Local artist profile: Gail Tavener

THIS week we chat with award winning painter Gail Tavener

What motivated you to become an artist?

After a childhood rich in artistic pursuits like drawing, sewing, etc, and as a teenager and young adult time as an avid amateur photographer, I soon learnt how to take a reasonably good photo and to do my own developing/printing.

These things became the precursor for a later desire to paint, with photography instilling a unique knowledge and understanding of tonal values, composition and balance.

When I got a brush in my hand for the first time in 1980, it all seemed to fall into place over a short period of time.

You sometimes like to focus on birdlife and natural settings in your artworks. What draws you to these themes?

Birds and local wildflowers are elements of this region that I particularly love. Our back yard and bushland across from our home presents opportunities to take photographs, sketch and observe, which is often the basis for my artworks. We have rosellas, blue wrens, pardelotes, finches, honeyeaters, musk lorikeets, tawny frogmouth and of course galahs, magpies etc, etc in the yard and/or across in the bush. Magic subjects!

What are some of the highlights you have from your career so far?

There are many highlights, but my very first award in 1981, after only a few months of painting was an incredible feeling and certainly spurred me on to bigger and better ideas and to learn more about techniques.

The many beautiful people I have met as a result of my artwork are also very wonderful and humbling.

I presented an exhibition of my historic tram photographs at Bob Boutique in 2011 which caused an amazing interest in Bendigo trams from all over Australia.

How has your practice been affected by COVID?

It has affected everything substantially, but things will improve, we just have to do the best we can. COVID has been life changing and challenging for absolutely everyone and art is probably at the bottom of the list of essentials, which I can totally understand.

How can people find your work and most importantly purchase it?

My home studio at 76 Emmett Street, Golden Square, will be open on the long weekend in March – 10am-4pm daily. My website is gailtavener.com and my studio is also open upon request all year round by phoning 5442 4006.

My art textiles like tea towels, cushion covers, etc can also be found at Bob Boutique under the verandah of the historic Shamrock Hotel or online at bob.net.au.

The Bendigo Visitor Centre has a selection of my art prints, cards and badges.

What would you say to young regional aspiring artists?

I am a great believer in following your dreams, putting in the hard work to achieve anything that stirs your passion, no matter what field of expertise you choose.

For art, learn everything possible about techniques and how to use your chosen medium. Never try to sell anything you have copied from someone else’s work. Develop your own uniqueness and test the viability of the market by entering art shows if possible.

It can take some time to establish yourself, but if you love it, persevere, change tactics and subjects until you find your niche and of course don’t forget to have lots of fun with it and to practice a lot.