover.

Even though I’d drafted a detailed run sheet in advance, we ended up shooting on the fly, and everything worked out beautifully. I loved all the shots we managed to get, and I was so impressed with the boys. I had loads of fun with them, and, as I think about it now, collaborating with them felt totally natural and entirely surreal at the same time. After all, there’s no way I could’ve pictured doing this with them ten years ago—or even five years ago. (How far we’ve come in such a short space of time!)

And did we end up using anything in the suitcase?

Probably not.

But the point is, it was all there. If we needed it.

My new poster collection will be unveiled on 5 November when the new website goes live. If you’d like early access ahead of the official launch, you can subscribe to my newsletter by sending me a DM with your email address. All subscribers will be invited to preview my new website on 31 October.

#postershop #posterstore #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Images above were photographed on my Fujifilm X100F at Ace Hotel Sydney in Surry Hills and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

Over the last eighteen or so months, Paramount Coffee Project (@pcpsydney) has become my home away from home, and it wouldn’t be right not to give a shoutout to them as I embark on this new chapter. I’ve spent countless days and hours perched at their communal table, drinking matcha, writing, sketching, editing, people watching, snacking on croissants, dreaming, designing, chatting to new friends, and indulging in the best baked eggs I’ve ever had.

Thanks, guys, for always making me feel so welcome.

#behindthework #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Images above were photographed on my Fujifilm X100F at the Paramount Coffee Project in Surry Hills and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

On the first day of 2026, I began ‘Daybook’—my most ambitious writing project yet. So far, I’ve penned over 260,000 words, and there are more to come as I see it out for the rest of the year.

Partly inspired by Haruki Murakami’s ‘First Person Singular’ and partly inspired by Audrey Niffenegger’s ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’, ‘Daybook’ chronicles the ordinary moments of my life as a writer, designer, and visual artist. (And a mother of six sons.)

In other words, ‘Daybook’ is about real life.

In some ways, ‘Daybook’ is my antidote to all the qualms I have about artificial intelligence and the online world in this day and age. (Because what’s one thing that AI can never do? Write a book about the moments of my life as they unfold.) It’s my way of contributing something innately human and honest to the world. Something that I hope will enrich other people’s lives, rather than subtract from it.

You can read more about my ‘Daybook’ project when my new website launches on 5 November. Or, if you’d like a sneak peek ahead of the official launch, you can subscribe to my newsletter by sending me a DM with your email address. All subscribers will be invited to preview my new website on 31 October.

#writingabook #publishingabook #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Layouts above were created in Adobe InDesign without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co

An ode to my Fridays in the city, which have helped me discover my new visual language and which have filled my creative well in innumerable other ways.

Also, I know the algorithm preferences videos and reels, but words and images will always be my love language: quiet, unobtrusive, and a cathartic treat for those of us who like to swipe slowly. Real photos, not made by AI. These are still the posts that I enjoy the most myself. Feel free to save and browse at your leisure.

#behindthework #australianwriter #australianartist #australiandesigner

[Images above were photographed on my Fujifilm X100F at various places in Surry Hills and edited in Lightroom without the use of AI. Layouts featuring text were created in Adobe InDesign without the use of AI.] by @rhondamason.co