Jean Ballands was born in Africa. Now she a professional practicing artist living on the North Coast of New South Wales, at Port Macquarie. Jean is a painter and printmaker. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Visual art and a Fine Arts bachelor degree at Curtin University, Perth.
Jean works with acrylic paints whose material properties lend to similar environmental cycles, patterns, washes, and highlights found in nature. Her creative process relies initially on observations translated through manipulation of paint, to give an overall sense the everyday walking through nature.
This is everyday study has been further extended to her walking with her dachshunds and interest in dog portrait painting.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Curtin University 2018
Advance Diploma of Visual Arts, Kempsey TAFE 2014
Diploma of Visual Art, Wauchope, TAFE, 2013
Bachelor of Science Open University, London 2003
Design and Technology Education, Sydney University 1997
Diploma of Education, Hawkesbury Agricultural College, Australia 1989
Awards
2017 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Academic Excellence Top 1%, Curtin University
2013 Mid North Coast TAFE Institute – Top Graduating Student
Exhibitions
2014 ‘8 dimensions’, Mackay Valley Community Gallery
2017 ‘The transition of light’ Sunset Gallery Port Macquarie
These photographs are the culmination of Jean’s research and work about the gothic within her local landscape. Her paintings are floating in the river, the source of her work. The reflections in the river give a sense of the gothic.
Dachshunds and dog portraits have become a favourite subject