Jo-Ann Hunt is an award-winning artist from Melbourne with a colourful, evocative, naturally happy painting style.

“The series “Travels with My Paintbrush” celebrates the optimism, the romanticism, the tenacity, the endurance of the human race. I love the way these hilltop villages improbably cling to the most impossible of cliff faces, and the higgledy-piggledy, almost playful nature of their construction.

When I start a painting I quite lose myself in imagining the lives of the people who built these homes, and their descendants who live in them today. I think of it as painting from inside my head and my heart, with one foot in reality, and one in my imagination. It is this essence of a place, its lifeforce, that finds its way onto the canvas.

At the same time I want to compose an image that means something to the viewer- that leads to them creating their own story, to their experiences of life giving an entirely new dimension to my painting. I want to leave something to discover, so that what may seem the reality behind the image today may not be what is felt tomorrow. And that’s ok- it means my work has life, it has humanity, it has possibility.”

With a degree in Art Education and Fashion, Jo-Ann’s eclectic artistic career has spanned the costume departments of the Melbourne Theatre Company and Opera Australia, as designer with iconic label “The House of Merivale and Mr John”, as art teacher, and finally as Head Designer with major international brand Patons, with frequent trips to Italy, France, Germany, Japan and the UK. Moving to Thailand reignited her love for art and illustration, with commissions for magazines, a range of prints for the interior design markets, and since returning to Australia, she has painted fulltime to satisfy demand for her unique works.

Awards and Exhibitions include Art Melbourne 2004-2009, Art Sydney 2004-2008, 2004 Xavier College Contemporary Exhibition ,2001 Chelsea Art Show Best Pastel, and Highly Commended, 2004 Strathcona Art Show Highly Commended ,awarded by Paul Fitzgerald AO, 2001 Roberts McCubbin Featured Artist, 2001 St Kevins Art Show Highly Commended , awarded by Jon Dwyer , Director of Christies Fine Art.

Jo-Ann exhibits regularly and her work can be found at Suburban 312 Gallery in Brighton, Victoria. Jo-Ann’s art proudly hangs in homes in Germany, the U.K, Thailand, U.S, Canada and every state in Australia.

jo-annhunt.blogspot.com