PAINTING FOR A PURPOSE
Noosa artist supporting the Fight the Bight campaign
PASSION runs through the artwork of Tinbeerwah’s Suze Williams. Everyone has a back story but when the chips have been down, art has always been what Ms Williams has turned to.
Keeping most of her work private, Ms Williams’ latest piece is hoping to raise money for an environmental project she cares deeply about.
“I’ve come out of my comfort zone but I thought this was a good thing to do to raise some money,” she said.
Sunrise for the Alliance has been painted as part of the Fight for the Bight campaign against oil exploration.
While some oil giants such as BP have abandoned their efforts, six companies still hold leases for the Great Australian Bight, with approval given to begin seismic oil and gas testing from September.
“I can’t see how anyone can allow this, it’s our water, it’s our coast, it’s our Australia,” Ms Williams said. “There is no guarantee something (bad) isn’t going to happen and it’s too late when something does.”
“The Alliance needs as much help as they can get.”
Sunrise for the Alliance took six weeks to paint, a few hours a day and Ms Williams said to her it captures the beauty of real thing.
“I’ve flown over (the Great Australian Bight). It’s just so mesmerising and how it should be left.”
“I knew we had a beautiful country but when you see that, it’s just amazingly spectacular.” Ms Williams has always had a passion for marine life, having previously worked with dolphins in Rainbow Beach.
“So many people are conscious about conservation now.”
Her painting career began almost by accident.
“The first painting I sold was on the wall of the house I was selling and they didn’t want to buy the house unless the painting came with it.
“I originally painted it to put something in the house.”
Ms Williams has a knack for seeing a picture and being able to recreate it.
“You have to be in the mood for it, in the mindset.
“I like to know what I’m looking at, mind you there, is some abstract that I like.
“It’s got to mean something. It’s got to have soul.”
Her favourite painting was one she gave to a mechanic in exchange for repairs on her Kombi van.
“It was a half painting, half drawing of a white girl and an Aboriginal holding hands.” Life hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Ms Williams, who lost her house in a fire in 2009 and is working on writing a book about her life story. She also wrote Jimmy Grant and the Dreamweaver in 2008, a children’s book about an orphaned boy who finds himself on a magical time-travelling journey.
In the meantime, she hopes to continue painting to raise money for the Bight.
“I hope people like it and they know it’s for a good cause, it needs to be made aware. “We only get once chance, it’s the future.
“I’m glad I’ve come out of my comfort zone, because I’ve never really pushed my painting.”
Ms Williams will donate all proceeds for Sunrise for the Alliance after cost to the Great
Australian Bight Alliance.
Her work is for sale at www.bluethumb.com.au/susan-williams/Artwork /sunrise-for-alliance.