CV/ Exhibitions

I was 17 and fresh out of school and at that age I still didn’t know what I wanted to do .What career path I should take. First time that I had  seen an  Airbrush being use was in my home town of Tamworth .We are well known for the Country Music Capital of Australia.  Every January there are a lot of people That come to Tamworth for the annual event. The year 1988 there was an Artist, Airbrushing onto T shirts. I asked him all about the Airbrush and how it worked. 1989 I Have enrolled into an airbrushing class , I loved what I could do with the Airbrush The technic the actual process you can either use masking film or free hand work 

I have finished the course. I had not picked up the Airbrush for a while.I think it was about 2009 before I picked up the Airbrush again. I was painting cars, portraits, but mostly for myself . Airbrushing is one of those things that you never forget how to do.  Its well worth giving a go. The photo above is the first ever piece of Airbrushed work . I think it’s meant to be a wineglass with a desert inside .From what I can remember we had to choose a picture for inspiration.

Below are photos of my works back in 2009. Back then it was all done from the carport as shown in photo   I’m Airbrushing all the time now and in 2025 I started doing the Country Music Festival for myself Airbrushing t shirts, hats etc,  See you there next year  

What is it ? It’s old school Sign writing, Calligraphy,  pin stripes. Chrome lettering .. I do wish I had taken more photos of my works but the image below is all I’ve got . I don’t like doing Sign writing these days my hand is a bit shaky The only sign writing I can show you is the Werris Creek Swimming Pool Where I was a Life guard for the season and I ran the Kiosk  it was back in 1999 . I painted the mural and a little sign in the top right corner.  Photo down below in next section. 

1999

Life guard at Werris Creek Swimming Pool , That was out of my comfort zone but I did it . the course was held in Gunnedah over two weeks , From what I can remember I did the course as the pool manger needed a second person with those qualifications Bronze Medallion, oxygen equipment, first aid etc whilst running the kiosk.

The year was 2004 I’m a mother of two children at this time James is 13 and Ashley is 11 I’ve had friends whom have done their Fine Arts Diploma and would always say, Shannon you should be giving it a go. That I could learn so much .So not one for getting out of my comfort zone. I have finally enrolled In year one At Tamworth Tafe

First year was more about the lessons on drawing example tone, cross hatching, colour, composition, use in charcoal, graphite, oil pastel and other drawing mediums Painting. Technic in oil, water, acrylic and mixed media I can remember that we had to paint,   copying a famous artist painting I had chosen  Brett Whitley’s 1977 River at Carcoar I have a photo of my work . For that topic above. There was cultural Production ,The history and timeline of each Artist and also there was Sculpture .carving Hebel Block, ceramics.. Print making ..Etching screen printing, lino prints, etc

Second and Third year was much the same. By third year I was collecting a great body of work .That helped as I was already getting asked to have exhibitions

I have been blessed when It comes to having exhibition I’ve never had to approach people they have always approached me

Below I have put some prints from Diploma Days Some Etchings. Screen Prints, Lino Prints,

2004
I’m second year at Tafe ..A little gallery in Qurindi NSW I have since moved to Quirindi in 2024 Had asked if I’d like to have an exhibition down here as I was in the group exhibition the year before.It was only a little exhibition I can remember only having about five pieces all up .In the year ahead all works went into the 2004 group exhibition at Cooks hill Galleries. remembering back now it was a whirlwind. 

This was a second year at Tamworth Tafe, and I couldn’t believe that I was already having exhibitions I had already had an exhibition at Quirindi Fine Arts Gallery 2004. I was to exhibit in Newcastle. My Mum was visiting the area and had taken this painting to the right called ..Descending Sunset.. to Cooks hill Galleries and had shown Mark Widdup Gallery owner. The Gallery owner doesn’t just take anyone on so he seen a lot of potential in my work. He asked what else did I have and what I had ready to exhibit.  Cooks hill Galleries had put myself into a group exhibition with three other Artists The night was a total surprise I had sold every piece. The paintings where done in oil, The oil paint does give it a softer look about them.there is a little bit of mixed media in them. My inspiration was from an old singer sewing machine { I do love old machinery and how they are put together } Artists that inspired me are El Lissitzky and Marcel Duchamp for the constructive background. The female form I think I was  just looking at the nude female figure anything that had movement and grace about them. The dark Crimson {I love red what can I say I look at this colour and I feel whole inside. To me It feels like an empowering colour .Where the name came from “Descending Sunset”. The woman that is laying down looks to be descending into a hole of some sought and she has the shape of a sunset on her arm ..So Descending Sunset . Newspaper Articles and photos of exhibition down below.

