Artist Bio: Barbara Tyson |
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Fine Artist Born, Sydney Australia. A graduate student of the world-renowned East Sydney Art School, Barbara Tyson studied art specialising in life drawing, anatomy, mixed medium and watercolours before going on to graduate in Graphic Design. Barbara began work as an artist illustrator and her talents were quickly noticed and whilst still in her twenties was appointed Artistic Director for a stable of Australia’s most prestigious magazines. Barbara travelled and painted throughout Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom and completed a multitude of watercolour works borrowing techniques and being influenced by a number of artists, but in particular Turner and Monet. In 1981 Barbara’s newly inspired works won first prize at two art exhibitions in Whittlesea and her life as an artist began. Further studies with renowned water colourist Alvaro Castagnet gave her newfound freedom of expression and boldness. This led to studying the textures and depths of oils where she embraced portraiture and still life, emphasizing the play of light. Barbara continued her studies with many artists including creative painting with David Hill and portraiture with Archibald Prize winner, Reg Cambell at the Mitchell School of Creative Arts at Charles Sturt University. Capturing the essence of a person was one of her most satisfying achievements. Barbara says, "Seeing your subject emerge from the painting is amazing. A point arrives when touching the canvass is like touching their soul." When Barbara met Italian artist Roberto Coppa he had the most significant impact on her art. He took her skills to a new level. This embraced styles from the old masters, impressionism, realism, abstractionism and their associated techniques. Painting became a reflection of her own life experiences and Barbara no longer painted from her head but from her heart! Barbara has developed her own style, using varnishes to create a rich depth on the canvas - combining transparent colours with opaque, thick paint with thin, bold confident brush strokes with finely detailed realism, thick textures with smooth softness . . . all the contrasts that life brings to us . . . on the canvas. These techniques combine to expressing freedom, whether it be in communication, dress, lifestyle, emotions, work or relationships. Barbara loves movement, be it dancing music, sport, or the elements in landscapes. The common themes through all of her art are controlled freedom and movement. Barbara’s paintings stimulate the imagination, so that you become the artist. She creates a brush stroke; your mind fills in the gaps. Barbara has captured the essence of people in many portraits, entering the Doug Moran and Archibald, and receiving many commissions over the years. Barbara’s 2011 Archibald entry, a portrait of the Governor General of Australia, Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC, received excellent reviews from Australia’s press acclaiming her style and technique. In 2012 Barbara won the Salon des Refuses in N.S.W. with her portrait of Ita Buttrose where she painted over original 1974 Cleo magazines which both Ita (Editor) and Barbara (artist) worked together 38 years prior. The Victorian Salon des Refuses in 2013 exhibited Barbara's recent Portrait of Dr. Helen Caldicott in the South Wharf Hilton, Melbourne. In 2012 Barbara has regular, highly successful exhibitions within Australia and her paintings have found appeal with many collectors and can be found hanging in England, France, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and Australia. EXHIBITIONS Commenced painting commissions and selling art privately, 1980 First Prize - 2 categories Whittlesea Art Show, 1981 Exhibited in Camberwell Art Show, 1990 Joint Exhibition, “Colourful, Evocative and Passionate Paintings” at Chapel off Chapel - Prahran, 1999 Exhibiting at First Settlement Gallery, Sorrento, August 1999 Exhibiting at Richmond Gallery Richmond and International Image Galleries South Yarra, 2001 Entered the Doug Moran Prize, 2002 Duel Exhibition “Spirited Heartlands & Movement” Richmond Gallery, (with Michael Weitnauer) November 2002, Solo exhibition, ‘Barbara Tyson Recent Works’ Richmond Gallery, Richmond, July 2003 Entered Archibald - Painted Tracy Bartram, March 2003 Finalist in the ‘Salon des Refusés’ Montslavate, (painting used to promote exhibition), November 2003, Solo Exhibition, “The Freedom Movement”, Art Associates Australia- Gardner Contemporary Art, Hawthorn, July 2004 Represented in “The affordable Art Show” Melbourne with Art Associates Australia, April 2004 Commissioned to paint in the south of France, Aug-Oct 2004 Solo Exhibition, “Recent Works”, Suburban 312 Gallery, December 2004 Exhibition ‘The French Collection’ Suburban Gallery, February 2005 “The affordable Art Show” Melbourne with Suburban 312 Gallery, sell-out, March 2005 Solo Exhibition, “Recent Works”, Private Gallery Toorak, March 2005 “The Sydney Art Show” with Suburban 312 Gallery, sell-out, September 2005 Art Sydney-Suburban Gallery -sell-out, June 2006 Exhibition, “The Art of Romance” South Yarra Art House, July 2006 Solo Exhibition, Suburban 312 Gallery, August 2006 “The affordable Art Show” Melbourne with Suburban 312 Gallery, March 2007 Solo Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, March 2007 Artz Blitz 2007, Kingston Art Centre, March 2007 Solo Exhibition, ‘New York Stories’ Suburban Gallery, sell-out, March 2007 Solo Exhibition, “Recent Works”, Balwyn Cafe Gallery, April 2007 “The Sydney Art Show”, NYC & other works with Suburban 312 Gallery, April 2007 1st, 2nd and 3rd Peoples Choice Award, St