Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness.
– Anni Albers
Creating art has been part of my life, for as long as I can remember.
I always knew, one day, I would be an artist.
A little about Tonia
Sydney …
I’m a Sydney girl. I learned to draw and paint in art classes in Sydney, both at school and outside of school where I majored in painting, drawing and art history. Art was always ‘my thing’! Even outside of art classes, I was fascinated with people, sketching hands and portraits showing random expressions of my fellow students (unbeknown to them!) during class.
A career path switch from studying art teaching to the call of the corporate world, steered me away from exploring the full-time potential in art. Whilst riding the corporate train, I still kept one eye on my art; drawing and painting for pleasure. To continue my formal education and inspiration, I studied oil painting at East Sydney Technical College, the National Art School at that time. It is here that, amongst other creative interests, I developed a particular curiosity in life drawing and representations of the female form.
A large part of my spare time saw me at the ocean. I truly am a beach girl at heart! I loved spending time idly watching the moods, colours and movement of the waves. It was here where my beach and ocean inspiration developed. I have many happy memories of basking in the sun and swimming at beaches … such as Era Beach, a remote little beach in the middle of the Royal National Park, and Sydney beaches, Cronulla, Bondi, and Coogee. Then later, sailing … exploring the harbour beaches of Sydney and Pittwater. My art has allowed me to create that indescribably sensational feeling of freedom, the wind in my hair and breathing in that amazing salt air.
Mansfield and Mt Buller …
Who would have thought I would move away from the ocean!
But the move to country Mansfield was a fabulous environment to raise our two small children. As a child, I was blessed with open spaces, the ocean and the freedom to explore nature and I wanted the same for our children. So, although a contrast from the city lifestyle, and far away from the coast, I embraced the country transition with both hands! It didn’t take me long to find beauty in the High Country! It’s everywhere you look! Mansfield’s life blood is the snow fields of Mount Buller and Mount Stirling and we were so lucky to have these incredibly picturesque alpine playgrounds in our backyard.
I was fortunate to work on Mt Buller over both the summer and winter where I was engulfed in the crisp and clean alpine atmosphere (…freezing at times!!). Here, like the ocean, I was also an observer of the moods and changing colours of the mountain. From sunny days, after a snow fall, where the snow glistened and the high country displayed its sweeping, picture-perfect views, to blizzards and snowstorms where nature’s raw elements were really on show.
This magical scenery and the impact of the weather on the mountain, inspired me to create art. I was so fortunate to be part of a creative community and continued to develop my artistic skills through art groups and tuition by local renowned artists.
It's a compelling journey that is leading me to interpret the sheer beauty of the changing moods of nature.
I am incredibly lucky to be able to devote so much time to art and to bring my inspirations to life.
Melbourne …
Back to the city! Living in Melbourne, I have found the beauty of the ocean once again, this time along the beaches of Port Phillip Bay. From the iconic sea baths and colourful bathing boxes of Brighton Beach to the beautiful rich red cliffs of Mount Eliza, to the wild, raw oceans of the back beaches of Portsea, Sorrento and the Mornington Peninsula. Again, I find myself observing the moods of the weather and ocean. Some days the conditions are wild; the southerly winds cross Bass Strait and lash at the exposed beaches creating a fabulous chaos. Other days the vibes change and I see the beautiful blues of the ocean and the vastly different colour palette of a calm coastal sky.
I enjoy exploring what Melbourne has to offer artists and am continuing the lifelong learning journey through life drawing sessions as a member of the Hawthorn Artists Society and an artist in my Boroondarah community.
Group exhibitions
Easter 6-Artist Collective, Aegean Design Gallery, Portsea 2024
Boroondara Summer Salon, Hawthorn, Melbourne 2023-24
Bayside Art Show, Brighton, Melbourne 2023
Incognito Art Show, Sydney 2023
Camberwell Art Show, Melbourne 2023
Sorrento Art Show, Sorrento, Victoria 2023
Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda, Melbourne 2022/23
Mansfield Art Exhibition, Mansfield, Victoria 2022
Camberwell on Canvas Art Trail, Melbourne 2022
Camberwell Art Show, Melbourne 2022
Incognito Art Show, Sydney 2022
Sorrento Art Show, Sorrento, Victoria 2022 (Highly Commended Award)
Linden Postcard Show, St Kilda, Melbourne 2021/2022
Camberwell on Canvas, Melbourne (online) 2021
Incognito Art Show, Sydney 2021
Camberwell Art Show, Melbourne (online) 2021
Mornington Art Show, Mornington, Victoria 2021
Canterbury Art Exhibition, Melbourne (online) 2020
Camberwell Art Show, Melbourne 2019
The Bayside Art Show, Sandringham, Melbourne 2019
Canterbury Art Exhibition, Melbourne 2019
Collections
Tonia’s paintings hang in private collections in Portland, USA; Auckland, New Zealand;
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast and regional NSW, Queensland and Victoria, Australia.