Joanne Coleman

I was born in 1960, and live with my partner Mark Dureau and our two daughters, Jessica and Natasha. In 1988 we moved to Hillston, a small farming town 110 km north west of Griffith, where we have lived happily ever since.

I've always been interested in Art but only sketching for many years. In 1997 I picked up my first pastel and hated it. A couple of months later I had $20.00 left over from some money I recieved for my birthday and ended up buying a small kit of 5 pastels and some Colourfix paper samples. I loved it, it reminded me of velvet which is a material I love.

My first couple of paintings were for a friend who has bought quite a few of my pictures over the years. My first entry to an exhibition was at Berry on the south coast where my family is. I was very excited as I'd entered only 2 pictures and sold both. One was actually acquired by the gallery (a Willy Wagtail on lattice fencing) who held the exhibition.

My next success was at Lake Cargelligo where I received 1st prize and sold the painting. The painting was of chooks which is what I love to paint most of all. All the chooks I paint are our chooks which we breed and feature in a lot of my paintings. I had more success on the south coast by winning Highly Commended at the Shoalhaven Art Gallery during their annual exhibition with a portrait of Bernie an elderly friend.

I have now started playing with other mediums such as pen and wash, watercolour, pencil, charcoal and gouache.

We have a great little art group in Hillston and try to get together every Monday for informal lessons with local artist and friend Joan Vagg. Although with children and other commitments I rarely seem to get there, but we meet for coffee and a chat when we can.

Last year was very busy in that we had a small exhibition locally (3 of us) which was well patronised and quite a few sales were made, the feedback since has been great and we now have the local Exservicemen's Club and Restaurant as our permanent gallery.

I also do pet portraits and love painting birds and wildlife. I have also painted pictures of semi trailers, houses and will do my best with any commission I am asked to do. So you can see I am not daunted by any subject matter but my real love is animals, birds and flowers. I am also a member of WABA (Wildlife and Botanical Art Society of Canberra) now have paintings hanging in Canberra at the Rydges Hotel and also various exhibitions. I have not had any formal training as we don't have much access to that sort of thing out here.

Contact

Joanne Coleman (JoCo)
30 Molesworth Street
Hillston NSW 2675
Phone - 02 6967 2458
Email joco1960@dragnet.com.au