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 is alot of people selling their Artworks. clothing and busking It can look like a big market for the length of the street. The year 1988 there was an Artist, Airbrushing onto Tshirts. I asked him all about the Airbrush and how it worked. 1988 I Have enrolled into a airbrushing class , loved it what I could do with the Airbrush The technic the actual process you can ether use masking film which is like an adhesive contact but not as sticky. Or cutting your own stencils can be used.  It’s cutting out every shape with each colour ether starting from your darker tones to the lighter tones. When spraying will be in the same process from your dark’s to your lights, shadowing and your whites finishing off with a fine paint brush for the finer details  to give a 3D effect..

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 work I had done. I think its meant to be a wineglass with a desert inside .From what I can remember we had to choose a picture for inspiration to Airbrush

Below are photos of Airbrushed works I have done over the years I still from time to time do a little bit of work, any commissioned work is always welcome

1989 Showcard and Ticket writing

What is it ? It’s old school Signwriting, Calligraphy,  pin stripes. Chrome lettering ..

I’ll talk about whats needed and the usage of brushes / quills  Just so you have an understanding that It’s not just painting with a brush .It does take skill and a steady hand for showcard and ticketwriting

Pencil soft lead in different grades the best are from your B 2B 3B 4B and 6B

Harder lead range from your H 2H 3H 4H to 9H for extra hard

Hard leaded pencil are mostly used for tracing and where the thickness of the pencil line is important to accuracy and detail

Speedball pens / Calligraphy

Style A square ends

Style B round ends

Style C thick and thin

Style D for oval ends

Most important in Showcard work is the brushes

Theres many kinds of brushes , But for showcard my favourites are the Sable camel haired and hog haired brushes

Hog hair brushes only use with your oil based

Camel hair used for your water based not reliable for any work that need extreme accuracy

Pin Stripping is to keep a eye on your negitive and postive space. Theres no right or wrong way when pin stripping its just loading up the brush thick with paint and let the brush do all the work.

Chrome Letting starting with your sky tones that would be on the outside of your letter using a wider brush making sure your brush is loaded

Earth and horizon tone will be on the bottom of your letters

Smaller brush tune the letters up with line work

Last application will make your letters stand out highlight with white. So it looks like light shinning on the letter

The image that I have up the top the showcard and ticketwriting sign after all this time thats the only piece of work that have. I wish I had kept more of my works

Fine Arts Diploma I II III .

The year was 2004 I’m a mother of two children at this time James is 14 and Ashley is 12 I’ve had friends who have done their Fine Art 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, etc

Qurindi Fine Arts Gallery

I’m second year at Tafe ..A little gallery in Qurindi NSW. Had asked if I’d like to have an exhibition down there as I was in the group exhibition the year before.It was only a little exhibiion I can remember only having about five pieces all up .In the year ahead all works went into the 2004 group exhibition at Cookshill Galleries

 Group exhibition

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 out at Quirindi Fine Arts Gallery 2004. How It came about that I was to exhibit in Newcastle. My Mum was visiting the area and had taken this painting to the right called ..Descending Sunset.. to Cookshill Galleries and had shown Mark Widdup Gallery owner, Mark had liked it so much ,that he thought he could sell it and what else did I have. so with what I had Cookshill Galleries had put myself into a group exhibition with three other Artists .The night was a hit I had sold every piece. The paintings are done in oil, The oil paint does give it a softer look about them.there is a bit of mixed media on them and construction background are the shapes from old machinery, the shapes in a old singer sewing machine were my favorite at the time . Artists that inspired me was 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 red or Crimson ,I love red what can I say I look at this colour  and I feel whole inside. To me I feel its an empowering colour a colour that can bring hope.Where the name came from “Descending Sunset”. The woman that is laying down looks to be descending into a hole of some sort and she has the shape of a sunset on her arm ..So Descending Sunset ..

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 …

 Lavender Mist Exhibition

This exhibition wasn’t successful as the other ones.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

This would have to be an exhibition I wish I did not have.

Not everyone will admit to having exhibitions like this.

Spiritually and mentally  I was not up for it. I was not in harmony with myself  I feel you have to love yourself to make life happen for you.

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 think I redeemed myself for the rest of the night. I have learnt from this experience to be prepared always. To keep going. Don’t let one of lifes mishaps stop you from doing what you love and don’t use old works for an exhibition. I feel that, that’s some kind of omen, for me personally I’m superstitious that way. I will never use old works again. Always use fresh work when having exhibitions. All the paintings that have been done within that year. If you are not prepared with a speech don’t do if public speaking isn’t for you. This is personal preference for me

 Landscape V’s Figure

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 to the left called Perception . So CooksHill Galleries has seen this piece and likes it alot . 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 CooksHill 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 .