THIS week we chat with local illustrator and painter Amber Collet, who said living, working and exhibiting in France has been a highlight of her career, as “the Europeans really value their artists and see it as an important part of their living culture”.<\/p>\n
What initially motivated you to take up drawing and painting?<\/strong><\/p>\n I grew up in a family where there were many talented artists.<\/p>\n We had a pottery attached to our house and my parents worked at another pottery.<\/p>\n It was a time in the 70s when everyone drank from a hand-made thrown mug and casseroles were made in a clay lidded pot.<\/p>\n My mother became a painter and author.<\/p>\n My grandmother was a talented illustrator, who was also a musician and wrote poetry.<\/p>\n My French grandfather worked for the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation photographing native flora and fauna.<\/p>\n There were always many cameras and stories about trekking across the countryside to photograph and record the sound of a frog or jumping out of a moving station wagon to catch a goanna to photograph.<\/p>\n There were always interesting artistic people who came in and out of our lives.<\/p>\n How would you describe your style and how did you develop it?<\/strong><\/p>\n Portraits and realistic figurative works.<\/p>\n I paint mainly from life – my style celebrates the beauty of the figure.<\/p>\n Often, I will draw multiple figures over the top of each other or lay the drawing in ink or paint – this allows me to make decisions about what I want to keep in the drawing or painting.<\/p>\n Also, there are marks on the paper or canvas that are unplanned for.<\/p>\n On occasions I have dabbled in political statements via the figure.<\/p>\n Like (Lucian) Freud (1922-2011), the eyes are a starting point.<\/p>\n Which other illustrators or painters inspire you and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Jenny Saville (1970-) and Paula Rego (1935-).<\/p>\n Jenny Saville loves painting and drawing the figure and is not afraid to distort the figure or layer multiple drawings over the top of each other.<\/p>\n Paula Rego often depicted images of her family life and had very strong political views about women’s rights.<\/p>\n Have you had any particular mentors over your career so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n I had two female lectures at La Trobe University Bendigo – Robyn Burgess, my drawing lecturer and Julie Millowick, the photographer.<\/p>\n More recently, (well known Chewton based landscape painter, printmaker and art educator) Jeff Makin, who imparted valuable knowledge on drawing techniques, art materials and artists.<\/p>\n I really enjoyed his drawing classes and learnt a lot.<\/p>\n