Sylvia Ditchburn
Featured artist Sylvia Ditchburn appeared on Colour In Your Life Season Six (6). Read a little bit about the artist here and support our site by joining and watching the episode below.
Since coming to North Queensland from the Darling Downs in the 1960s, Sylvia has been inspired by the tropical environment for her work. After graduating with a PhD in 2000 at James Cook University Townsville, Dr Ditchburn continues to depict Australian natural environments in her typically vibrant gouache and acrylic palette.
A freelance fine artist and essentially plein-air painter, Sylvia brings together images from her extensive painting trips throughout Australia. These include the Kimberley and Broome in West Australia, MacDonnell Ranges, Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Devil’s Marbles in central Australia, Simpson and Painted deserts, Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges in South Australia, Lost City and Kakadu in the Northern Territory, contrasted with the lush and dry tropics of north Queensland coastal fringe.
As an artist-in-residence at Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon trust in 2000, Sylvia’s field of reference also extends to the Shoalhaven River area in NSW. In 2007 an Art Residency in Beijing China with Red Gate Gallery was an amazing experience resulting in inclusion in a group show at Pickled Art Gallery Beijing.
In 2008 Sylvia held 5 solo shows in the Tomsk region in Russia, Framed Gallery Darwin, selected for Olympic Fine Art 2008 Exhibition in Beijing China, receiving an Olympic Medal. Exhibiting for many years with local galleries, in July 2008 Sylvia opened her own boutique gallery at Metro Quays, in the CBD, Townsville. In 2012-13 Sylvia is represented by Agora Gallery, New York.
With more than 35 years of experience exhibiting her work, Sylvia has received over 50 awards for her art, held 50 solo exhibitions and been included in more than 200 curated and invitational group shows. She has also been invited to judge several art competitions in North Queensland and tutor for Cairns Art Escape and Flying Arts.
Sylvia specialises in tropical landscapes and is well known as one of North Queensland’s foremost artists. Working with gouache (opaque watercolour) on acid-free rag paper and oils or acrylic on canvas, her paintings reflect the ambience of natural environments from the beach to the bush.
Artist residencies at Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon Trust, Uluru and Port Douglas as well as a recent foray into Asia with Redgate Gallery Beijing enrich Sylvia’s creative work.
You can contact Sylvia Ditchburn directly via her website at http://www.sylviaditchburn.com/
Episode: S06E06
Original Air Date: 22nd December 2013
