Featured Artist: Sally Bilbao
My art journey…..
Hello, my name is Sally. We moved to Hobsons Bay five years ago from Glen Iris and very quickly settled into this lovely community. We’ve made lots of new friends and now we consider ourselves locals.
My roots belong in West Yorkshire, England. My Dad was a coal miner, I am a coal miner’s daughter, born and bred. We lived in a coal mining village where the kids played together in the street from dawn to dusk. It was a harsh and tough community, but everyone helped each other. I left the village when I was old enough, at just 17.
Although coming from a poor family, Mum and Dad would always try to provide us 5 kids with art and craft materials. They saved up to purchase twelve Britannica Encyclopedias which we adored to read - it probably took them 2 years to pay them off.
Although my career took me in a different direction from art (Psychiatric Nurse) I always encouraged clients to pursue alternative approaches towards their recovery. Art played a big factor in my professional life. I was drawn towards art therapy which I also studied.
I am completely comfortable and at my happiest place with my paints and textiles around me. Since retirement I have more time to focus on my own interests, I love painting and I love sewing. Only recently I have been exploring Textile art, combining my two loves into one. I enjoy exploring Op shops to scavenge around for vintage materials, silks, cottons, linens, anything with textual interest for my art. I’m learning all the time and don’t mind making mistakes as I have much to learn.
To me art is relaxing and exciting, when I am in the zone of creating, it takes me away from everyday life and into a space of not knowing. You don’t have to be good at it to enjoy it.
Hello, my name is Sally. We moved to Hobsons Bay five years ago from Glen Iris and very quickly settled into this lovely community. We’ve made lots of new friends and now we consider ourselves locals.
My roots belong in West Yorkshire, England. My Dad was a coal miner, I am a coal miner’s daughter, born and bred. We lived in a coal mining village where the kids played together in the street from dawn to dusk. It was a harsh and tough community, but everyone helped each other. I left the village when I was old enough, at just 17.
Although coming from a poor family, Mum and Dad would always try to provide us 5 kids with art and craft materials. They saved up to purchase twelve Britannica Encyclopedias which we adored to read - it probably took them 2 years to pay them off.
Although my career took me in a different direction from art (Psychiatric Nurse) I always encouraged clients to pursue alternative approaches towards their recovery. Art played a big factor in my professional life. I was drawn towards art therapy which I also studied.
I am completely comfortable and at my happiest place with my paints and textiles around me. Since retirement I have more time to focus on my own interests, I love painting and I love sewing. Only recently I have been exploring Textile art, combining my two loves into one. I enjoy exploring Op shops to scavenge around for vintage materials, silks, cottons, linens, anything with textual interest for my art. I’m learning all the time and don’t mind making mistakes as I have much to learn.
To me art is relaxing and exciting, when I am in the zone of creating, it takes me away from everyday life and into a space of not knowing. You don’t have to be good at it to enjoy it.
