Janet Flinn Australian Wildlife Artist: Resume

Janet Flinn finds most of her favourite subjects such as parrots, kookaburras, robins, wrens and magpies, close to her Melbourne home. However, each year she travels hundreds of kilometres to observe Australian birds and animals in their natural habitat

Allowing the subject to suggest her approach and medium, Janet Flinn contrasts opaque paint against transparent watercolour, solid shapes against fine lines and accurate rendering against loose and spontaneous brushwork. Compositions are carefully planned with a particular interest in the use of space and asymmetry. She depicts her subjects in a realistic manner, but places them on a background where the colours and shapes work in a non-narrative way to suggest their environment.

A dedicated Artist she has held eleven solo exhibitions at galleries including Waverley City Gallery, Peninsula Gallery, White Hill Gallery, Olinda Gallery and Eltham Wiregrass Gallery. She exhibits in numerous group exhibitions and galleries in Australia. Paintings of Australia's unique wildlife by Janet, now hang in many countries, including America, Japan, England, Canada, China, The Netherlands and New Zealand. After a career of teaching, Janet who holds a Graduate Diploma in Art Education, teaches artists at selected workshops and has taken executive roles in Art Societies.

Amongst Janet's awards are 'First Prize' R.S.P.C.A. Art Exhibition, 1991, 'Most Popular Exhibit' at Eltham Wiregrass Gallery's Wildlife Exhibition 1995, the Bird Observers Club Award 1999, 1st Prize Oil Painting Award 2001, Silver Medal 2003, Bronze Medal 2004 at the Wildlife Art Society of Australasia's Annual Exhibition and 2004 'Best Other Medium' at Waverley Art Society. Chosen "Artist of the Year" for the Waverley Arts Society - by both Members' Choice and Peoples' Choice in 2003 and by Public Choice in 2005.

Feather & Brush: Three Centuries of Australian Bird Art, by Dr. Penny Olsen, published by CSIRO, a comprehensive illustrated history of bird art in Australia, features a selection of Janet's work.

Janet Flinn's original Pen and Ink Drawings of the local Flora and Fauna have been fabricated into attractive metal signage set along the Walking Trail at Valley Reserve, Mt. Waverley, Victoria. An initiative of Monash City Council and the Friends of Valley Reserve, the new signs will enhance visitors' knowledge and enjoyment of this attractive park.

Janet's work has been published in the R.S.P.C.A. Calendar, in magazines including feature articles in "Australian Artist" and "International Artist", as cards and as Limited Edition Prints in Australia and Europe. Janet is delighted when such publications raise funds to aid the creatures that inspire her art, and actively supports conservation projects.

Exploring beyond the obvious, Janet Flinn creates paintings that capture the drama, colour and magic of the unique wild creatures of Australia.

All art is copyright and must not be reproduced in any form at all without the consent of the artist ©