Set for another art fair
Horsham artist Debbie Russell has been entering Horsham East Rotary Wimmera Art Fair on and off for more than 20 years.
Although her background was in graphic design, Mrs Russell always maintained an interest in wildlife painting, and she said it was this passion that drove her to enter for the first time.
“I’m a bit embarrassed now by what I entered the first time, but I thought it was awesome then,” she said. “Hopefully I’m a lot better now.” If results are anything to go by, Mrs Russell has certainly improved her craft.
In 2017 she was the winner of the art fair’s best bay award – an honour she said left her ‘humbled and surprised’ – claiming a $1000 prize for her efforts.
She credited a pivot towards art as her primary occupation, rather than a side hobby, with improving her technique.
“I would probably say my style has really evolved in the past five years,” she said.
“I have always loved nature and was always interested in the arts, but I moved into it more professionally once my husband had to be on the road with his work and I had three kids at home.
“It was too hard to do what I had been
doing, especially when he was away a lot, so I thought, ‘what else can I do?’
“I kept working at it until I got a bit better and a bit more professional.
“I had a contract with the gallery at Halls Gap, which was a good step for me and helped me become more professional.
“Then I worked up the courage to start exhibiting in Melbourne.”
Mrs Russell’s burgeoning art career went from strength to strength, including her win at the 2017 art fair.
She said she had taken a step back from exhibiting in Melbourne this year because of an illness in the family, but still loved to paint whenever she could.
Wildlife theme
Painting primarily with gouache, Mrs Russell said her entries at this year’s art fair would stick to her familiar wildlife theme, including native birds such as emus, owls and gang-gang cockatoos.
She said nature, and birds in particular, had fascinated her since she was young.
“In my spare time I love to walk in nature; it’s something that really captures my heart and always has,” she said.
“Even as a child I would walk around the farm and look up in the trees for what birds I could find.
“It started with my grandmother, collecting little bird cards that came in Bushells tea tins. It’s a real delight walking in nature and seeing it and trying to depict it in my own style the best I can.”
Mrs Russell said she was always grateful for an opportunity to take part in the art fair, and credited Horsham East Rotary Club’s numerous volunteers for their assistance.
“I love going to the art fair and I often really appreciate artwork that is very different to mine,” she said.
“All the volunteers from the Rotary Club who help organise it and help hang your paintings have a big job to pull this off each year.
“I’m thankful for what they do so that we’re able to exhibit our work.”
Horsham East Rotary Art Fair will be at Horsham Town Hall, with an opening night gala from 7pm on Friday.
The fair will continue from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 3pm on Sunday.
Tickets to the gala are $30 and can be purchased by visiting www.horshamtown hall.com.au/hthevent/rotary-club-ofhorsham-east-art-fair.
People can view some of Mrs Russell’s work at www.debbierussell.com.au.
For more on the art fair, see pages 26 and 27.