Wildlife Enthusiasm

This talented lady prefers to work with pastels and pastel pencils. She is most comfortable with the pastel medium because it allows her to layer colour and create detail quickly and effectively.

Sarajane Hinton was born at Kyabram in Victoria but she grew up in a small town on the mid north coast of New South Wales. After completing her schooling, she moved to Newcastle to earn a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) at the University of Newcastle. After she completed her university course, she moved with her husband to Bourke … where they met local gallery owner Jenny Greentree.

“Jenny encouraged me to continue with my art,” says Sarajane. “Now, after spending three years exploring the area around Bourke, we have moved again to live at Yamba on the New South Wales north coast.”

This pastellist is enthusiastic about animals and wildlife which she loves to use as subjects in her work. She loves to capture unique details of her subjects, and their expressions.

“Artistically I love detail … and how you can capture detail in different ways – through line, shape or colour,” she explains. “I love to study how other artists create detail in their works, even if the style is not super-realistic.”

Sarajane Hinton drew her first pet

portrait for her sister as a Christmas present. A family friend then saw the work and wanted to commission the artist to draw her cats. From there, it was a ‘flow on’ effect – with (initially) family and friends wanting pet portraits done for them.

“It wasn’t until I moved to Bourke that I began to explore other subjects; and began drawing and painting for myself,” Sarajane reveals. “After meeting Jenny Greentree, I was greatly inspired to explore the land and wildlife around the Bourke area … and incorporate those images into my work.”

This lady says that she would class herself as a ‘hobby artist’ – but based on the quality of her work, others might beg to differ.

Throughout her studies, she experimented with different materials and mediums – however she always kept coming back to pastels and pastel pencils.

“I am most comfortable with the pastel medium, as it allows me to layer colour and create detail in a quick and effective manner,” she relates.

Sarajane Hinton currently exhibits her work, and sells reproductions, at Jenny Greentree’s Back O’ Bourke Gallery.

“I don’t admire any artist in particular,” she says. “I have an appreciation for many styles of art and many artists; and I love to see how different artists paint. I am more influenced by people and places that are around me at the time … for example, living at Bourke I admired the works of Jenny Greentree. She was a mentor for me and inspired me to push my boundaries and explore new techniques using pastels. I also admire the work of other Outback artists such as Peter Anderson, Roxanne Minchin and Pro Hart. Beyond that, I

draw inspiration from wildlife illustrators whose works are displayed on the covers of Australian Geographic magazine.”

As a part-time artist, Sarajane doesn’t draw constantly. Every time she starts a new project she is fresh and eager to get into the work.

“Trying to achieve a lot of detail can be frustrating, and I need to keep my mind clear in order to keep the work progressing … so I take long breaks between each step of my work, often taking a number of weeks to complete one picture; or I work on two pieces at the same time,” she concludes. ■