I've loved painting since I could pick up a paintbrush. Over the years I've picked up
hints and tricks from school teachers and in short courses, but mostly taught myself. It
wasn't until I started regularly attending Carol Boothman's art classes (Feb 1st 1999 - yes,
I remember the date!) that I really began to improve my skills and knowledge.
At first I used acrylic paints. I was working as a freelance illustrator at the time.
Painting in oils is impractical for an illustrator because of the long drying times. The
smell of the oil paints other students were using was so good that I decided to dig up an
old set I'd used as a secondary student. I fell in love with the buttery texture and have
used oils for 'fun' painting ever since.
My subject material and painting style was also illustrative when I first started classes
Carol and other 'oldies' still remember the Painting that Took a Year. It was a highly
detailed piece of art that I hoped would be the cover of the book I was writing. You'll find
it here, on my illustration site.
As time went by I learned to loosen up and move away from such highly detailed painting.
On Best of Both Worlds I found myself using an impressionistic application for the
vines and on the Flinders Island painting I delberately exaggerated the curve of the sky and water.
Finally, in my nudes, I moved away from detail into suggestion and abstraction.
At the same time, my paintings grew in size until I was making canvasses that only just fit
into my stationwagon. I'm enjoying working on large paintings, but my hallway is lined several paintings
deep with them. Soon I will have to have that exhibition I've always wanted to have - and hope
that a) people will buy them, and b) I can bear to part with them.
Where from here? I have several more nudes lined up, but there are always new ideas building
up in the back of my mind. I have an idea for taking the nudes-in-the-clouds idea to a more
abstract place, and my recent obsession with knitting has had me visualising some interesting
knitting themed paintings.
I hope you enjoy viewing my artwork...
- Trudi Canavan