Author Archives: Lou-Anne

Robyn Moon

What began as a hobby instantly became a passion that has evolved despite life’s winding path over the past 25 years. Robyn has settled in the Noosa Hinterland after living in Launceston, Melbourne & Asia,

and now has more time to paint.

Mastering the technical skills and understanding the process of producing works in realism like Old Masters, is her ongoing mission. Robyn also believes evoking feeling in the viewer, and telling a story is

just as important as striving to be a good painter. Inspiration comes from life, both in human-kind & nature.

Robyn has continued to study with a variety of teachers in many corners of the globe, particularly in fine art. Over the last few years she has studied honing Old Masters Portraiture oil painting techniques,

particularly of Bouguereau & Carravaggio, with a mentor in Europe online. More detail about her journey is on her website,

robynsfineart.com.au <http://robynsfineart.com.au>.

Robyn has incorporated some of these skills in more contemporary portraits, and plans to work more on this area. Alongside her realist works, Robyn dabbles with looser styles in pastels, acrylics & pencil

drawings, and in landscapes as well. Her works are inspired by her own photography and former Masters.

Robyn’s work & studio will be on display at the ‘2021 Noosa Open Studios’ in October.

Sharon Beckett

Sharon Beckett – Artist

Instagram – @sharonbeckett_art

Sharon is an interdisciplinary artist, whose most recent work is founded on a drawing practice which sees her traverse from expansive Australian landscapes to redolent portraiture.

A career educator, Sharon’s chosen mediums of paper and pencil or canvas and oil, may seem logical. Divergently, she views herself as a lifelong learner, engaging a process of application, distance, assessment and reimagining. Admitting her developed method was not designed or even efficient but is steeped in enjoyment and satisfaction.

Inspired by constant observation of her surroundings and intrigued by the diversity of people, Sharon’s exploration of shape, line, colour and tone, often reveals to the audience a shared sentiment or personal quality.

Sharon is a current member and exhibiter at the Royal Queensland Art Society.

Glen Gillard

After six years Army service, including postings to Malaya and Vietnam, [ 1962 – 1968 ] Glen began life as an artist. That of course meant much trial and error and disappointment, and getting to know the reality of what it means to be an artist. But an artist, it seems, he was meant to be. Childhood memories are full of days painting and drawing.

Art lessons, art books, art contests, art groups and exhibitions became the focus of life and a new world opened up.

That world is still opening up, so many decades down the track, and is still full of learning and wonder. The expression, “Painting is an old man’s [ and woman’s] game” says it all, although Glen would dispute he is old !! He is always surprised and a bit amused when people ask, ‘Are you still painting?” It’s a bit like asking “Are you still alive?”

He has lost count of the number of art contests he has won, and solo exhibitions held. His portrait of wife Verna was selected for the Doug Moran contest in 1990. His self portrait entered in the Brisbane Portrait Prize in 2020 was selected for the Salon de refuse. He has painted more than a dozen public murals dealing with Queensland’s history – see Bowen murals and Clermont Railway murals – and had two sketch books published, dealing with the Queensland Gem Fields.

A feature of much of those engaged in the Arts, be that singing, dancing, acting, painting etc. is one of teaching. Glen taught privately for many years, and conducted workshops for various Art groups in Queensland. He is a Fellow of the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane Branch, serving on the committee on a number of occasions.

“ Earth’s crammed with Heaven, and every common bush afire with God……….” This is one of Glen’s favourite quotes, part of a poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It suggests of course, that there is goodness and beauty everywhere, and that’s where Glen finds subject matter for his paintings – portraits, landscapes, seascapes, buildings, and flowers, a never ending source of inspiration. He is comfortable using oils, watercolour, pastel and various drawing materials.

Zheng Liu

Zheng Liu was a professional artist in Beijing, China and participated in exhibitions in many Asian, European and South American countries. Immigrated to Australia in 2016 and now is a professional artist in Brisbane.

An artist sees the world in a different way from the ordinary people. While the latter tend to focus on the plot and logic, the former fixes his eyes more on color, light and shadow. It is normal, though not in an absolute sense. As a result, a common landscape may, through the lens of an artist, appears dynamic, attractive and mysterious.

What I admire is an aesthetics of minimalism, which is more a philosophy than an aesthetic taste. To extract what can touch our heartstring from the complex visual images and restore the world to simplicity are what I am pursuing. For painting, detailed portrait resembles a drama, bustled with activities; and simple depicting is like a single song, unfolding its charm independently.

The boundless sea and vast sky, in my eyes, are sending a message of freedom. Proceeding from this enlightenment, what an artist pursues is not to imitate what he has seen, but to recreate a landscape with his inspiration. That is why all his attention is directed to his works. The pleasure of imitation of the image is meaningless for him now, and only the aesthetic enjoyment of applying his genius can satisfy him. In this stage, an artist has transcended the representation and reached the depth of spirit. The so-called drawing nature consists in nowhere but the subtle materialization of an artist’s concepts and ideas. A free command and application of his genius is what helps an artist enjoy more freedom than a photographer.

