Working Outdoors

Plein air painting holds great attraction for this artist who loves to get ‘out there’ amidst the atmosphere and emotion and transfer it all straight onto her canvas.

- Trevor Long

Born in Queensland, Marcia Rea commenced painting full-time during 1983. She designed neon signs after leaving school, before working as an architectural model maker. She was very interested in art from early childhood, so the natural decision to undertake academic training in landscape and portraiture work led her into an enjoyable career.

Marcia studied landscapes from 1983 to 1987 with Allan Fitzell; and portraiture from 1983 to 1989 with Joshua Smith and Yve Close.

This lady is now talented in many areas. Her successful works include landscapes, portraits, interiors and figure compositions. She taught art from 1987 to 1997 and presently conducts tutorials and workshops.

She enjoys using many mediums including oils, watercolours, pastels, pen and ink, and charcoal. She is a very versatile artist who favours many subjects including life drawings, seascapes, landscapes, horses, flowers, tall ships and portraits.

Marcia has been inspired by Arthur Streeton’s work.

“He is an artist of not just Australian but international importance,” she says.

The formative stage of her art career was assisted by touring with some of her peers.

“I was really lucky to go on painting trips with a group of established artists back in the early ’80s because it fuelled my passion for art,” she relates.