Artistic DNA

When Leanne Jones studied her family tree, she found a famous artistic ancestor.

When this lady studied her family tree, she found a famous artistic ancestor: Sir Joshua Reynolds. She feels that he has a lot to do with who she is, and her deep love of art … and she believes that art is in her DNA.

Born in Sydney, I have been engaged in art since my early childhood. I am proud to be a seventh generation Australian related to many pioneer families of the Hawkesbury region in New South Wales. I am a ‘six times’ greatgranddaughter of the famous painter Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792).

I live at Kurrajong Heights, on the escarpment of the Blue Mountains overlooking the Hawkesbury River. I have my own studio/gallery at this location.

After leaving school, I studied advertising at East Sydney Tech – National Art School. I have also attended many workshops with some of Australia’s top watercolour tutors at ‘Art in Action’ (run by CASS) at Kurrajong; Grafton Artfest; and also Mitchell School of Arts at CSU Bathurst. Over the years I have studied with Stella Pearce, Margaret Wright, Joseph Zbukvic, Herman Pekel, Ron Muller, Ross Paterson, Charles Sluga, Robert Wade, Greg Allen, Jenny Macnaughton and Malcolm Beattie.

I am passionate about transparent watercolours, and I love to experiment. I paint watercolours on paper, Yupo paper and watercolour canvas because I like the fact that the medium – on these diverse supports – produces a distinctly fluid and beautiful look. I also really enjoy drawing, pen and ink, and pen and wash.

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

awards. I can modestly say I have been a finalist at the Art of Sydney Awards in 2008/2009.

My artistic inspiration really began as a child in primary school, where I would admire the Albert Namatjira prints in the classrooms and hallways. I recall being amazed at how colourful the paintings were. Years later when I went to central Australia, I saw those colours with my own eyes and observed what he had seen.

At high school I really loved attending art class. I remember, in my teens, spending free time on the weekends visiting the Art Gallery of New South Wales … where I would sometimes spend most of the day looking at paintings. I was also very interested in Norman Lindsay, Elioth Gruner and Frederick Mccubbin.

When I was growing up, my maternal grandmother told me there was a famous artist in our family. Unfortunately I didn’t pay much attention at the time. A couple of years ago I decided to study my family tree. I found the famous artist and I was absolutely amazed to discover it was Sir Joshua Reynolds. I was very excited. I feel that it has a lot to do with who I am and my deep love of art … I believe it’s in my DNA.

I belong to several art groups: Macquarie Towns Arts Society; Society of Mountain Artists; Friends of the Hawkesbury Art Collection and Regional Gallery; and The Hawkesbury Artists and Artisans Trail.

My most outstanding work of art (so far) would have to be a full sheet watercolour and mixed media of a bushfire that I created for an exhibition on ‘Climate Change’. I felt the subject was pertinent to my surroundings in the Blue Mountains. Having experienced the terrible threat of bushfires a few times, I thought it would be an interesting subject to portray.

I have had a few disasters with watercolours … always because I didn’t plan them first and I just didn’t listen to my inner voice (which usually tells me when I should stop fiddling). Of course the paintings became muddy overworked catastrophes.

I was advised a few years ago, by a mentor, not to sell all of my best paintings. I have a personal collection of my own watercolours. I also give paintings to my family members for them to enjoy. My pictures are little pieces of me that I shall leave behind for others to look at and take pleasure in.

Some of my work is held in private collections in Australia, the USA and the United Kingdom.

Artists who I greatly admire include J M W Turner, John Singer Sargent, Trevor Chamberlain, Albert Namatjira, Charles Sluga and Robert Wade; also Arthur Streeton, Charles Condor and Margaret Preston.

In recent years, I have enjoyed immense satisfaction through teaching weekly watercolour classes to

small groups of students in my studio. It gives me much pleasure to pass on my knowledge – especially when a beginner starts to see the world through artist’s eyes. Some people just want to learn something new; others come to me having used other mediums and want to try watercolours; others come along to learn from a different teacher. I enjoy doing workshops and demonstrations, too.

I like to start work by tidying my studio. This helps me to focus and concentrate. I arrange my work area and make sure I have a good setup … everything I need within easy reach. Before I commence a painting, I will seek inspiration from music and my large collection of photographs – especially if I have been travelling. I usually do a thumbnail drawing of my idea, to make sure my design is right. I often make colour swatches. I listen to a fairly eclectic mix of music whenever I paint or draw, and I find this really helps me in the creative process.

My advice to anyone who is a developing artist: Practice as often as you can; be open to new ideas with your chosen medium; experiment; be persistent; be patient; have fun. Attend lessons and workshops with the best tutors you can afford … you will learn a great deal if you do this. I think that painting in a class with other like-minded people, for up to five days with one tutor, is one of the best ways to learn a lot in a short time.

As an artist, my ultimate goal is to continue to learn as much about watercolours as I can. I also want to continue to teach and demonstrate; and exhibit my work.

Studio/gallery ‘Mellow Crest’ is located at 22 East Street, Kurrajong Heights NSW 2758 – telephone 02 4567 7400. www.mellowcrest.com