My name is Michael Jones. To my friends and throughout my life I was always (and probably always will be) ‘Jonesy’. In the immortal words of Spike Milligan, “I was born at an early age.” My birthplace was Macclesfield, Cheshire, in the North West of

My life began in Helsinki, Finland, in January 1957. I came to Australia with my parents in 1959, at the tender age of two. We travelled on board an Italian ship called ‘The Aurelia’. We stayed in migrant hostels in Melbourne, Bonegila (outside Albur

• Black Colorfix paper.• Rembrandt pastels.• Pastel pencils.• Willow charcoal.• Micador Workable Matt Fixative. I drew an outline of the Galapagos Lizard in Titanium White pastel, exaggerating his bulk and form to try and capture his ‘essence’. I sh

• Stretched canvas.• Artists’ quality acrylic paints.• Artists’ brushes. I chose a 16 x 12 inch stretched canvas, from ‘Highly Strung’ Picture Framers of Eumundi in Queensland, which I primed with a liberal coating of Red Ochre Gesso. Using a white c

From a very early age I’ve been into drawing, painting and making things. I seemed to find interest in things wherever I went. I once melted down the lead from a broken stained glass window. I carved a small block of wood with a heart shape in the ce

Situated on Queensland’s beautiful Sunshine Coast, Mandy’s Sundrenched Studio is an inviting gallery space and home to the amazing creative work of artist Amanda Shadforth. “As an artist selling work in galleries, you often don’t get to hear the stor

• Jo Sonja’s acrylic paints.• Stretched cotton canvas 75 x 60 cm.• Artists’ brushes. Use a good base. For me it is canvas, but use whatever you choose. Prime and seal well. I like a light undercoat as it leaves my colours true. Get your subject where

Bloomfield in North Queensland is where I live. It is a long way from Birmingham in England where I was born. I grew up in Northern Ireland at a place called Carrickfergus – that was where my parents came from, and they returned there in 1958. I met

• Canvas 450 x 910 mm.• Artists’ quality acrylic paints.• Various brushes.• Spatular.• Matisse Gel Medium 4. During the summer months in the hinterland State forests around Pomona on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the flooded gums shed their bark and

• Micador Clean Slate Canvas Board (pure cotton) – triple gesso primed.• Colours: Process Magenta, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow; Chroma Forest Green, White, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt; Atelier Quinacridone Magenta,• Palette Sap Green knife , Paynes

• Stretched linen canvas 24 x 24 inches.• Artists’ oil paints: Winsor & Newton and Art Spectrum. Colours including Magenta, Cobalt Blue, Olive Green, Blue Black, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Flinders Blue Violet and Titanium White.• Artists’ brush

My home is in the community of Bogan Gate, where I work as a ‘Postie’ delivering mail to the town and surrounding farms. I was born in nearby Parkes. I have had no formal training in art, although it was one of my subjects at high school. I love the

• Artists’ canvas.• Winsor & Newton oil colours, including: Titanium White, Carbon Black, Burnt Sienna, Naples Yellow Hue, Yellow Ochre and Dioxazine Purple.• Various quality brushes – preferably Sable – ranging from broad to very fine. This is a por

• Music on CD.• Sketch book; butchers’ paper; 2B and 6B pencils.• Good quality canvas – hand framed.• 4cm flat brush.• Pigmented light gesso base.• White charcoal.• Reeves Acrylic paint: Paynes Grey; Violet; Cerulean Blue; Burnt Sienna; Burnt Umber;

I selected a suitable study from a recent life drawing session. On this occasion I was fortunate enough to have Fergus (the model’s cat) to pose as well. With a generous amount of Phthalo Blue and White, I applied sweeping strokes with a large foam b

John Shields is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of History and Arts; a Life Member and Past President of the Macquarie Towns Arts Society; an Exhibiting Member of the New South Wales Royal Art Society; and a Life Member of the Baulkham Hills Art

To achieve the best results, I commenced the painting with the attitude ‘this is going to be the best painting I have attempted up to this date’. The following steps have worked for me. I have developed them over the past 40 years. However, individua

Tanzania in East Africa was Louise Derry’s birthplace. Her home these days is in far north Queensland. She has earned an arts degree in ‘Art, Design and Technology’ which combined a variety of art modules including pottery; printmaking; fabrics; silv

I’ve chosen this subject for several reasons. It has all the elements I love in a view: An elevated perspective, a vast panorama, a wide expanse of water reflecting the colours of the ever changing sky. I couldn’t ask for more. I will doubtless paint