"Patawarta Hill" - Outback Northern Flinders Ranges - Blinman South Australia ("triptych" Format - W210cms x H55cms "work in progress") (Photo taken by Suzanne Benson)

About

Thoughts of my early creative years:

Through-out my early school years I enjoyed the technical lessons of creative art classes & wood work… In my spare time at home.. besides climbing & living in numerous trees... & watching adventurous "pirate movies" at the local theatre... I would draw sketches of ships & air-craft.. Also.. I have very fond memories of spending hours in my “fathers shed” crafting wooden sculptures with hand tools from timber “off cuts”.. that my father had lying around… Working with my hands came naturally so upon commencing employment in the furnishing industry as a Cabinet Maker-Joiner.. is where I had the opportunity to sketch new creative furniture designs & paint or “gold- line” various "French Provincial" master furniture styles..

My Career & Associations:

I experienced a very busy career in various Management roles including – the print media news papers... retail.. NGO Community Services.. (specifically mental health initiatives & 24/7 youth accommodation support programs in rural country SA )... trade & numerous Lecturer / Trainer positions with creative business initiatives / employment job creation schemes...

Currently.. I am a "Sitting Member" volunteer at the Victor Harbor Regional Gallery - VHRG Fleurieu Peninsula South Australia & also a Committe Member of the Port Elliot Returned Serviceman's League - RSL...

My Creative Painting Art Journey:

I am based on the "Fleurieu Peninsula"... in the southern coastal town of Port Elliot - South Australia.. Upon commencing my retirement.. I knew keeping busy & focused is positive for older people.. so I needed an activity to keep me focused & creative.. My challenge was to learn about art.. painting Australian outback landscapes in the medium of oil.. After numerous holidays in the Regional Silver City of Broken Hill.. outback NSW.. I was absolutely mesmerized by the vast unique landscape of the big "open skies".. the clarity of desert atmospheric light.. & the landscape of “red dirt” & “rocks”!!! My inspiration was motivated by the outback group of five artist's the “Brushmen of the Bush”... & the numerous Art Galleries in the Broken Hill / Silverton Region… I have a long list of favorite landscape painters who are.. Tom Roberts.. Arthur Streeton.. Frederick McCubbin.. John Winter Pickup OAM... Jack Absalom.. Hugh Schulz & John Wilson from Katoomba NSW…

**"Red Desert Miners" Broken Hill NSW / W120cms x H60cms - Framed**

My painting style is classified as "semi- naive".. (I think of it as a "unsophisticated" style) I am predominantly a self-taught Artist / Painter... learning from reading many books.. magazine's... "you-tube".. & "sitting in" with.. & "yarning" with the odd artist... I am also eternally grateful for the amazing support & the "remote mentorship" provided to me by "Master Artist" Mr. John Winter Pickup OAM who "grounded" me in the early development of my art journey... I initially experimented with all the different mediums but was "sold" with the brilliant richness of "oil paint" & it's unique qualities.. I paint on timber boards.. canvases & "home made" recycled paper glued onto board supports... Many of my "works" are painted in the formats of "triptych" or "quadriptych"... which I feel showcase & complement my "documentary" narrative's.. Should the painting composition require a frame I complete this with my "hand crafted " picture frames...

**"Junction Mine" Broken Hill NSW / W60cms x 45cms - Framed**

As a Narrative Artist - "Visual Story Teller"... I aim to paint historical compositions that reflect stories about our early outback pioneer's who "opened up" the Australian remote outback regions... by building the towns... the mining industries wealth provided the finance... the growth of development was very rapid... The visual pioneer artist's recorded this history on canvass.. I also paint "remembrance paintings" throughout the year of our Australian & New Zealand Veteran ANZACS..

Below: The Afghan Cameleers of SA.. NT.. & NSW...

**"The Afghan Cameleers" Broken Hill NSW / W60cms x H45cms - Framed**

Part of my marvellous "art journey" is entering local SA Art Exhibitions throughout the year...

Below: Exhibitions of "outback landscapes" at the Victor Harbor Regional Gallery (VHRG) South Australia

**"Rowdy's" - Exhibition of outback landscapes - VHRG SA 2023**

**"Rowdy's" - "Red Centre Exhibition" VHRG 2024**

"Building Communities through creative art journey's of outback colours, texture & history"