Dreaming of Monet Painting

I was born in South Australia and spent most of my time on the Fleurieu Peninsular where some of the worlds best wines come from and of course the stunning beaches but I now reside on the Sunshine Coast in QLD. The warm weather did it for me and the fact that my offspring are all up here. I am retired from a profession where I was unable to commit to my passion the hours needed to grow as an artist therefor although I started painting many years ago I consider myself as an emerging artist as it is only in recent years that I have been able to give my work the time needed. My work is ever evolving with no particular style, I tend to paint intuitively with some paintings evolving quite fast and others requiring lots of patience and work. I also like lots of styles and find it difficult to just focus on one style. most of my work is however quite colourful and is built up with layers, I like the mystery of previous marks appearing just under the surface. When I first started studying I entered and won quite a few prizes from major to sectional in shows: however being terribly unorganised I have not kept any record of these! So going from memory I have won the Maryborough Art Prize, including in other years highly commended and sectional wins. I have had sectional wins in the Hervey Bay Art Prize including highly commended. I have exhibited at the Sala Festival and have had joint exhibitions with other artists. I was a finalist in the 2004 Fleurieu Biennial and as an Art teacher I was nominated and awarded the 2011 Best Visual Art Teacher by the Minister of Arts and Education. This award allowed me to spend a month in the south of France at an Atelier learning the Italian masters techniques, an experience I will never forget!