Julie Diana Lawless

Julie-Lawless-new

I am a Tasmanian Contemporary Naive Artist with no formal qualifications in Art, although I have been practicing art all my life, and Art was my best subject in Junior High School.

I do hold qualifications however – an Honours Degree in Life Science, an Arts Degree in Philosophy, a Diploma of Disability, and am currently studying towards a Bachelor of Dementia Care (BDC).

My early work was quite complex, very conceptual and abstract, and mostly in ink.

Pop Top
‘Pop Top’ (Oil on gessoboard 60 x 83 cm)

My debut entry in the Overload Art Exhibition for Haemochromotosis Awareness 2013.

Smart
‘Smart’ (Oil on gessoboard 53 x 83cm)

I did not take up a painting until 2001, and soon after started exhibiting with a number of Tasmanian community exhibition groups.

Since then, pieces of my work have been called “naive”, “kitsch”, “quirky”, and “crude”. I have also been called a “Naive Master”, and a “Master of my own art”. With a broad repertoire of styles, I have even been criticised for being too diverse.

Since starting to paint, I have had private drawing lessons with Karen Armstrong, from Inka.

More recently I have made the transition back to a conceptual style of expression – this time in paint.

At the recommendation of Corinne Costello, I have been keeping a Conceptual Journal, and this has provided me with lots of material to work with. I am very happy with the result, and relish every opportunity to express my ideas, thoughts, and feeling, in the vibrant colour of oils.

I thank my teachers, and artistic influencers Betty Nolan, Bobby-z Lambert, Chen Ping, Katherine Cooper, Rachel Ireland-Meyers, and Sarah Weaver, for encouraging me, and helping to maintain my Naive style.

Mistress Kelly's Escapade
‘Mistress Kelly’s Escapade’ (oil on card 60 x 80 cm)
Girl at Sphinx Rock Lookout
‘Girl at Sphinx Rock Lookout’ (oil on card, 80 x 60 cm)

I have been a member of the ‘Huon Art Exhibitions Group’ (HAEG) since 2003, and have exhibited regularly in our ‘Southern Exposure’ exhibition and ‘Watermark’ competition held on alternating years at Cygnet, now the “Huon Art Awards”.

I have also exhibited at annual exhibitions of the Kingborough Lions Club; Artery ‘Seniors Art Exhibition’ at the Royal Hobart Show; Rotary ‘Art Exhibition’ at Wrest Point Casino; for many years, and Optomeyes Hobart City Mission ‘Art Show’ in the Long Gallery, Salamanca.

The Carnival is Over
‘The Carnival is Over (oil on gessoboard, 141 x 87 cm)’ This was my entry in Optomeyes Hobart City Mission 2013.

In 2013, I made my debut in the ‘Overload’ Art Exhibition for Haemochromotosis Awareness, and the Menzies Institute’s ‘Art of Christmas’ exhibition.

I exhibited with Overload until 2016, and the Art of Christmas once.

In 2016, I stopped participating in community exhibitions to focus on my studies, and painting. Since 2016, Karina from Shiver Me Timbers has been selling my art work, printed on bags and scarfs, at Salamanca

Julie Diana Lawless may be contacted at lawlessj@iinet.net.au or 0478598012