Kevin’s 37th Annual Art Show May 2007 Exhibition, Suburban 312 Gallery, August 2007 Exhibition, A Sensual September, Manyung Gallery Mt. Eliza, September 2007 Solo Exhibition, Rhythms of the Sea, Manyung Gallery Mt. Eliza, November 2007 Exhibition, South Yarra Art House, December 2007 Exhibition, Tusk Gallery South Yarra, February 2008 Solo Exhibition, In New York, Suburban 312 Gallery, March 2008 Exhibition, Brush Strokes for Infant Strokes, Royal Children’s Hospital Fund raising, July 2008 Solo Exhibition, ‘Freedom of Movement’, Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, October 2008 Exhibition, Portsea Art Gallery, December 2008 Exhibited, Postcards, Watson Fine Art Gallery, Burwood Road Hawthorn, December 2008 Solo Exhibition, Suburban 312 Gallery, May 2009 Exhibited, Belvedere Vodka Art Exhibition, McCulloch Gallery, Rankins Lane Melbourne, June 2009 Joint Exhibition, McCulloch Gallery, Rankins Lane Melbourne, July 2009 Solo Exhibition, Glenferrie Contemporary Art, October 2009 Exhibited, Sydney Art 2009, October 2009 Solo Exhibition, Suburban 312 Gallery, December 2009 Very Special Kids Art Exhibition, March 2010 ‘Art Melbourne’ with Suburban 312 Gallery, April 2010 Mornington Peninsula Art Show, 2nd Prize Peoples Choice Award, April 2010 Art Show Sorrento, May 2010 Solo Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, May 2010 Art Show Sorrento, May 2010 Painting on location South France Jul-Nov 2010 Finalist Archibald Prize, April 2011, Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce AC Exhibited Camberwell Rotary Art Show, April 2011 Highly Commended Exhibited Art Red Hill, May 2011 Solo Exhibition 'Summertime & the Living is Easy', Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, November 2011 Exhibited Camberwell Rotary Art Show, April 2012, 2 Highly Commended Winner ‘Salon des Refusés’ Peoples Choice 2012, Ita Buttrose Solo Exhibition ‘Womanhood’, Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, November 2012 Solo Exhibition ‘Barbara Tyson’s Beach’, Suburban Gallery, March 2013 Entered Archibald 2013, Dr Helen Caldicott March 2013 Finalist, Victorian, ‘Salon des Refusés’, Hilton Melb South Wharf, June-mid August 2013 Group Exhibition, A Passion for Life, Marriott Melbourne Hotel, June 2013 Third Prize Bronze Award, Camberwell At Show 2013 Solo Exhibition ‘Latest Works’, Suburban Gallery, December 2013 Sellout Solo Exhibition ‘Dapples in Both Hemisheres’, Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, November 2013 Very Special Kids Art Exhibition, February-March 2014 Exhibited Camberwell Rotary Art Show, Feature & Demonstrating Artist, June 2014 New Holloway Gallery openning Moffat Beach Sunshine Coast, May 2014 44th Bayside Artshow, Sandringham Yacht Club, August 2014 Solo Exhibition ‘Latest underwater Works’, Suburban Gallery, November 2014 Solo Exhibition ‘Latest Works’, Manyung Gallery Sorrento, January 2015 Dame Quentin Bryce offical Openning of Holloway Gallery Moffat Beach Sunshine Coast, March 2015 Outstanding Women Artist Exhibition, Media House Gallery, Melbourne, May 13th, 2015 Exhibited Camberwell Rotary Art Show, June 2015 Exhibited The 2015 ANL Maritime Art Prize & Exhibition, November 2015 ‘Latest Works’, Suburban Gallery, November 2015 CAREER HISTORY 2004-2016 Painting & exhibiting fulltime (exhibitions above) 2004 Commissioned to paint in the south of France 2002 Started teaching weekly oil painting lessons 2001 Embarked full time painting career 1999 Teaching painting weekend workshop ‘Passion in Oils’ 1998 Expanded growth in part time commission 1995 5 years part time study of the old master techniques with Italian artist Roberto Coppa 1993 Extensive art commissions with Coogi & Coles Myer used in Florence Italy 1988 Studied portraiture with Archibald Prize winner Reg Campbell, Charles Sturt University 1987 Studied Creative painting with David Hill, Charle Sturt University 1984 Studied oils at the Doncaster Artists Society 1982 Studied watercolours with Alvaro Castagnet 1984 Managing Director of Logo Graphics 1980 Riverside Graphics Melbourne, illustrator/graphic designer 1978 Michael Bryce & Associates Qld, illustrator/graphic designer 1975/76 Painting watercolours while travelling Australia, England / Europe 1974 Cleo Magazine Consolidated Press Sydney. Art director, illustrator/graphic designer 1970 East Sydney Art School-Diploma Graphic Design Subjects Life Drawing, AWARDS 1st Prize - 2 categories Whittlesea Art Show, 1981 ‘Salon des Refusés’ Finalist 2003 1st, 2nd & 3rd Peoples Choice Award, St Kevin’s 37th Annual Art Show, May 2007 (30 solo Exhibitions 2004-2013) (25 group Exhibitions 2002-2013) Mornington Peninsula Art Show, 2nd Prize Peoples Choice Award, April 2010 Highly Commended Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2011 Archibald Prize Finalist 2011 Highly Commended Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2012 Winner “Salon des Refusés” Peoples Choice 2012 Third Prize Bronze Award, Camberwell At Show 2013 Her work is on continuous exhibition in - Suburban 312 Gallery, New Street Brighton, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. Manyung Gallery, Mt Eliza, Melbourne Manyung Gallery, Sorrento, Melbourne Holloway Gallery Moffat Beach Sunshine Coast Tusk Gallery Chapel Street, South Yarra • www.barbaratyson.com.au Most recent exhibitions • www.suburban312.com.au/artist/26/Barbara++Tyson • www.manyunggallery.com.au/gallery/Barbara-Tyson? • http://www.tysonportraits.com/ • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2Ea3-Ivt34 • www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr7-LdUI9aI • http://www.isiiad.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=196&Itemid=1 |