Former Cootamundra High student Meredith Howse has fulfilled her life-long dream to become an Australian artist.
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She will be exhibiting an impressive 80 pieces of art at a public gallery in Queensland.
These paintings include a number of scenes inspired by Cootamundra’s surrounds.
‘”My first solo exhibition is happening from February 1, until March 10, 2018 at the Lockyer Valley Art Gallery,” Ms Howse said.
“I dearly hope that one day I will have the opportunity to participate in an exhibition in Cootamundra.
Ms Howse says she spent some of the best years of her childhood in Cootamundra, where she attended High school, graduating in 1987, before studying Nursing at the University of Sydney.
“I loved growing up in Cootamundra,” Ms Howse said.
“I remember my favourite teachers were Mrs Marley and Mrs Teagle.”
She spent ten years in Sydney, before moving to Hong Kong and spent the next two and a half years exploring Asia, America and Canada before returning home to Australia to follow her dream of becoming an artist.
Ms Howse uses oil paint, using the Alla Prima technique. Landscapes are her specialty.
She is a member of the Royal Queensland Art Society and Brisbane Institute of Art, and is looking forward to her next solo exhibition, Sublime Landscapes.
”When I see a beautiful landscape, it consumes me. I breathe it in,“ Ms Howse said.
“When I look at landscapes I don’t just see a pretty scene. I absorb the tonal differences, I note the colours, I absorb the clean, crisp scents. I can see the landscape’s essence.”
“It is the essence of a landscape I want to convey. I want the viewer to feel what I am feeling, be it warmth, danger, drama, cool, crisp atmosphere, happiness, fearfulness. Never sad, but sometimes lonely,” Ms Howse said.
“My dearest wish is that the viewer walks away feeling empowered by the strength of landscape and feels it was worth the visit.”
“i also hope to inspire people to follow their dreams,” Ms Howse said.
“Sometimes living in a small town, young people feel limited by the choice of occupations that are available. But they don’t have to. They can achieve anything if they put their minds to it and work hard”
