Profile: Jenny Pihan

I have always had an interest in art and began painting first in watercolour under the instruction of Freya Dade, before moving to oil and pastel.

As a keen hobby painter, I began entering paintings in art shows around Melbourne and South Australia.  I was fortunate to win a few prizes along the way, including the Eckersley’s Art award at Victor Harbour.

My interest in painting led me to convene several art exhibitions as a volunteer, including the annual Toorak College Art Exhibition.  Serving on the committee of the Toorak College exhibition became a very serious passion for nearly fourteen years and led me to open a gallery of my own.

I understood that running a gallery was not a hobby: it involved representing artists diligently with the responsibility that sales were the artists’ livelihood.  The gallery was a seven-day-a-week commitment for the next twenty-five years.  There was no time to paint for myself, and it fell by the wayside.  

Since retiring, I have found time to attend classes in oil with professional artist Peter Smales.  I love that I have rediscovered my passion.

Jenny Pihan