When Being an Artist Is Who You Are with Annette Fuller

Being an artist and creating is who I am and is as necessary as breathing for my mind body and soul.

Art gives me far more than just joy, if I am away too long from engaging in my art practice my fingers get itchy, there rarely goes a day I do not make or create in some form.

I cannot imagine not having art in my life. While I have many other hats in life through work, with friends, at my core is being an artist, it has been the one constant thread throughout my life.

Inspiration All Around for the Artist

My work is heavily influenced by my sense of place, whether it be the familiarity of the small coastal community on the eastern coast of Tasmanian where I currently live with my dog, or a favourite weekend spot or a distant land I have journeyed on.

Tasmania has such a rich and varied landscape which changes constantly with the seasons, light and mood it feels like a smorgasbord of offerings.

Exploring from the smallest plants, and insects high in the Alpine regions to the wide-open skies of the midlands.

How the Home Grew Into the Studio It Was Always Meant to Be!

Living alone with my dog in a small 2-bedroom cottage I started by converting my dining room, really just the other end of the kitchen into my studio in a vain attempt to at least keep the paint splatters in one area.

With the rest of the house a moving gallery of works completed, collected and various other treasures found.

Oh, and of course, the books on painting, painters and everything in between.

I then needed somewhere for my sewing machine, a separate table for printing.

I suddenly go the bright idea to turn my whole house into an artist studio.

This allows me now to have messy areas, a clean space when needed and I still have a spare bed for visitors they just need to give me notice so I can clear off the collections of papers and half-finished and finished works I have piled on top.

Growing as an Artist with Workshops

Sharing and supporting others creativity through workshops is an absolute privilege and something I love to do.

Whether it is bookmaking, eco printing, mark making or just exploring the joy of creating.

Finding Your Artistic Voice

Developing spaces for others to find and explore their artistic voice and challenge those personal beliefs that I cannot draw, paint, or be creative.

To them watch the same people create something they didn’t believe they could, their joy and excitement is contagious.

Artists Sharing Lessons Learnt and Flourishing Together

As artists we have all learnt and walked alongside others who shared their knowledge and techniques, positive support or have just been there for us.

My journey as an artist is filled with other wonderful artists and creatives who have shared and been there for me when I thought I couldn’t.

Lessons to Share with Other Artists

Have a thick skin and remember being chosen or not in an exhibition does not define your abilities as an artistic but merely reflects the tastes of one or more judges on a particular day.

Understand that you will receive far more rejections than acceptances.

This is where if you love creating your art and you love the outcomes that is what matters.

I do not create for other people to like my work, of course when they do it’s wonderful but that is such a fleeting moment compared to the many many solitary hours of work I put into my art.

In saying that you also need to put yourself out there and share your amazing creativity.

It is also great to see you work all dressed up in its finery on the wall.

Seeing your work outside your studio mounted, framed and on a wall is a lovely feeling.

About the Artist

Nature, the landscape and our human interdependency with, form my inspiration.

I have a deep-seated connection with the environment and the world that surrounds me.

My art is a reflection of my sense of place, whether it be the familiarity of home or the fleeting impressions of a distant journey.

As a multi-disciplinary artist, I draw on a range of techniques to explore my visuals responses to the environment.

My work seeks to both celebrate and evoke the joy of nature and invite reflection on our increasingly fragile interrelationship with our natural world.

Be sure to follow Annette on Facebook and Instagram for a delightfully healthy dose of inspiration, her latest exhibition news and intriguing workshops, oh, and her adorable dog!