August 27, 2012
artist belinda fox
Travel plays a big role in not only Belinda Fox's life, but her art-making too. Since graduating from Victoria College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking, she has travelled extensively and managed to complete several artist residences overseas. Most recently she was invited by the Skopelos Foundation to Greece. However, it is her time in India that informs her latest exhibition at the Art House Gallery in Sydney. And next, she will exhibit in Singapore, a country that is her new home. Belinda has been voted as one of the Top 50 most collectable artists, according to the Australian Art Collector magazine. She has also won the Paul Guest Drawing Prize, the Burnie Print Prize and the Silk Cut award for lino-cuts.
Which five words best describe you? Determined, genuine, worker, traveler, mother.
How have you progressed to a career as an artist? I started out as a master printer for big artists (eg, John Olsen, David Larwill, etc) – that was the beginning of my serious start as an artist. It gave me an insight into what it took to be a practicing artist. It made me realise there is no one way, everyone did it differently. That was enormously inspiring and gave me the confidence to think I could do it as well.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don’t wait around for someone to do something for you. If it is to be, then it is up to me - as my husband always reminds me!
What was the starting point for this exhibition? A trip to India. I really wanted to capture the colour, the characters I met along the way, the heady weather and atmosphere.
What’s your proudest career achievement? The first piece the National Gallery of Australia collected and then having an artwork displayed there last year as part of their Australian Art collection. That was pretty exciting.
What’s been your best decision? To dedicate my life to being an artist.
Who inspires you? Humanity – for all its grandeur and incredible failures.
What are you passionate about? Art and my family.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Philip Guston and Kurt Vonnegut.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? It is never-ending in terms of art ambitions, but as a person I want to live a happy, balanced life - that is quite a challenge in itself.
What are you reading? The night circus by Erin Morgenstern.
How have you progressed to a career as an artist? I started out as a master printer for big artists (eg, John Olsen, David Larwill, etc) – that was the beginning of my serious start as an artist. It gave me an insight into what it took to be a practicing artist. It made me realise there is no one way, everyone did it differently. That was enormously inspiring and gave me the confidence to think I could do it as well.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Don’t wait around for someone to do something for you. If it is to be, then it is up to me - as my husband always reminds me!
What was the starting point for this exhibition? A trip to India. I really wanted to capture the colour, the characters I met along the way, the heady weather and atmosphere.
What’s your proudest career achievement? The first piece the National Gallery of Australia collected and then having an artwork displayed there last year as part of their Australian Art collection. That was pretty exciting.
What’s been your best decision? To dedicate my life to being an artist.
Who inspires you? Humanity – for all its grandeur and incredible failures.
What are you passionate about? Art and my family.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Philip Guston and Kurt Vonnegut.
What dream do you still want to fulfill? It is never-ending in terms of art ambitions, but as a person I want to live a happy, balanced life - that is quite a challenge in itself.
What are you reading? The night circus by Erin Morgenstern.
images courtesy of belinda fox and art house gallery