A poetic mood oriented from “unpredictable”, supramundane and spiritual.

The beauty of music lies in its flowing and intangible nature. To musicalize a painting, an abstract beauty should be refined from the representation. As melody and rhythm constitute the beauty of music, the ingenious combination of light and color adds a musical charm to a painting.

A painting appeals to me is not in the style of mountain-shaking power but of ride-the-wind leisure.

Instagram: liu_zheng_art

PRIZES

2023 12 Years Old, First Prize, Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing Prize, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 Self-Portrait in the Morning, Petrie Terrace Gallery Award, the Salon des Refuses 2022, Brisbane, Australia

EXHIBITIONS

2023 Brisbane Landmarks, Landscapes and Personalities 2023, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2023 Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing Prize, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 An Artist’s Place, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 The Salon des Refuses 2022, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 Queensland Figurative 2022, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 The 132^nd RQAS (Royal Queensland Art Society) Brisbane Branch Members’ Annual Exhibition, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2022 Brisbane Landmarks, Landscapes and Personalities 2022, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2021 Art of Imagination, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2021 The 131^st RQAS (Royal Queensland Art Society) Brisbane Branch Members’ Annual Exhibition, Petrie Terrace Gallery, Brisbane, Australia

2019 14^th Curitiba International Biennial, Curitiba, Brazil

2018 Wave-rider – Solo Exhibition of Paintings by Zheng (Leo) Liu, 798 XYZ Gallery, Beijing, China

2016 Color Symbiosis – Chinese Contemporary Artists Exchange Exhibition, National Gallery, San Jose, Costa Rica

2015 Oriental Beauty – Exhibition of Contemporary Works by Chinese Artists, Providence Cultural Center, San Diego, Chile

2014 Advance Bravely – “Horse”, Chinese Contemporary Culture and Arts Exhibition, Beijing, China

2013 WE:1994-2013—The 20^th Anniversary Collective Exhibition of the Artists in Songzhuang China, Songzhuang Fine Arts Gallery, Beijing, China

2009 Virtual + Superficies Four Artists’ Exhibition, China Space Gallery, Beijing, China

2008 Limited Distance, LDX Contemporary Art Center, Beijing, China

2008 Icon of Asia, EM arts Gallery, Seoul, South Korea

2008 2^nd China Today, Canvas International Art Gallery, Amstelveen, Holland

2007 ShContemporary 2007, Shanghai, China

2007 Urban Space-The Solo Exhibition of Zheng (Leo) Liu, M Gallery, Beijing, China

2007 Contemporary Art Show, Songzhuang Fine Arts Gallery, Beijing, China

2007 Beijing Udumbara Flower Gallery Invitation Show, Beijing Udumbara Flower Gallery, Beijing, China

2006 Beijing Soemo Fine Arts Gallery Unveiling Show, Beijing Soemo Fine Arts Gallery, Beijing, China

2006 Beijing Dongcheng District Art Center 1^st Oil-painting Show, Beijing Dongcheng District Art Center, Beijing, China

2006 Beijing Times Gallery 1^st Contemporary Art Top-pick Show, Beijing Times Gallery, Beijing, China

Winners – Art of Imagination

Congratulations to the winners from the Art of Imagination.

Judged by Patrick Jones.

Fellow Recognition Award judged by Greg de Silva.

First Prize

Undiscovered

by Scott Breton

Oil on Panel

JUDGES COMMENTS

Beautiful art from Scott. Apart from virtuoso technique the painting has a grand scale to it and is filled with mystery and wonder; key ingredients for intriguing works of the imagination, also Scott shows he’s not afraid to paint hands—elegant ones at that.

Second Prize

Goddess of My Lake Emerging

by Glenise Clelland

Oil

JUDGES COMMENTS

Stunning stuff from Glenise. I loved this from the moment I saw it. The sense of wonder and the beautiful harmonies of colour make this a timeless piece of art. Just beautiful.

Third Prize

Reflecting on Life

by William Richardson

Leather

JUDGES COMMENTS

A wonderful sculpture from William. The imaginative flow of the forms coming off the smooth skull and the alien markings are a beautiful thing to see. The leather surface adds to the mysterious sense of a lost artefact from some ancient time.

Highly Commended

Dearg-Due

by Joanne Brooker

Acrylic on Paper

JUDGES COMMENTS

Lovely work from Joanne, which has a wicked sense of humour to it. It was a toss up between this one and her other work on show, but the cats won the day.

Feel Free to Touch Me

by Anna Gonzalez

Mixed Media-Diorama

JUDGES COMMENTS

I smile every time I see this one from Anna. The sense of stop-motion and the sheer joy of it is fabulous. The interactive nature is also a great gift from the artist to the art lover.

Gaiya – Devil Dingo

by Wilna Ten-Cate

Mixed (Ink, Graphite, Gold Leaf)

JUDGES COMMENTS

Intriguing work from Wilna. The confident use of space and sparse line make this a piece of art that will never grow old. The gold leaf is a perfect final touch.

