My Creative Pursuits

With a background in sculpting, Narelle excels in capturing the typical poses and movements of her favourite subjects.

- Narelle Joyce

I came to two-dimensional creative pursuits less than 10 years ago, having been a potter and clay sculptor since 1970. I completed the Certificate in Studio Ceramics in Brisbane in 1981.

Born in Sydney, my schooling, and thus my career path, was directed firmly to university study, and artistic interests were to be shunned. I worked as a psychologist for some years until the opportunity to do pottery in Adelaide, when my oldest child was 12 months old, saw me enjoying the contact with clay which I have continued the rest of my life.

I always believed that I couldn’t draw, however, but always had a yearning to do so. With a move to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, I decided that it was “now or never” and found myself a tutor in 2003 who, over 12 months, helped me to break through the barrier that was preventing me from drawing.

In 2004, deciding to progress to pastel painting because it is “hands on” like clay-work I spent two weeks at the McGregor Summer School at Toowoomba and learnt the basics. Since then I have done many workshops and courses and moved into acrylic painting and pen and wash.

I love colour and experimenting with different effects. Some of my most satisfying paintings have been where I have changed the colours, relying on tone to give identity to the object or animal. Like clay, pastel lends itself to a sculpting approach.