A local artist is getting ready to launch her Pioneer Valley studio and is inviting the Mackay community to get involved.
Charlene Attard has been practising art since taking art lessons with legendary Mackay artist Rosemary Payne at age 12 and has been teaching art throughout Queensland for over 20 years.
In trying to balance teaching and practising art, Ms Attard has established a studio, gallery and workshop space on her property in Netherdale called ‘The Brae’.
“I’ve never forgotten about the drive to be an artist, it’s always still been there, and I think being busy with teaching and raising a young family, I still needed to do something about continuing my work as an artist,” she said.
Ms Attard’s studio is launching as part of the Mackay Art Studio Trail, an event held throughout the Mackay Festival of Arts.
The Brae will host an opening night on Saturday, June 24, inviting artists and community members together to enjoy a night of art, live music, food and drinks.
From Sunday, June 26 to Saturday, July 15, Ms Attard will facilitate art workshops for all age groups using a variety of mediums including watercolour, printmaking, mixed media.
She said the theme of the workshops will be ‘Up Close and Far Away’.
“We’ve got 360-degree mountain views of the Pioneer Valley where we are so I’m going to be encouraging people to think about the landscape not just in a broad term but think about the experience of the landscape up close,” she said.
The gallery will also be open by appointment throughout the Mackay Festival of Arts, displaying the work of Ms Attard and five other local artists.
Ms Attard is looking forward to sharing her gift with the community as she does in her role as an art teacher at Whitsunday Anglican School, saying teaching and practicing art are interrelated.
“I think that my practice informs my teaching, and my teaching informs my practice,” she said.
“Jumping onboard with this trail and moving forward with our plans for the studio is me trying to find a better balance between working as an artist and working as an art teacher.”
For more information, visit charleneattard.com.au or Charlene Attard Artist on Facebook.
Charlene Attard is launching her studio as part of the Mackay Festival of Arts’ Mackay Art Studio Trail. Photo supplied