Circumference In Time Exhibition

This Exhibition was just as successful as the last one. works had sold on opening night, plus the construction series paintings that I had taken down there before hand. .Within the paintings I was exhibiting  I was still inspired with the female form with the green for the chosen colour for empowerment .The work had the construction background . Where I found the inspiration for the shapes was off an old singer sewing machine .I like looking at the older machinery and how they are put together .Artists that inspired myself at the time were Marcel Duchamp and Norman Lindsay This painting is done in oils with the mixed media as well  Where the name came from” Circumference In Time”It has to do with the circles, you know how they say “you have come full circle “So Circumference meaning circle , In time within that stage of your life …

This exhibition wasn’t successful as the other ones. Down in Newcastle Cooks hill. I really didn’t put my heart and sole into it,and I think it did show within the work. At the time my heart just wasn’t there .I feel that everyone goes through different things in life. But that’s why I paint, from life experiences I can put it on a canvas and come out on the other side telling my story.Where I found the inspiration for this exhibition. I’ve changed the colour of the female form  They are all different in each work I had found the figures in magazines and books at the time and put my cubist style incorporated in. The background of the paintings seem to be all in a block form. In these works this is were I’ve started to do my trademark shadowing witch are in the paintings of now. I’ve put faces on all of these paintings in this series. I don’t know why , I don’t like faces on the nudes i like to use. It just looks weird to me. well not on a cubist piece anyway . The paintings are done in oil paint as well with the mixed media .Iv’e used a shiny paper with the mixed media to jazz them up a bit

2006 this exhibition was made up of paintings from years before.Works from old exhibitions, I wasn’t in a good place of mind doing this exhibition

Spiritually and mentally  I was not up for it. I had checked out a long time ago . I was in full depression mode. my body was saying no more. 

I can remember I had to do a speech. It just took that one person to give me the weirdest look and I froze lost for words. I’m not one for public speaking,  so it made it that little bit harder. I don’t think I redeemed myself for the rest of the night. But shit Happens it is what it is. I have learnt from this experience to be prepared. To keep going. Don’t let one of life’s mishaps stop you from what you love.  All the paintings had been done within the previous year. If you are not prepared with a speech don’t do it if public speaking isn’t for you. 

Working at Uniting you have to do your certificate 3 in Aged care and disability. I  manly did the course to give myself purpose in life. I started this job with my mined not in a good place and left with a better understanding of myself. It was a rewarding job I loved it. I left in 2021 as of the world event that was going on. Great support with my Art from the Ladies I worked with great memories with my clients I had . If your reading this an your needing purpose in life Aged care is the job for you

Its been ten years between exhibitions .I’m still painting and given away work as presents or just because. It’s 2016 and I’ve done the painting first painting down below. called Perception . So Cooks Hill Galleries has seen this piece and loved it. . I was to get more work together .I only had three at the time Paintings called Vanity ,Lust ,Envy ..Perception and Simplicity . I was to exhibit in and exhibition Figure V’s Landscape Artists included Susan Weaver , Bruce Rowland , Bernd Heinrich , Shannon Woodward and Pro Hart .. Yes that’s correct Pro Hart. Lets just say I was over the moon .We all had our Signature style . Abstract , Traditional , Cubist and expressionist. At the time I was inspired by Marcel Duchamp his painting Descending a staircase No 2 1912 most famous for its time. This is the first of the Acrylic Mixed Media pieces, a lot of layers of tissue paper. I love the effect it gives the texture and transparency , inks, oil crayons I thank Cooks Hill Galleries for having myself back after a long time ..

 Adam Cullen and the Cubists

To the left I have the painting Vanity ,Lust , Envy . So Adam Cullen and the Cubists, The exhibition was made up with three artists Myself , Gavin Fry, who is a writer , artist and publisher now in retirement has returned to painting , Adam Cullen was well known for his involvement in “grunge”His artistic fascination with death and decomposition , Cullen chained a decaying pigs head to his ankle for a performance art project .. I cant help but think how someone would go about this .But He did it and famous for it.

With these works I’ve started to do stenciling in the backgrounds in which I still do in works today . I would like to think it gives a mystical effect to the work. With the expressionist backdrop..

Sirens Dance After Midnight.

The year is 2018. September last year I had an exhibition in Gunnedah an hours drive from Tamworth .

A lovely young lady, Lauren Mackley had asked, from The Gunnedah bicentennial creative art Gallery if I would like an exhibition.

I grew up in Gunnedah for a time I think I was around six or eight years I know my family left Gunnedah when I was around eight. My Grandfather owned a scrap metal yard. I use to love playing there when I was a child all the old machinery. As I have said before I love old Machinery, the process in how its put together and how it works. I can remember what seemed like mountains of scrap metal . Old cars, machinery, metal and the memory of these poor old horses that should of be put to rest a long time ago .I feel that is where I get some of my inspiration for my works, the construction side anyway.

My Son James had opened the Exhibition I thank you so much for doing so James .You opening the exhibition seemed to take the pressure off somehow .The exhibition was made up of 38 pieces of work .I was hoping for around 40 but some of the paintings just didn’t look right to me.

It was a successful night. I had sold 14 works opening night and I truly do feel blessed to have these people in my life that do like and appreciate my work. You are true collectors of Shannon Woodward Art.

The name of Painting and Exhibition, Sirens dance after midnight. The painting up above is called Sirens Dance After Midnight. I was going to name the painting The Joker Plays At Midnight because of the harlequin design in this piece. With all the figures within the work and the way I was feeling at the time,  Sirens being what they are sensual, seductive, mystical. The colours and composition of work. The painting had a name and therefore so did the exhibition