Biography – Marie Green

Two art critics/assessors assessed me as an 'emerging artist' in a government valuation report so I guess that is what I am. Emerging at the age of 72 is rather delightful. After retiring from the IT world in 2005, my new husband and I moved to Agnes Water 1770 in Queensland. It is something of a paradise. I designed our new home to-be; we had it built and have now had over a decade of enjoying our private hill overlooking the Coral Sea and the rolling green valleys.

One day I knew I wanted to paint, so bought the oils, brushes, canvas, easel and set to work applying all the knowledge acquired during a four month to most of the major European art galleries in 1983. I had only learnt about oil paints as I found they had assets and techniques that really appealed to me. After quite a few trips down to the burning pile with disasters, I started to get the hang of it. I didn't want to take any workshops or lessons as I wanted to study and develop my own style. The following year 2008, I entered my first art show and won the Contemporary Section plus $1,000.00 prize. To my amazement, the other piece entered sold during the show. So I entered some more art shows and was a bit overwhelmed by the success.
I was invited to exhibit in Alaska USA in 2011 and that was a really wonderful experience on every level. Then I had a one woman show in 2012 in Brisbane Q. Huge effort for both these shows but totally worth it for the exposure, the sales and meeting and sharing ideas with collectors and fellow artists. I felt on a bit of a high so kept painting and selling through my online website but was almost unconsciously planning another show that would take me a long time and lots of money to complete.

Excluding a few of my very large nebula paintings, all my work sold with prices ranging from $150 to $4,000. Life has been very good to me and my bank account.

In 2013 I applied for a $3,000.00 grant from RADF to start the creation of an exhibition which I was told by Curators had never been done in Queensland. Thankfully, RADF gave me the full amount plus a further $1,000.00 and for the next 3 years it consumed my waking hours. The public gallery inked in my exhibition for 4 weeks in their main gallery for the middle of 2015. I shall never forget all the encouragement, help and support the Curator provided to me. First, my husband and I traveled around Queensland for three weeks gather stories and voice recording that may suit my theme of illustrating work that ordinary people did over a period of 100 years. I need each painting to present a living colour image beside an historic photograph and a voice recording where ever possible explaining the job. I freely confess that I cried when I saw all my 28 paintings hung so well in such a fine gallery.

I then needed to take a rather long spell from painting as was emotionally wrung out I think. Strange reaction though many other artists have said they had the same experience.

Now I am back and the easel and firing on all brushes and hues!