The small country town of Hillston on the banks of the Lachlan River in Outback New South Wales was where I grew up. My grandfather and uncle loved to draw and paint.
I can still remember my grandfather showing me how draw kangaroos, rabbits and chooks.
We moved to Sydney in 1960, and in 1968 I married my wife Doreen. That same year I joined the Air Force and became an electronics technician. During my time in the Air Force we travelled and lived in all States of Australia.
After leaving the Air Force, I moved from Perth back to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. That was where my art interests were rekindled as my wife and I visited the art galleries throughout the mountains.
In 1981, Doreen gave me a set of oil paints for my birthday. Since that time my desire to paint has just kept increasing.
We moved to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland in 1989, and we settled in Pomona in the hinterland near Noosa.
When we moved to Queensland, I met artist Robin Tull whose paintings really inspired me. Her detail and colour were great. Robin tutored me for a period of time before she moved to New South Wales. Another artist on the coast who tutored me was Lyn Fraser – a great still life and floral artist.
This story is from the No 171 edition of Artists Palette.
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This story is from the No 171 edition of Artists Palette.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.
