BIO
Julie Goldspink – Realist Impressionist Artist
Born Julie May Cheal in 1951, Kingston, South Australia, moved to the Central Coast of NSW in 1954 and then again to Coffs Harbour on the Mid North Coast, NSW in 1956.
Coming from Musical and Artistic families and growing up in this beautiful seaside town with the stunning beaches, rivers and the hinterlands, inspiration surrounded her. Although learning and loving music as a child, she came to realise that her greatest desire was drawing and painting.
While still attending High School, Julie painted and exhibited, winning local and district prizes, and selling her first artworks. After leaving school and while working she studied Certificate courses in Oil Painting and Drawing at night at T.A.F.E. College. Always pursuing her growing love of art, she continued painting at weekends for district Exhibitions. Later she moved to Sydney and then Canberra with work. At night and weekends Julie took lessons in Porcelain painting and learnt some basics in Pottery from a family member. She soon found that both disciplines were too restrictive for exploring self-expression.
A few years passed by quickly, dealing with family commitments. Now living in Wagga Wagga, Julie joined the local Art Society. Painting, holding Exhibitions and exhibiting throughout the Riverina District, she acquired many Awards and was selling works to local and overseas art lovers. As Julies profile was growing, an opportunity arose, and she was excepted as a mature age student at CSU at Wagga. Here she studied for a B.A. in Fine Arts, and gained a broad knowledge in Textiles, Printmaking, Painting, Graphic Arts and Art History. Due to a family tragedy, Julies studies were cut short and
sadly, she was unable to continue after moving once again, to Port Macquarie.
After Julie and her husband were settled, they purchased a well established and recognised Everglades Fine Art Gallery at Port Macquarie. Together they expanded the business by building a space for Picture Framing and opening a Café area at the Entrance to the shop and the Gallery. This proved extremely popular, and a desirable destination for locals and holiday makers alike. Operating the three business as one, became a remarkably busy but a rewarding and amazing experience. Putting on regular Exhibitions, learning and working in the Picture Framing, assisting local artist with framing needs and exhibitions, and managing the café, meant employing artists friends to help, whenever needed. For the years spent running the Gallery, Julie gained an appreciation for many other Artisans working with different mediums, such as Pottery making, Textiles, Glasswork, Woodwork and Sculptures. She now viewed the art world from a different perspective, mainly a commercial one. Julies husband meanwhile was well known around the area now and had started up their own Building company again with one of their sons, which now allowed Julie to retire from the Gallery and pursue her great love of painting full time, for the first time. She gradually started to build up her Gallery outlets in Sydney, Hunter Valley, Interstate and Regionally and firmly established herself as a recognised artist.
Julie spent many years, close to twenty, being actively involved with the Hastings Valley Fine Art Association, to which she is now a life member and the Port Macquarie Art Society. During those years she was President, Secretary and Tutorial convenor, bringing many of Australia’s most recognised artists that she had met, to do Workshops for the Hastings Valley Art Society. After moving into a new home Gavin and Julie opened a new Picture Framing business, where her son Ken looked after all their clients framing requirements. She had her own Studio and ran weekly classes as well as an Art Gallery at the front of her home overlooking the beautiful Hastings River. When Julies husband decided to retire from the Building trade, it was time for another move, this time down to the lovely, picturesque Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. In the last ten years she has established herself within the art scene around the metropolitan and regional areas of Victoria. She belongs to many Art Societies where she teaches and holds workshops and demonstrations regularly. Julie is a promotor for Daniel Smith Fine Art Watercolours with her own Dot Card and is supported by Senior Art Supplies Melbourne Stores. She also has her own Signature Neef Mop Brush Series 554 sold at Seniors.
Julie predominantly works with traditional media, being trained in Oil painting. But for the past twenty years has had a passion for Watercolours, for which she has become well recognised. She mainly paints Landscapes, Seascapes, Riverscapes, Still Life, Flowers, Birds and Creative Collage works. Julie describes herself as a Realist Impressionist, but her creative and collage works are Expressionist Abstract works.
Julie has been promoted by the Australian Artist Magazine, Artist Palette and Travelrite to lead Plein Air Painting workshops tours.
She holds regular classes, painting tours, demonstrations, workshops for Art Societies and judging.
In 2014 she was invited to become a member of the prestigious Australian Watercolour Institute and in 2017 became a Fellow of the Australian Guild of Realist Artists.
Julie has a series of DVD, s with Paint Down Under, where she demonstrates her methods and skills. Like minded artists can enjoy watching while picking up a brush and trying out new ideas they have learned while watching.
ARTICLES (Australian Artist Magazine, MARCH, NOV, & DEC 2016) JAN & DEC 2018) JAN2019) Artist Palette Magazine (ISSUE 144)
YOUTUBE – Colour in Your Life with Graeme Stevenson. This can be viewed on my Website.
MEMBER
Life Member – Hastings Valley fine Art Association.
Fellow of Australian Guild of realist Artists
Australian Watercolour Institute
Watercolour Society of Australia
Peninsula Art Society
Berwick Art Society
McClelland Artist Guild
Sherbrooke Art Society
EDUCATION/ACHIEVEMENT
Coffs Harbour High School
(1st Advanced Level Art/History
TAFE – Fine Art Certificate Courses in Oil/Drawing
Porcelain Painting Canberra & Exhibited in Melbourne
B.A. Fine Art Degree (1 year) – CSU Wagga Wagga
Participated in numerous Workshops with many of Australia’s leading artist listed below. The world of knowledge gleaned from these predominant artists, was priceless and helped in countless ways, develop the artist Julie has become today.
Jack McDonough WC , Joshua Smith Portrait in Oils, Eve Close Portrait in Oils, Joseph Zbukvic WC, Alvaro Castagnet WC, Ross Paterson WC, Ron Muller WC, Herman Pekel, WC/Acrylic, Colley Whisson Oils, Barbara McManus Pastel, Robert Wilson Oils, Noeline Miller Acrylic, Helen Goldsmith WC, Lyn Butchart Creative, Barry & Lucy McCann WC, Grace Paleg Pastel, John Perkins Oils, Reg Campbell Portrait in Oils, Greg Allen WC, Lucia Ray Collage, Colina Grant Pastel, Graham Cox Oils, Ted Berry Pastel, John Corby Oils.