Artist's Drawing & Inspiration
This Adventure of Painting
With a love for realism, this artist takes great delight in studying the intricate structure of nature, and now that her family has grown up, she enjoys sharing her extensive art skills with her students.
Iwas born in Benalla, north east Victoria, but actually lived in a very isolated country area called Toobullup, near Tolmie. Our family moved to Benalla for a short time before moving to Thoona; my Dad running the Post Office. From there we moved to Meeniyan in South Gippsland. Both my parents came off the land and Dad had always wanted to raise poultry, so when the opportunity arose, he moved us back to the north east to live in Wangaratta, where he became a poultry farmer.
While living in the country, creativity was found in an age of self-sufficiency, and at an early age I learnt to sew and cook, and also watched and learned as my family grew vegetables, baked, preserved fruits and jam, raised chickens, milked a cow, and made bread and butter.
After marrying a local farmer I settled in Moyhu, near Wangarattta, and was more than happy to continue this rural life style, especially while our four children were at home. Having the freedom to live amongst and study nature brings a sense of wellbeing and belonging. Moyhu is situated in the King Valley, known for its rich wine industry. Today we fatten predominately cattle for the export trade, after changing over from dairying.
I still enjoy any craft using my hands, whether it is dressmaking, sewing most of my family’s clothes, quilting, needlework, cooking, gardening, Paverpol, cross-stitch, long
stitch tapestry, fabric painting, and machine embroidery.
My earliest memories of art go back to studying pencil drawings and a special pen and ink work by my Mother’s uncle, which I copied and still have, and remembering listening to stories about my Dad’s relation, Sidney Nolan. Many of my relations have painting as a hobby today.
Entering a primary school competition by the Gould League of Bird Lovers, I was thrilled to win; little did I know that my journey in art had begun. I continued art studies at high school for several years, where I also enjoyed Domestic Art and Textiles, so it wasn’t any surprise to apply to “Larnook” Domestic
Art’s Secondary Teacher’s College, Melbourne. While there I was able to continue art as an extra subject.
After graduation I taught at Wangaratta High School until my children arrived, and then began my 30 years of adult teaching with the Wangaratta Adult Centre. Here I was able to work between school hours and continue my love of teaching. Art was put on the backburner for a later time.
In 1997, while caring for my ageing Mother and mother-in-law, life was extremely busy for me with young children still at home. Many thanks go to friends who encouraged me to take up folk art classes (this was the only tutor teaching in the district at the time). I fell in love with it and still enjoy it to this day. This was truly a sanity saving time.
Changes to folk art saw it becoming more decorative painting, as well
as painting on wood, we were using canvas and watercolour paper.
During this time I attended many workshops and True Blue Decorative Art Conferences. Slowly, my art was changing and I was pleasantly surprised when people told me they could recognise my ‘style’.
Wishing to learn more on painting with oils, I went to an oil painting workshop with Erna Roche. Having never painted with a limited palette, I was totally and I mean totally out of my comfort zone. I was frustrated and ready to give up, but with gentle encouragement, managed to work though the painting, mixing my colours and, surprise, surprise, today
I mostly use a limited palette, with a few extra colours thrown in. What a thrill it was to sell this painting. Many thanks go to Erna.
Over the last few years I have painted landscapes of our farm, which all have the property name of “Gumdale” in them. Each of my children now has a landscape painting of our farm, and I hope that the set will stay in the family. My first commissioned painting was a landscape as a farewell gift for the local Post Office family, with a view from their house looking back to the hills. With some trepidation I agreed, and so began my serious fine art journey.
While many people say just take a photo, I love realism. Studying the intricate structure of nature fascinates me, the depth in a rose, the folds and ruffles on an iris, the light dancing across the field or on a tree, and I understand the many values that give rhythm throughout a painting. When people say, “I could just pick the flower off your painting” or that my landscapes gives them such a feeling of peace, I feel rewarded, knowing I have done justice to nature.
Over the years I have learnt to work with many mediums, and depending on my mood at the time, I can make a choice as to which medium I would like to use next. It could be Acrylics, Oils, Genesis Heat-set Oils, Liquid Pencils, Watercolour, or Graphite, so I
can sometimes have a few paintings on the go at once. These can be anything from flowers, portraits, landscapes, birds, and still life.
Thanks to Sonis Aldous’ workshop, my favourite medium is Genesis heatset oils, due to their ease of blending, and also because they are odourless and non-toxic, plus the ability to heatset to continue painting. They go a long way and never dry until heat-set, so clean working ethics are important.
Many other artists at workshops have influenced my love of art, including Robyn Cooper, Chris Roy, Jan Shaw, Rachel Baker, Jenny Paul, Kate Ferguson, Herman Pekel and
Ross Paterson.
Now that my family has grown up, I have more time to enjoy this adventure of painting. It has become important to me to also to share it, though my love of teaching at ‘Gumdale Cottage’. I am fortunate to have my late motherin-law’s cottage to use as a teaching studio on the farm. Having a country outlook and listening to the birds while we paint is perfect.
Over the last five years I have been studying online with a fantastic program run by the Art Apprentice Online group. The video lessons, which we download, can be watched as needed and it is like having your own personal tutor. We send pictures of the different stages of work for critiquing, which keeps us on track.
I am fortunate to work with Chroma as a support teacher and demonstrate locally, also giving donations for community groups. I have sold my works through exhibitions, private sales and art shows, where I have gained highly commended certificates. Supporting the Wangaratta Agricultural show over the years has given me the pleasure of many wins in various categories of art, craft and cooking, and I have achieved Best in the Show and Best Exhibitor several times.
In the next years, I look forward to where my art will take me.
For further information contact Nola Jones 03 5727 9295.