Medusa Sightings

by Geoff Treagus

Acrylic

JUDGES COMMENTS

Excellent and unique work from Geoff. The consistent jerky flow of the paint gives the impression of an artist totally immersed in their craft. This art has great personality and I love the curious snake eyes.

Fellows Recognition Award

Judged by Greg deSilva

If I Had Wings

by Lesley Shelley

Oil on Linen

JUDGES COMMENTS

A lovely painting using warm tones except for the blue of the girls eyes. The butterfly’s add to the mystery of the title and being able to fly. Even the little mouse on the girls shoulder has sprouted its own wings and could take off at any moment. The umbrella also has that ‘Mary Poppins’ charm, so the girl could also fly, if the magic is right. The work radiates charm.

People’s Choice

The Navigators

by Robbie Erskine

Oil on Panel

Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

Born in Hobart, Tasmania (1968)

Mark studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts at University of New South Wales (UNSW), College of Fine Art (formerly City Art Institute). He also completed a Diploma of Art (Painting Prize Distinction) at Hornsby TAFE in Sydney – studying under Peter Godwin, Valerie Olsen and Bela Ivanyi (Painting, Drawing and Photography). He attended Sculpture classes at Meadowbank, Sydney and studied “Life Drawing” at the Brisbane Institute of Art in Queensland.

Mark has and continues to, travel extensively throughout the world (until Covid-19); including the United States, Canada, Africa, Europe and Asia, as well as all States and Territories of Australia – attending exhibitions of as many Art Galleries and Museums as possible. He is a Gallery enthusiast and a keen investor of Art, particularly Aboriginal and Modern Art.

An earlier exhibition held almost a decade ago, “Four Corners of Art” (jointly held in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane), virtually sold out, and he’s continued to produce several Commission works since that event. His works have also featured in several Brisbane Grammar School Art Shows, which show-cases almost 100 visual artists, and includes approximately 600 works each year, making it the largest single collection of art for sale by established Queensland artists, in Brisbane.

In 2014, Mark accepted an offer to paint a portrait of close friend, Hugh Jackman in New York, for the Archibald prize. In 2018, he painted a Portrait of Alice Williams – acknowledging her selection in the Australian Women’s Water Polo Team. Last year, Mark painted both a portrait of a prominent Queensland surgeon, Assoc Professor Dr Richard Williams, for the Archibald Prize and also painted “Bushfire Landscape” for the Wynne Prize.

After 30 years in corporate life, Mark returned to his first love, working from his new Art Studio. His 2019 solo Exhibition, “Wanderlust” (Percolator Gallery in Paddington, Brisbane), was well attended and extremely successful. The large body of works, highlighting almost 9 years, was inspired by his love of travelling.

Mark was thrilled to have several pieces purchased by Hugh for their new USA Hampton’s House – including “Hawaii Big Island”, purchased as a ‘thank you gift’ for Keala Settle, for her involvement in his World Tour, “The Man, The Music, The Show”. Mark was honoured to present this in person to Keala, in Brisbane before the final Australian Show. This hangs in her Los Angeles home.

Many commissioned works have followed, and further sales from the website (post the 2019 exhibition), continue to encourage more works. Thanks partly to lockdowns and travel restrictions, Mark used this time to create in excess of 60 new pieces for an upcoming exhibition. In May 2021, he will be displaying these works and others at the Royal Queensland Art Society (Brisbane Branch)’s Petrie Terrace Gallery, for his new “Expressive Therapy” Exhibition.

Marks’ works are represented in corporate and private collections throughout Australia, the UK, USA, Indonesia and Japan.

Johnny Huang

Minjia ‘Johnny’ Huang

Johnny Huang gained his bachelor of fine arts in Shanghai in 1982. He has been in many art exhibitions throughout Shanghai since then.

Since he came to Australia, Johnny participated in several fine arts exhibitions in Sydney and Adelaide. In 1995, he studied post graduate of visual arts and education in Adelaide University.

He worked as a special artist for T. Bach Art’s gallery in Las Vegas throughout the year 2000.

In 2003, he held art exhibition in Tokyo.

These years, Johnny has travelled between Australia and China to adventure and explore his own artistic type and style.

Winners – 131st Members Annual 2021

The Royal Queensland Art Society would like to congratulate the winners of the 131st Members Annual,

judged by Roger Clarke and Karl de Waal.

Exhibition continues in Petrie Terrace Gallery until Saturday 3rd July.

Overall Winner – Best Artwork

Crookneck

by David Ladley

Oil

Judges Comments:

The perfect landscape painting. Delightful composition, use of light, freedom, brushwork and tone. Enough lightness to take the work to the next level.

Young Artist Award

Arthur

by Lucy Andrews

Judges Comments:

Superb technique. Lucy is a very talented artist and well deserving of the Young Artist Award.

SECTION 1: Painting – Oils & Acrylics