Before retirement, Gillian Day worked as a paste-up artist in magazines, newspapers and at small printing businesses in Sydney. Now she creates art in a multitude of forms and mediums with flair, ingenuity and an interesting fusion of her own life experiences.
“I am quiet by nature, but when it comes to art, well, that is my voice,” she says. “Through my artwork I can tell my story and often it is my past experiences from which I draw.”
Gillian grew up in Lane Cove, but when she was about seven years old her family moved to Mexico.
“I remember the smells and the local influences were all very different. But my memories are full of the colours that surrounded me.
“I began to draw, sketch and paint even at this early age. It was entertainment for me, and being somewhat alone, my skills developed. Compared to the greys of Sydney in the 1950s, Mexico was colourful and steeped in history. The Aztecs, the calendar, the pyramids, balloons and ice-cream vendors, all of this often comes back and certainly influences my work.
“Later, my family moved to San Francisco. Flower power and a more relaxed atmosphere allowed me more freedom.
“Our family later returned to Sydney and then the escarpment of Austinmer led me to the area. I love the escarpment, particularly in times of mist, it took me back to my childhood and I felt like I had come home when we moved to Moore Street. The swell of the ocean, the Norfolk pines and as a ‘water-baby’ I still love the sparkling seas.”
Gillian paints with acrylic and oil paints on paper, canvas and, occasionally, on board.
“Sometimes I take some of my past prints and paint on top of these but my treatment of oil paints differ from my acrylic paintings. My oil paintings come from a visceral, rather than an intellectual, process, whereas my more textured oil paintings are a sensual reaction to the surface of the canvas or board as well as the paint.”
Performance in Landscape, a drone-shot film of Northern Illawarra beaches that Gillian worked on with Paul Higgs, was a Highly Commended entry in the 2022 Lethbridge Landscape Prize.
Gillian moves with ease between sculpture, ceramics, photography and print-making and she is making an amazing contribution to art in our region. Her joy and insights can inspire us all.
She is grateful to her husband, Peter, for his continued support and encouragement.
Please call Gillian on 0414 339 597 for sales and more information.
Writer Janice Creenaune is a volunteer for PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) Foundation Australia. Email janicecreenaune@gmail.com or call 4267 4880.