Page 61 - Australian_How_To_Paint

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I have been passionate about
watercolours from quite a young
age, when I received my first paints,
brushes and paper for Christmas, at
about six years of age.
I recall my first venture as an artist
was when I was about four years old. I
pulled some wallpaper off my bedroom
wall, and it came off in the form of a
train. I then found it necessary to do
some drawing on the damaged wall
with crayons to create an image with
smoke and a driver. It did not please
my mother at all!
I now realise that, even at that
youthful age, I had recognised
negative space!
After that experience, there was no
stopping me. I was constantly drawing
and painting.
Luckily my father was a butcher
and I seemed to have a never-ending
supply of butchers’ paper. I also had
a marvellous set of Derwent pencils;
some crayons; pan paints; and
watercolour paper of dubious quality.
I have since become a professional
artist and I sell my work from my own
studio/gallery; from my website; and
through art shows and art exhibitions.
I am a founding member and
president of the Hawkesbury Artists
and Artisans Trail, now in its fourth
year and growing in popularity and
membership. We have an annual
brochure launch, and two open studio
weekends per year where we invite the
public to visit us and see artists and
artisans at work. We give our visitors
the opportunity to purchase art direct
from the studio/gallery. My studio is
also open to the public by appointment.
I have dabbled with most media, but
due to allergies I decided many years
ago that I should stick to watercolours.
This medium now drives my passion
… I absolutely love it and really
couldn’t imagine my life without it!
My preferred subjects are landscapes,
buildings and water scenes. The
Australian landscape and our wide
skies really inspire me, and I love
to traverse this wonderful country
recording the views with my camera
(and also sketching and painting them).
I exhibit my paintings regionally and
further afield. Occasionally I receive

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