PROFILE



BIOGRAPHY

Anita Bentley was born in Adelaide, SA. Her interest and ability in art showed at an early age however she was encouraged to pursue an academic education, rather than artistic, which ultimately lead to working in the field of civil engineering and project management in various consultancy practices for many years. In 1992 Anita graduated from the University of South Australia with a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

In 2002 Anita had a career change from engineering management to seriously pursue her life’s ambition to be a professional artist. Anita is a representational artist working primarily in water colour. From 2003 to 2006 Anita exhibited her works from her own Sundew Studio Gallery, at Ashbourne. Now residing in the Hutt Street Precinct in Adelaide, and with recent overseas trips to France, Greece, the UK, Italy and Turkey, Anita has added street and urban scenes to her list of favourite subjects to paint. The Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Flinders Ranges continue to be amongst Anita’s favourite subjects.

Anita’s paintings are held in many private collections in Australia and overseas. Anita is a juror & member of the International Watercolour Society and primary administrator & founding member of Adelaide Urban Sketchers. Her work can be seen on the web at www.facebook.com/AnitaJBentley. Anita is available for workshops and commissions and can be contacted by using the Contact Form on the HOME page.


ARTIST STATEMENT

I paint in a semi-impressionist representational style. My working progress generally involves “en plein air” sketching and painting which is supplemented by taking many photographs of the scene. Gathering the reference material in this manner is essential for me to familiarise myself with the atmosphere of my chosen subject. Once back in my studio I use this material and my memories to compose my painting. Sometimes though, if time and weather permit, I complete a painting entirely outdoors. I work primarily in watercolour because the main attribute of this medium is its transparency which I think can best describe the nuances of light and atmosphere.There is no doubt that watercolour is a frustrating medium; it is often considered to be the most difficult painting medium to master. At times it seems as if it has a mind of its own and progress can often seem like two steps forward followed quickly after by one step back. The secret is a passion for the medium, enjoyment of the process of painting and above all else, perseverance. I like to create happy paintings! Those that lift our spirits and make us feel good about the world we live in. This is the challenge for me as an artist intent on capturing our world on paper in watercolour.


ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS

2003 Royal Adelaide Show Art Purchase Exhibition - Highly Commended
2003 Murray Bridge Rotary Art Show - Sponsor’s Selection
2004 Heysen Prize for Australian Landscape - Finalist
2004 Port Adelaide Rotary Art Show - Merit Award
2005 Noarlunga Rotary Art Show - Highly Commended
2005 Murray Bridge Rotary Art Show - Sponsor’s Selection
2005 Heysen Prize for Australian Landscape - Finalist
2006 Freemasons Art Exhibition - Invited Artist
2006 Heysen Prize for Australian Landscape - Finalist
2007 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2007 Peterborough Art Prize - Highly Commended
2007 Freemasons Art Exhibition - Invited Artist
2007 Royal Adelaide Show Art Purchase Exhibition - First Prize
2008 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2009 Flagstaff Hill Ro tary Art Show - Invited Artist
2009 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Eckersley’s Special Award
2009 Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AAL Autumn competition) - Finalist & Commended
2009 Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AAL Spring competition) - Finalist
2010 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2011 Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2011 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2011 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Fourth Prize
2011 Lalla on Hutt Art Prize (SALA) - Second Prize
2012 Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2012 Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AAL Autumn competition) - Finalist & Commended
2013 Victor Harbor Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2013 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2013 Australian Artist Magazine - three part series in Issues 346 April, 347 May & 348 June
2013 Australian Guild of Realist Artists (AAL Summer) - First Prize, Highly Commended & Finalist
2013 Artist's Palette Magazine - Issue 127 "Insight" & "Demonstration" October
2014 National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, Flinders University - Commission
        (7 paintings)
2014 Adelaide Parklands Art Prize - Finalist (2 paintings)
2014 International Watercolour Society - Invited Demonstrator& Panelist at IWS Festival
         in Cappodocia, Turkey, May 2014
2014 Australian Guild of Realist Artists - Finalist Australian Art Excellence Awards Exhibition,
         November 2014
2014 Public Schools Club - Solo Exhibition
2014 Artist's Palette Yearbook 2014 - Where Art They Now?
2015 Queen Elizabeth II, Cunard Line - Art Tutor Sydney to Hong Kong (23 Days)      
2015 Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Judge & Invited Artist
2015 Magpie Springs, Willunga, Solo Exhibition - Invited Artist
2016 Australian Artist Magazine (Issue 380 – Feb.) - Invited Artist 
2016  Flagstaff Hill Rotary Art Show - Invited Artist
2016 Navy, Military and Airforce Club - Solo Exhibition
2016 Box Factory, SALA on Hutt - Solo Exhibition
2017 St Andrews Hospital - Solo Exhibition
2017 Box Factory, SALA on Hutt - Solo Exhibition
2017 Hills Psychology Centre, Stirling - Solo Exhibition
2018 Box Factory, Mediterranean & More - Solo Exhibition

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...