IN between mustering and processing cattle, fencing, ferrying children, running a small business, committee work, catering and keeping a house and garden, three Texas women have pursued their collective dream of becoming professional artists.
Angela Edwards, Janet Doyle and Terri-Ann Crothers will be exhibiting the fruits of their artistic labours next month in the “Long Hot Summer” exhibition at the Texas Regional Art Gallery from 5 March.
Janet, an established artist and photographer, asked Angela and Terri-Ann to join her after she was approached by the Texas Regional Art Gallery to hold a show.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to exhibit in our local region,” says Janet.
“We’re at different stages in the development of our art, and this exhibition will showcase our various styles and techniques.”
Janet has exhibited locally and in Brisbane and Toowoomba with her acrylic paintings and photography of horses, flowers and cattle and has recently added charcoal drawing to her artistic skill set. In addition to her art career, Janet also runs “Malgarai”, a cattle property at Boggabilla, with husband Richard and son, Nicholas.
“You just have to be disciplined and find the time to paint between school runs, weekend sport, cattle work, meetings – the day-to-day. There’s always time, but perhaps we find excuses to put off our personal pursuits.”
For Angela the departure of her adult children didn’t lead to “empty nest” syndrome, in fact she saw it as an opportunity to “get on with her painting”.
For over 25 years, Angela and Lionel have operated their cattle property “Wongalea” in Yetman in conjunction with their on-farm computer business “Edtech Computers”.
After completing a visual arts TAFE course and several workshops over the years, Angela has developed an individual contemporary painting style that is colourful and lively.
“My paintings of landscapes, abstracts and still lifes are influenced by my surroundings and other artists including abstract expressionist Willem de Kooning and more recently, Catherine Stewart,” explains Angela.
“It’s free, mad stuff and I’m constantly developing my technique and style.”
Terri-Ann and husband Michael manage ‘Gilling’, an organic beef cattle property in Yelarbon for Brook Pastoral. She studied visual arts in her twenties, but pursued a career elsewhere and then found herself married to a grazier. There has been the occasional art workshop over the years but with three young children, work and community commitments, Terri-Ann has always found an excuse not to paint.
“Janet’s ‘gentle’ coaxing to join the exhibition encouraged me to spend more time painting. I’m still finding my feet, but I’m enjoying the challenge.
“My temporary art studio, in the kitchen, is a little cramped during smokos and lunch but it’s lovely to be joined by the younger budding artists of the family.
“I haven’t got Michael to try his hand at painting yet, but he has offered to pose – on a recliner, watching TV!”
Terri-Ann’s acrylic and mixed media paintings are inspired by “my surroundings – cattle, people, the everyday”.
“I hope to put a smile on people’s faces,” she says.
The exhibition is an opportunity for all to come along and view the creations of three regional artists, and perhaps it will inspire you to “give something a go”.
Join the artists for the “Long Hot Summer” exhibition opening on Saturday 5 March at 3.30pm (Qld time).
