Sue O'Loughlin

Sue has been a valued member and tutor of the Burnside Painting Group for many years.  She has kindly given the following biographical details about herself, to introduce herself to newer members, and to remind older members.  She says:  “My parents were ‘mad about art’.  The walls were hung with original works and the bookcases filled with wonderful art books. 

I demonstrated my ability in drawing nudes before I went to kindy, inspired by the rather vulgar Norman Lindsay over the mantelpiece.  My parents were most amused at my over-enthusiastic grasp on anatomy.  They encouraged me to ‘draw what you can see’ by providing me with a never ending supply of chalks, paints, pencils and reams of paper.

My ambition, if asked, was to be someone who illustrated children’s books.

I attended the South Australian School of Arts and Crafts 1955-57.  We had a traditional curriculum.  Much drawing: life drawing, still life drawing and painting, drawing from the Antique, zoo studies, technical drawing, lettering, design, history of art and related arts, (music, literature, architecture etc.) anatomy, perspective projection, sculpture, printmaking and more drawing.

I worked for local theatre groups in my free time, designing sets, costumes and posters, and that was followed by a full time job as artist at the newly opened Channel 7.

Then I married and had children, and was introduced to the Burnside Painting Group.

 I returned to study, to update and further my skills in 1980 at the University of South Australia where I gained a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Illustration, minors in photography and printmaking.  Since then I have illustrated well over 100 children’s books, and worked as artist for some years at Channel 9 on the Humphrey Bear Show and other productions, teaching myself computer animation.  Of course, like all other starving artists, I have taught art: drawing, painting in oils, mixed media, life drawing at Uni. S.A. and illustration at the Central School of Art.

I enjoy sharing my hard-won experience with avid artists and again look forward to teaching at the Burnside Painting Group where I first began so many years ago.”