A celebration of a lifetime of art

FOR Swedish-born artist Eva Nauckhoff, art isn’t something she found, it is something that has always been a part of her.

“I think it’s just something you do,” she said. “Even from first couple years in school, I never stopped thinking in visions, in pictures, even in movies.”

“It’s always been this constant thing – everything I see becomes a piece of art.”

Eva, who works primarily with oil, watercolour, and pencils, said she has been painting her whole life.

 

At fifteen, she was attending life drawing sessions and planning to study at the Academy of Art in Sweden.

However, he path shifted when she discovered an affinity for design, art direction and architecture, which led to a lifelong career in advertising.

“It all seemed very straightforward after high school – it’s been all advertising really, she said, “although I’ve always been painting, always been working on my fine art.”

Wherever she has lived, Eva has found ways to exhibit her work. “Every two was three years, I’ve tried to have a show of some sort… even if it’s just a set of drawings or a set of watercolours.”

Advertising, too, gave her a chance to blend creativity into her career.

“I had a sign above my desk that said ‘advertising is art’,” she recalled. “When you’re in design, it’s your duty to make things look good.”

Similarly, her career in advertising has influenced her artistic pursuits. “I always have a theme,” she said, “I’m so used to that from my work in advertising, it’s like the theme becomes a client.”

Eva’s artistic journey has taken her across the world, from working in Sweden, America and England, to eventually moving to Australia, which she first called home in 1967.

In 1990, she returned permanently, making a home with her now late husband on the Bellarine.

“I always felt that it was as much home as Sweden was for me, if not more,” she said.

Her latest exhibition, Metamorphosis, on display at Artisans of Australia in Curlewis, captures that idea of change and evolution throughout her life.

“It’s all about change, all about new beginnings,” Eva said. “I thought I’d get samples from everything I’ve done.”

Among the artworks is an oil painting of a eucalyptus tree she first saw while walking her son to Geelong College. “I thought it was a bleeding gum tree, so I sketched it, did a quick watercolour, then went home and painted it in oil,” she said.

Eva has previously exhibited a series works on eucalyptus, she said she has often been drawn to the natural flora and fauna of Australia.

 

“I’m fascinated with Australian florals and fauna, and all of those fantastic eucalyptus trees.”

“They’re so unique, and they tell such a big story. And they’re so beautiful when they start to decay, it’s always fascinated me. You walk around the bush, it’s a whole exhibition there.”

“Australia is very, very close to my heart… I used to come back a lot and I always loved Australia. Every time I fly in, I think, oh yeah, I’m home”

Eva now paints primarily from her home studio, “basically, the whole place is a studio,” she said.

The Bellarine has long been her creative and personal haven. She bred horses here, raised her four sons, and still teaches riding lessons.

She said horses have played a significant role across her whole life. “When you work in advertising, you need real life,” she said. “Coming home to the farm, to the horses – it’s a kind of meditation.”

Surrounded by paintings and drawings from across her lifetime, Eva said the artworks “feel like children.” Whilst it can be hard to let them go, she said she loves seeing her artworks find a new life in people’s homes.

Eva has continued to find new inspiration for her artworks, including a series of landscapes inspired by a recent trip to South Africa.

 

“It’s unlike any place on Earth,” she said. “There’s so much to paint – it’s really fantastic.”

For aspiring artists, she offers simple but passionate advice. “Look at things, and study, study, study,” she said. “Do life drawing as much as possible – or draw sculptures if you can’t do live models. And know the old masters. Go back and learn what made their work last.”

She said these artists whose work has stood the test of time are a perfect opportunity to learn, encouraging people to start by copying what these artists have already done.

She recalled a friend who, in learning to illustrate, had copied every one of Michelangelo’s drawings. “Drew through the whole of Michelangelo’s works, page, by page, by page, copy, copy, copy. It really is a rocket science,” she said.

Eva Nauckhoff’s exhibition Metamorphosis is on display until Monday, January 26, at Artisans of Australia in Curlewis.

For more information, head to evanauckhoff.com