THE EARLY YEARS
As crazy as it sounds I remember having picture books read to me when I was very little and I would quite often forget to listen, but instead, I would be pouring over the illustrations, detail by detail. My favourite book was “Eloise in Paris” by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight. I loved the expressions on the people’s faces, the gestures, the cute dog, the many objects it took to bring the whole picture together, the artist’s mark on every page while she told the story visually, so brilliantly.
So that’s where it all started, my love of drawing and painting, telling stories visually, attention to all the little things and capturing the essence of life.
Pocket money was spent on how to draw and paint books, art was my favourite subject at school and many, many hours were spent practicing. When it came time to choose a career, it was always going to be something art related. So I studied and studied. Firstly at East Sydney TAFE at Darlinghurst, receiving a Diploma of Art and then came a Bachelor of Education (Art) at Alexander Mackie C.A.E. and came out the other end as a Visual Arts teacher. I shared my love of all things creative and flourished most when I could see that enthusiasm developing in others.
I have always created artworks for loved ones and friends and I have had many opportunities to sell my work through commissions and group exhibitions. In 2019 after thirty years as an Art Educator I was ready for a break and decided to take some Long Service Leave to set the refresh button. By chance I wound up in Tasmania staying with dear friends and enjoying a different adventure each day. The whole island of Tassie is just so damn creative and I realised I wanted to be creating myself, not just dappling but having a real go, challenging myself and most importantly doing what I love, what I`ve loved doing all my life, art.
EXHIBITIONS AND PRIZES
PJ SMITH
2021 August- Finalist in the Calleen Art Award, Cowra
May – Finalist in the Salon de Refuses in the Lethbridge
Landscape Prize, Paddington, Qld.
March- Finalist in the John Villiers Outback Art Prize, Winton,
Qld. 2nd Place winner
March – Finalist in the Glover Prize, Evandale, Tasmania
2020 Nov- Represented by Humble House Gallery, Canberra, ACT
Oct- Finalist in the Calleen Art Award, Cowra, NSW
Sept- Group Exhibition, Ginninderry Drawing Prize,
Strathnairn Gallery, Canberra, ACT
July- Finalist in the John Leslie Art Prize for landscape painting at Gippsland Art Gallery, Vic. Winner of the People`s Choice Award
March- 8×10 Group Exhibition Corner Store Gallery, Orange, NSW
2019 Nov- Jugiong Art Show – Group Exhibition, Jugiong, NSW
May- Ciderfest Art Show – Group Exhibition, Batlow, NSW
April- “Birds” Group Exhibition, Helen Stephens Gallery,
Collector, NSW
2018 Dec- In the kitchen Group Exhibition, Helen Stephens Gallery,
Collector, NSW
Prior Visual Arts Educator