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I have always
sketched mainly animals and sometimes people. Animals have played a big
part in my life and I've ridden since I was a child and still keep a
horse working with him at classical dressage as well as hacking out most
days. A huge
variety of pets have shared my life from reptiles to a kinkajou,
but now it's just two cats and a horse!
My mother was a
brilliant watercolourist specialising in landscapes, I didn’t think
beyond water colour painting which was not a medium I wanted to use when
younger, although I am studying it now! However a chance encounter with
pastels, and later velour paper, meant colour and texture were open to
me. Then I tried graphite, artists coloured pencils and acrylics and now
work in all of these depending on the subject and the client’s
preference.
I joined an art
group at Marwell Wildlife Park,
originally to get close to the animals, when Marwell first started I was
a volunteer there, which was a wonderful experience. In a art group of like minded people I found encouragement
to develop my skills. I then attended College for two years taking a
weekly art class which eventually moved out of the College and set up at
a local Community Centre, as the group had developed and wanted to stay
together after the classes finished. This was a great as everyone was so
supportive and the artist/lecturer, Helen Brown, was excellent (see
hyperlink).
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Whitley Art
Society was formed out of a need for an art group that embraced all
artistic subjects, mediums and forms. This Society puts on an annual
exhibition, has monthly meetings and puts on demonstrations and
workshops by well known artists. I enrolled immediately the membership
was open. I then decided I needed to gain some qualifications in art, I
have had a career in
pharmacy and education all my working life, gaining an upper second
honours Bachelor of Arts in Education to go with my pharmacy
qualifications so that I could teach pharmacy subjects at the local
College
of Technology.
Having decided to divide my time between work and art the logical course
to take was a Diploma in Pet Portraiture with the London Art College
under their tutor Melanie Phillips, the superb pet portraitist (see
hyperlink)which I completed, gaining a Distinction. I have now finished
a Certificate in Portraiture with Linda O'Gorman gaining a further
Distinction. I am now doing a History of European Art distance
learning course. I run an art group in the local church room, help with
the local CofE Primary School 'Art Club'. I also organise and run the
Campaign for Drawing 'Big Draw' in Wickham and am Web Master and Editor
for Whiteley Art Society. Now a 'Friend' of the Society of Equestrian
Artists and have a mini biography and three paintings on their website.
Prices: From £50 for A4 size |
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