Maintaining Wellness
Ross Wymark rediscovered his great passion for art at St John of God Hospital.
Here is a man who rediscovered his passion for art at the age of 57 … at St John of God Hospital in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Ross Wymark worked as a signwriter in his twenties, but he had not put brush to board in more than 30 years when he found himself in hospital in the New South Wales town of North Richmond.
Ross was referred to an Art Therapist as part of his treatment plan. He discovered that the aim of this therapy was not to produce aesthetically beautiful artworks … but rather to express emotions through various mediums such as collage, painting, and clay modelling.
Creating symbolic art helped him to become more aware of his thoughts, feelings and memories – which enabled him to address unexplored issues through this special form of communication.
Over time, Ross noticed subtle changes in his emotional and mental wellbeing. With emerging selfconfidence and a positive outlook towards the future, his dormant creative spirit fully took flight.
More than six years on, Ross Wymark remains passionate and committed to maintaining wellness through art for self expression and relaxation.
While attending outpatient sessions at the Counselling and Therapy Centre, Ross maintained a tie with St John of God Hospital and he has
‘given back’ by being involved in the organisation’s mental health art exhibitions. He also works as a volunteer teacher of acrylic painting techniques at a community workshop.
Subject matter is varied for Ross.
His love of ‘bygone eras’ has led him to explore the Australian landscape while incorporating country town architecture and antique machinery.
Vibrant colours, a stylistic approach, and the addition of ‘paintings within paintings’ on single canvases, have attracted galleries and private collectors to seek out his unique paintings.
Ross speaks freely about the condition which led to him receiving medical care.
“A few years ago, I was diagnosed with an illness known as ‘Bi-polar’,” he reveals. “The symptoms of this particular condition are varied … but one positive is the way I can focus on every aspect of a painting when I am creating.”
“It sometimes becomes an obsession with detail,” he continues. “I’m aware of the subleties and tone of colour. I especially enjoy the brilliant hues and antiquity of Outback Australia; and totally immerse myself in the creation of a landscape, or a rendition of a building or piece of machinery. When I commence an artwork, I prefer to work uninhibited and unhindered.”
Travelling has allowed Ross to accumulate a wide resource base from which to draw inspiration.
“When I’ve visualised a painting in my mind’s eye, I then seek out a similar setting amongst my photograph and magazine collection – for further inspiration and design,” he says. “Recently I attended a restored machinery show in the local area, and I photographed the entire collection for future paintings.”
Born at Bondi, Ross has lived in various parts of New South Wales. His home is now at Richmond. He has had no formal art training, but he completed a signwriting and coach painting apprenticeship with NSW Railways when he was younger.
From the day he could hold a pencil, he has loved to doodle or draw.
“It was my way to deal with my lack of confidence in social situations,” he admits. “It was a good escape.”
In the early nineties, Ross became emotionally and physically unwell. He went through a very dark period in his life. He gradually shut down and couldn’t cope with much. Trying to focus on anything became a problem; so he concentrated on painting … the one thing he had found to be selfsoothing. He put ‘110 per cent’ into creating artworks.
“Now it is my life’s blood,” he affirms. “I’d like to paint 24 hours a day. It helps me incredibly to selfexpress, and I feel settled whenever I paint.”
Ross Wymark describes himself as a hobby artist who sells most of his works. He doesn’t really consider himself to be a professional artist – but he has a very thoughtful approach to what he paints.
“I like to artistically describe Man’s influence on the landscape in the form of historical architecture and discarded old machinery,” he explains. “I draw inspiration from Nature … the sculptural forms of trees and rocks in their natural settings. I like to capture the spirit of a place by visiting it, taking photographs, and then creating a painting.”
He always paints in acrylics due to the speed with which he can work. He likes to explore the range of effects made possible by the versatile medium, too; occasionally adding texture to his works with modelling pastes.
Ross won the title of ‘Outstanding Artist’ at the ‘Access All Areas’ art exhibition at Parramatta. He has also been involved in group exhibitions at
the Braemar Gallery at Springwood. For more than six years, his paintings have been displayed at the annual Vietnam Veterans’ Day Art Exhibition at St John of God Hospital. He is a member of the ‘One in Five’ Creative Arts Association which was established for artists and writers with a mental illness.
“The most challenging work of art I’ve created was an art therapy piece titled ‘Me’,” says Ross. “It was a mixed media piece. It incorporated painting, photographs, trinkets – even an old knife. It described my life’s journey. On an emotional level, it helped me immensely to put areas of my history into perspective. In putting my life into an artform, I was able to express things I could never say in words.”
He admits to some blunders on his artistic journey.
“My art therapist once told me that ‘there are no mistakes in art’ – but I can think of a doozy,” he admits. “I’d spent days and days building up layers of modelling paste, shaping it on a canvas, allowing it to dry and then flicking various acrylic colours on it – to give a mottled effect. Then two days later I decided to clean off the paint. But the cleaning process took the underlying textural layers off too. Whoops!”
Following a visit to Broken Hill, Ross lists some famous Australians as artists who inspire him: Jack Absolom, Pro Hart, Roxanne Michin, John Dynon, Eric Mccormick and Howard Steer. He also personally inspires other people through teaching art weekly to a mental health community group … although it is amazing that he can find the time.
“Bi-polar tends to make me a bit manic,” he explains. “I often have four or five projects on the go at once. But painting helps to ground me, and it is a relaxing distraction.”
Ross Wymark’s paintings sell quickly. Many are purchased by patients and staff at St John of God Hospital. This amazing artist would like to work in a large studio so he could produce work on a grander scale and eventually sell his pieces in a gallery. Meanwhile, he has an ambition which is humble and realistic.
“My goal is to help as many people as I can to discover the joy of painting,” he attests.