Looking beyond the 9-5 routine at the people out there who decided to take the road less travelled.
In this interview its all about a life spent exploring Australia’s outback and living a fulfilling life through art.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BEVERLEY SKURULIS, ARTIST
How often do you have the opportunity to meet and interview an iconic Australian woman landscape artist?
Recently I caught up with Beverley Skurulis, a career as an Australian multi genre artist in watercolour and oil painting, as well as an entrepreneur, former gold prospector, and a collector/restorer of pioneer furniture .
Beverley’s family history is deeply ingrained in the Australian landscape, coming a from a seventh-generation family who‘s relatives pioneered through South Australia, NSW, Tasmania and then Coolgardie in Western Australia 130 years ago. Much of the pioneering spirit is so obviously reflected in her personality and her art. To have Beverley talk about her past is to discover much of Australia’s pioneering outback history that has long since disappeared.
A decade ago, I had the opportunity to purchase a couple of oil paintings and a watercolour from Beverley’s Gallery in Latrobe, Tasmania (which in itself is a must visit destination) ever since I have maintained a keen interest in her intriguing style of Naïve Art and her amazing ability to move between various genres without hesitation.
Discovering art.
What was most evident since my first visit was the dynamic, fluid nature of her subject and how she interprets it into her art. Decades of inspiration sourced from her living in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Northwest outback Australia and since 2006 in the jewel of Australian states, Tasmania, now providing the wonderful subjects for her current works.
I asked Beverley what drew her to art and now at 73 how she maintains her passion to paint.
“From my childhood I was drawn to art as my way of seeing, interpreting, and capturing the world around me. Fortunately, I was encouraged by my father. When I was just 3 or 4 Dad would buy me a little packet of Columbia colour pencils once a month to keep me inspired as he knew the look and smell of new pencils would be something I would look forward to.
He built a large wooden box for me to keep my pencils, eraser, and sharpener in. Later he made me an easel which just encouraged me further. All these years later I still have the box he made me, something that I dearly cherish”.
“I remember spending our childhood holidays at my grandparents’ homestead in the Avon Valley Northeast of Perth) my grandmother Ivy, who we called Nan, would give me large sheets of brown paper to draw on, I didn’t need much encouragement to draw as there was so much around me to capture”.
Beginnings of her life as a professional artist.
“My school years were spent at Loreto Convent in Nedlands (Perth, Western Australia) I did well at school but wasn’t a fan and being a ‘bit’ rebellious, spending more time out of school than in. It was one of the nuns, Mother Collette, who saw something in me that further spurred me on. As she walked by saying her rosary, she would slip me pencils and paper from her Nuns habit and whispered to me ‘Don’t stop drawing and never let anyone put you off as you’ll be famous one day’ That was more than enough encouragement for me”.
“After leaving school I attended Stotts Business College and did pretty well, the first of 40 of us to get a job but I was too restless, the job’s didn’t last long, preferring life at my own pace”.
“I was 23 when I married Harry Skurulis, my husband to be for 30 years until he passed. Harry was always there to let me explore my art and always there to inspire me. We settled in Karratha WA and spent many years exploring the outback, gold prospecting and painting the magnificent red earth landscapes and the people of the Pilbara and Kimberley”.
was this the catalyst for your decision to become a professional artist?
“I can say that these wonderful years certainly led to my being a full time artist. Eventually after displaying my paintings in many exhibitions and awards my works started to attract a fair bit of attention with many appearing in various galleries, resorts, corporate headquarters of Australia’s largest mining companies as well as the Ansett Perth and Qantas Karratha Airport business lounges”.
when did you decide to open a gallery for your work?
“I suppose it was inevitable I would one day open my own gallery which was in 1986 then later I started the ‘Pilbara Watercolours’ Gallery in Karratha back in 1999 and then my Latrobe gallery here in Tasmania in 2006, which I absolutely love”.
How would you best describe your art?
“Constantly evolving. I get restless with my art, I’m a pretty positive person and find myself inspired by nature and dramatic landscapes but I never want to be trapped into one style or genre. The medium and subject are flexible tools that I love to explore, although I admit, I do prefer a humorous approach to my subjects. If I was to consider a genre that my art predominantly explores at the moment I would say it’s the Naïve category, although I certainly don’t stay within its boundaries.”
What is your preferred medium these days?
“I love the richness and texture of oils and oil sticks on Belgian linen. As I was also a professionally trained seamstress, Belgian linen has the line texture that I really enjoy. In my early days I focused on watercolour but these days just the occasional dabble”.
what are your favourite subjects?
“If you ask me today the answer may be different tomorrow! I’ve been enjoying my “All about the Birds’ series of the last few months. A lot of fun. I also enjoy painting old Tasmanian buildings and towns as there is so much here to choose from when exploring the countryside. I would have to say most have a whimsical theme that can appear simple yet has an enormous amount of detail and technique involved”.
“Every now and then I’ll paint a classic landscape, such as my Mt Roland oil on canvas, closer to realism and often commented on by visitors to the gallery. Not that I don’t enjoy this style, it’s just that I prefer the more abstract and animated”.
Do your paintings hold an underlying message?
“I would think most art has some form of message, it’s what the viewer sees and interprets, everyone is different. I did do a large format landscape I entered into the Glover Award that was an interpretation of Covid taking over the Tasmanian landscape, moving relentlessly on, the painting sold very soon after completion. It was a haunting painting, a mix of beauty and dread. Not my usual style but very proud of it”.
who would you consider the average collector of your work?
“I do have many professional people looking for large paintings for their home, office, or practice, in most cases due to their financial position they have the funds to purchase my more expensive pieces and they tend to understand the value of owning one off original artwork”.
“There are also many of my clients who are really passionate about collecting original Australian art and have a deep appreciation for my style. I’ve found they will often save up to buy one piece they can afford then a couple of years later return for another and so on. I suppose you’re one of them”!
“As I’m on a tourist trail here in Tasmania I’ll have a Winnebago or caravan pull up to drop in on their travels around Tasmania, being on a budget and space limited they’ll buy some of my smaller, easy to pack pieces as a memento of their trip”.
“I have also started a limited run of prints that are larger and affordable which are popular”.
Do you paint commissions if asked?
“In the past, yes, but at my age these days I prefer to spend my time painting for myself. Not to say I wouldn’t do a commission as I had done one recently for a client here in Tasmania as she gave me full control over how it would turn out, which gladly she was ecstatic with!”
what plans do you have for the future?
“Well, this year I repainted the gallery by myself, which took a couple of weeks, I’m very happy with the result. Apart from that I’m just enjoying my art and the challenge it presents every day. I do have a few ideas for a new series, but I’ll keep that under wraps for now…”
Make Tracks is all about people challenging themselves to get out and live their preferred life, have you any words of advice for those longing to take that road less travelled?
“At 73 I can say that life is way too short so go for it! If you’ve had the chance to live it to the full and do most, if not all the things you love, then you’ll understand how it’s all been absolutely worthwhile. Of course, we can’t all just get up one day and change our lives, but nothing stops you from working towards it. Just make sure you don’t give up on your dreams. Make them happen and be the best person you can be.”
Thanks for talking with me today Beverley, it’s been a real inspiration. How can visitors find out more about your art?
“I have my website, also I’m on Facebook and Instagram if anyone is interested. Of course, if ever visiting Latrobe, Tasmania to drop into my gallery!”
View Beverleys website – www.beverleyskurulis.com
