Ann Steer Art Gallery

Army Art Fine Art Fund Raising Exhibition

 

Army Art Doors open at 7pm on the 24th August to this years Army Art Exhibition. 

Admittance to Opening Night is by pre-purchased ticket only $20 (plus booking fee). 
Tickets are now available for purchase via the Army Art website.

Opening the Exhibition this year will be the Governor of Western Australia, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley AC.

Come along and enjoy wonderful West Australian art work, fabulous wine, delicious food all while supporting the WA art community and our very worthy beneficiaries Tiny Sparks WA, Working Spirit.

 

Northern suburbs artist Ann Steer has an abiding love of the ocean and coastline, capturing it's endless moods in a beautiful palette of acrylic and pastel.

Ann who is always happy to use her art to get involved with the community and support fabulous charities, is looking forward to the opportunity to support both Tiny Sparks and Working Spirit through sales of her beautiful seascapes.   Ann will have a selection of artwork available for purchase at Army Art this year.  For first pick of the exhibited art work opening night on Friday 24th August is the place to be.  

Has creativity or making art helped you with any important life transitions you have experienced?

Yes absolutely, I worked as a book keeper for 19 years and my art was secondary to my main source of income.  I finally transitioned to becoming a full time artist 2 years ago and it was the best thing I have ever done for my soul and my work reflects the change I made.

 Describe how you came to start making art.  

 When I left high school I enrolled in a printmaking course at Perth Technical College, there was a lot of tuition from lecturers who were practicing artists and it was a wonderful creative environment.  After that course I didn’t paint for many years and around 10 years ago was introduced to pastels and I just loved that medium.  Now I teach acrylics and pastels to adults and children and love getting to meet new people every day.

 

 

Who or what are the strongest influences on your art? 

 Our beautiful coastline is such an endless source of inspiration.  People often ask me do you get bored of painting the beach and I say absolutely not.  The mood of the ocean changes every day.  I get so excited by the promise of a new blank canvas, that early time when you are collating photographs, rummaging through the colourful array of pastels, sketching in the composition, it’s a free and easy time with no pressure or expectations.

 Describe your art practice what does a typical day of creative work look like for you?

 The day always starts with music, it just puts me in a great mood and I have such varied tastes so you never know what may be on the playlist.

 I have usually thought about what I will do in the studio that day a couple of days before.  I have lots of fantastic photographs that I take wherever I go, amazing sunsets, pathways to the beach and dancing shadows. I have been known to pull out my camera at odd times to get a snapshot of that wonderful cloud formation or the light hitting the ocean as the sun sets.  I think artists see the world differently, we are constantly being provided with information.

 I used to work very tightly following the reference material closely now I find I use the image as a guide and I paint much more freely.  I spend time getting my colour palette together before I commence a new piece as the entire essence and mood of the painting is so important to the overall finished piece.

 

 

What is the inspiration behind your current body of work?

 Waves, waves and more waves, we have been getting some stormy weather coming through lately and the formation of waves have been larger than we normally get.  I have been the crazy lady in my beanie getting as close as I can to the action.  I have some fabulous photographs that I am itching to put on to canvas.

 

 Do you have any exciting news to share about your art practice?  

 I currently have a solo exhibition at Leamac Picture Framing in Clarkson, I get so much support from my local area and I love being able to exhibit close to home. 

 

Tickets for opening night are available via Sticky Tickets