Artist Profile: Joan Cooper
Joan, like many children during the war years, was born literally with "a brush in her hand." Most children during the World War II era were encouraged to pursue their artistic ability very early as a means of childhood occupation. After marriage, two children and a successful business enterprise behind them the family moved to Sydney. Joan completed a diploma course in Fine Arts at a South Sydney Technical College in 1972. She has been the recipient of many awards. Her business career has been weighted heavily toward fashion design.
Joan is an active member of The Royal Queensland Art Society Inc. For many years she and her husband Len (an Honorary Member) served on the management committee of The Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc. Joan and Len (a warm glass artist) are both fully committed to a visual art practice working out of Cootharaba Studio in Annerley, Brisbane. Joan has professional membership status of The National Association of Visual Artists with International recognition.
Joan enjoys the Fellowship of “Australian Active Artists” (10 respected artists) who paint together at St.Lukes Church Hall at Ekibin. Joan is actively involved with “Artists in Action,” the artists of their Fellowship who work on site to support functions held by community groups.
The influence of mentoring by respected Australian Artists such as Irene Amos, Dale Marsh and Don Waters, together with Ada and Charles Ludlow, and her friends at The Kangaroo Point Art Group has shaped Joan’s artistic career. She enjoys painting in Oils, Acrylic, Watercolour, Pastel and other drawing medium. Her work is both traditional and contemporary. She tutors in oils and acrylics at various venues upon demand.
In 2003 together with her friend and colleague, Joan became a Registered Proprietor of Les Belles Art Directors, a company involved in promotion of the visual arts. Both Directors are respected for their professional expertise in both Curating and actively exhibiting in regular sole and group exhibitions. Together Jocelyn Gedge and Joan have collectively managed 36 sole exhibitions to date. Their Blue Ribbon Exhibitions are an Annual Event in aid of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Both Joan and Len have a patriotic and spiritual love of the Australian Landscape. Extensive camping through Australia’s remotest regions are common place for the couple. Drawings and plien air painting and photographs form the core of the material they both use to create their finished work.
Joan’s unique spiritual application of colour and form, to both contemporary and traditional work, has become her trademark. Her work has attracted buyers and numerous awards from Government Departments, collectors both private and commercial together with international sales in the U.K, Russia; Canada and Europe and China.
Recently Joan and Len were invited by Roma on Bungil Gallery and the Maranoa Regional Council to mount 2 major sole exhibitions. The exhibition was the first in the series:-
• “The Essence of Australia from Desert to Sea”, 54 Impressionist Landscape paintings and 30 warm glass sculptures in April, 2012, Opened by Her Excellency, The Governor of Queensland Ms Penelope Wensley AO;
• a second in the series “The Essence of Australia -Little Gems” at Dogwood Crossing, Miles Cultural Centre in December, 2012 for the Miles Christmas Festival;
• The Goodiwindi Regional Council to present a third "The Essence of Australia-A Changing Pallette” at the Texas Regional Art Gallery opening 30 June, 2013.
Joan's philosophy is that: "No one can ever compete with the creative composition of this great universe - so don't try - just attempt to capture the essence of your surroundings and enjoy the experience."
Brief Recent History:
2011 Soroptimists in support of The Motor Neuron Foundation ;
2011 Sole Exhibition at Cootharaba Studio,
2011 Finalist Rotary “Art Spectacular” Riverfront Place;
2011 Finalist Art for Art’s Sake;
2010 Historical Open Day at St Mary’s Kangaroo Pt. Parklands “Artists in Action” Exhib.;
2010 Convened, at request of Patron Her Excellency Penelope Wensley, an Exhibition for 100 year celebration of “Fernberg” Residence -Government House.
2009/10 Les Belles Art Directors “Blue Ribbon ” Prostate Cancer Foundation Annual Les Belles Showcase of 12 Sole Exhibitors each yr. (coll. 36)
2001 Gallery 419 - The Half Dozen Group. As President of the Half Dozen Group Joan Curated and Managed Diamond Jubilee Exhibition. Hosted by RQAS. Opening Speech QAG and Supporting Speech Dr. Irene Amos OBE.
2007 Finalist in Redeemer Lutheran College “Excellence in Art Awards”
2003-11 Finalist National Watzing Matilda Ex.
Joan, like many children during the war years, was born literally with a creative ability. Most children during the World War II era were encouraged...
For many years Len had been planning to make his love of sculpturing in warm glass become a reality. As his successful business career was wound down...