Joan Tallent
How long have you been in Ballarat and what prompted you to move here?
My husband and I have lived in this area for about 29 yrs, the first 23 being on 10 acres at Ross Creek and now 5 ½ years living in Delacombe. We first moved to Ross Creek for a ‘tree change’ and loved our time living there but due to getting older and other factors we downsized into suburbia , where our largish block has room for an extensive garden (my husband’s area) and a studio for my artwork.
How did your journey as an artist begin?
I have enjoyed drawing from childhood although there were no artistic influences within my family. So drawing was always just a hobby even whilst I brought up a family and had a career as a Health Professional. A desire to do more just came about in my early 40’s when I started working in pastel and my journey has steadily progressed from that time.
How would you describe your arts practice?
I still view myself as simply a Very Keen Hobby Artist although I have sold paintings over the years and won some Art Show Prizes. My arts practice could be best described as a constant quest to learn and improve—and to always enjoy the creative process. I am a Realist artist and draw inspiration from a wide variety of subjects creating in pastel, oil, pen & wash and watercolour.
How would you describe the creative community in Ballarat?
Ballarat’s creative community appears to be quite varied but I’m not sure how cohesive it is in reality. I belong to the Ballarat Society of Artists plus 2 groups based in Melbourne but I also sketch or paint with other artists separately to these organised groups.
What are you working on right now?
I have recently finished a portrait in oil which was quite challenging after an equally challenging pastel work. So currently I am having fun painting a very loose, abstract base ( oil on canvas) over which I aim to reproduce a simple drawing of a figure from when I attended life drawing classes. In addition, whilst the Covid 19 situation is on-going my Melbourne based painting buddy and I are each aiming to do “ a sketch a day” and send photos of our efforts to each other.
Describe your studio or favourite workspace?
I love my BIG studio which has a glass sliding doors at one end looking onto our garden and also there is a cosy sitting area where I can think about what I am currently working on or start planning the next project. I have areas for each medium and although I am not a naturally tidy person I work better if my studio space is semi-organised. My little dog Milo often joins me in the studio. However as well as my studio I also really enjoy painting ‘en plein air’ but don’t do this often enough. But painting like this can be a joy and outdoors you are experiencing the whole ambience of the place from the weather, the light and the sky changing, the birds singing, the wind murmuring through the foliage and plein air gives a truer perspective than any photo.
