Featured Artist: Sue Groen
Thinking back, I guess I’ve been exposed to art most of my life, thanks my dear mum - she started china painting when I was young, then went on to oils and progressed to watercolour. I watched her, head down in concentration, but was too busy growing up to take much notice!
The walls of our family home were embellished by all manner of framed artworks, including some of my mum’s beautiful watercolours. When I was 15 my parents commissioned an artist to do individual portraits of me and my sister. We reluctantly sat for what seemed like an eternity for the artist to capture us on canvas in pastels. We were embarrassed at the time, but the work is commendable. I have just recently had it preserved and re-framed – now I look at it with appreciation of every pastel stroke – and it’s a very special memory of my youth. Art can really evoke mixed feelings and emotions, depending on the viewer and the subject.
I picked up a paint brush very late in life and tried my hand at oils, then in 2018 was exposed to watercolours at a 7-week class – I was immediately hooked on the medium! The “magic” that happens when the pigment touches the water gives me great joy.
It’s a challenging and stimulating medium for sure. But now that I’ve learned some techniques, studied other artists’ work and gained more knowledge, my confidence is slowly building. I am having fun exploring what I’m capable of and still experimenting with finding “my style”. My creative journey is just beginning. But in the meantime, my mind never stops when it comes to art - my beautiful surroundings of Hobsons Bay and the Jawbone Reserve constantly give me inspiration.
Our daily dog walk to the beach fills me with artistic joy as I observe the ever-changing skies, cloud formations, shadows, water patterns, reflections, birdlife, rock formations, flora etc - you get the idea - I’m a dreamer! I notice the tiniest of details out in the world much to my husband’s amusement and sometimes annoyance, especially when I have the odd stumble on the footpath! I very rarely watch where my feet are going! 😊
Being only a newcomer to the HBAS I appreciate the encouragement and support they offer including their workshops and demonstrations – am keen to join in whenever I can. I entered a piece in the recent Something Special About Here exhibition. It was a thrill to be a part of and be accepted by such a friendly, professional group.
Recently I have started painting postcards (a great time filler while other work is drying) – I’m not so daunted or intimated by these cards, they are small and quick to do. They give me confidence to try different subjects (and now I have a collection of cards for any occasion!).
I like the loose/abstract style of work, have had many more failures than successes, but every painting teaches me a lesson and learning and having fun is what it’s all about.
Happy painting everyone! 😊
The walls of our family home were embellished by all manner of framed artworks, including some of my mum’s beautiful watercolours. When I was 15 my parents commissioned an artist to do individual portraits of me and my sister. We reluctantly sat for what seemed like an eternity for the artist to capture us on canvas in pastels. We were embarrassed at the time, but the work is commendable. I have just recently had it preserved and re-framed – now I look at it with appreciation of every pastel stroke – and it’s a very special memory of my youth. Art can really evoke mixed feelings and emotions, depending on the viewer and the subject.
I picked up a paint brush very late in life and tried my hand at oils, then in 2018 was exposed to watercolours at a 7-week class – I was immediately hooked on the medium! The “magic” that happens when the pigment touches the water gives me great joy.
It’s a challenging and stimulating medium for sure. But now that I’ve learned some techniques, studied other artists’ work and gained more knowledge, my confidence is slowly building. I am having fun exploring what I’m capable of and still experimenting with finding “my style”. My creative journey is just beginning. But in the meantime, my mind never stops when it comes to art - my beautiful surroundings of Hobsons Bay and the Jawbone Reserve constantly give me inspiration.
Our daily dog walk to the beach fills me with artistic joy as I observe the ever-changing skies, cloud formations, shadows, water patterns, reflections, birdlife, rock formations, flora etc - you get the idea - I’m a dreamer! I notice the tiniest of details out in the world much to my husband’s amusement and sometimes annoyance, especially when I have the odd stumble on the footpath! I very rarely watch where my feet are going! 😊
Being only a newcomer to the HBAS I appreciate the encouragement and support they offer including their workshops and demonstrations – am keen to join in whenever I can. I entered a piece in the recent Something Special About Here exhibition. It was a thrill to be a part of and be accepted by such a friendly, professional group.
Recently I have started painting postcards (a great time filler while other work is drying) – I’m not so daunted or intimated by these cards, they are small and quick to do. They give me confidence to try different subjects (and now I have a collection of cards for any occasion!).
I like the loose/abstract style of work, have had many more failures than successes, but every painting teaches me a lesson and learning and having fun is what it’s all about.
Happy painting everyone! 😊
