Julie Johnstone

JULIE JOHNSTONE 

Artist Statement 
My works are composite pictures. They are my interpretations of particular landscapes. They are part representational, part memory and part intuition. Composed from fleeting notes, longer observations and detailed documentations of the landscape they are informed by the senses; the sights and sounds, flavours and feelings experienced whilst driving through, walking across or sitting in the landscape. I seek to depict the shapes, colours and textures, and to reveal the patterns and underlying rhythms to create an image that is suggestive of a landscape. The works in this exhibition are the outcome of two driving holidays in 2018. The first was driving from Cairns to Darwin via the Savannah Way, taking in the gulf country, arid outback plains, desert oases, remote ranges and wetlands. The second was to Lake Mungo, through outback red-dirt, saltbush country to a landscape of lunettes and stars. I work in coloured chalk pastels, combing drawing with more painterly techniques.

Selected Group Exhibition
2020 ‘Take 6 for IWD’, Thienny Lee Gallery, Sydney
2018 Northern Beaches Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Honourable Mention, Works on Paper
2018 SH Ervin Gallery, Volunteers Exhibition
2017 SH Ervin Gallery, Volunteers Exhibition
2016 Warringah Art Prize Finalist Exhibition, Honourable Mention, Works on Paper
2016 Taree Open Art Exhibition
2016 Sheffer Gallery, Darlington
2015 Taree Open Art Exhibition, Highly Commended, Drawing
2013 Taree Open Art Exhibition, Highly Commended, Drawing
2013 Solerno Gallery, Glebe
2012 Friends of Meriden, Meriden School

Art Education and Related Work Experience
2016 – 2019 Docent and educator (casual, SH Ervin Gallery)
1990 – 2013 Head of Department – Visual Arts, Meriden School
1985 – 1989 Visual Arts Teacher, Meriden School
1979 – 1983 Visual Arts Teacher, Wenona School
1977 – 1978 Travelling, working, self-education, Europe and Asia
1976 Visual Arts Teacher, Swansea High School
1972 – 1975 Dip Art Education,  Newcastle CAE