The United Kingdom was my birthplace. I qualified as a veterinary surgeon and emigrated to Australia with a young family some 30 years ago. Now, with the family grown (and flown the nest), I live in the foothills north of Melbourne surrounded by a native and rural environment – very conducive to developing a second career as an artist specialising in wildlife.
I have always enjoyed art, but my family and a scientific career pushed it to the background until we made the ‘tree-change’. I tentatively started on this art path with classes in oils at Monsalvat in the Tonal Realism school in the late ’80s; but I moved on to discover the joy of pastels – their brilliance, their intensity – and above all the ease of stopping and starting in my busy life and the speed in which I could achieve an outcome.
As time passed, I became more and more entranced with the medium, finding that I could portray the animals I found in my ‘other life’ in a way which was both realistic and artistic without being photographic. I continued in art classes for some years, developing my skills and knowledge … and gradually my passions for wildlife, the environment, conservation and art became the focus for my second career. My first entry in the juried Wildlife Artists’ Society of Australasia Exhibition was accepted and I was on my way. Eventually, I took on the responsibility of Exhibition Director for the society; and I learned much and made many good friends.
この記事は Artists Palette の No 171 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Artists Palette の No 171 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Eye of Observation
Draw, draw, and draw some more; develop your artist’s eye of observation. Sterling advice from a lady who believes that seeing shapes in paintings requires a truly ‘arty’ eye.
Pelicans To Portraits
This lady has painted everything from pelicans to portraits. She has completed commissions including cats, dogs, horses, possums, numerous beach scenes … and even a Scottish piper.
Gregory John Brennan: Lost Profession
Looking back on his early career as a bulldozer driver, this rural New South Wales painter laments the days when he was too young to appreciate his outstanding potential as an artist.
Pastels: Once We Were Important
A simplified and well named painting tells a powerful and interesting story. This clever pastel artist is delighted to share her techniques for the benefit of others.
Fibre Art
This artist feels that the hardest lesson she had to learn was to believe in herself … and once she did that, everything started to fall into place and her confidence grew.
Water Lily Magic
Instead of paper and paint, this artist uses fabric and threads … and she uses a sewing machine instead of a brush. The textures, colours and prints of fabrics thrown together with threads fascinate her, and often give inspiration for her designs.
Loading Wheat – 1920s
It is rare to see an artist displaying this level of skill and understanding in capturing the activity and atmosphere of bygone days from Australia’s agricultural history.
‘Jama' – King Cheetah
This exquisitely talented lady believes that every artist has failures … but it is important to remember that every success is better than the one before.
Blahuta's Ute
Early in the year we ran a feature about ‘Utes in the Paddock’ – a landmark project by several notable artists. In this article, one of those artists shares his story and some of his views … and describes the process of creating his own piece of an amazing collaborative work.
Artists' Easels
Many important tools are employed by artists in creating their paintings. Artists’ easels are now available in a host of styles and configurations to enhance the creative process. Some of your favourite art materials suppliers are more than pleased to highlight a selection of the many products being offered.
