Jo Reitze

2010

Spring Symphony
 
GOU 89x61cm
Autumn Splendour
 
GOU 89x61cm
Garden Landscape
 
OIL 122x46cm
Aeonium I *
 
GOU 25x25cm
Aeonium II *
 
GOU 25x25cm
Peony *
 
GOU 27x27cm
click on artwork to see a larger version

About Jo Reitze

JO REITZE – Artist’s statement

 

In 2005, I resigned from teaching to follow my dream. (Previously, I coordinated Art at Canterbury Girl’s Secondary College for twenty years, teaching under my married name, Mrs. de Carteret.) Jo Reitze paints your gardens commenced. Since then, I have immortalized many gardens in Melbourne, country Victoria and Interstate. Painting gardens on commission has enabled me to give greater attention to my own practice and still maintain social contact. It has enabled me to paint in superb places and to meet lovely people who share my passion for gardening. During this time I have also painted twenty gardens for the “Beyond the garden wall project”, been Artist in Residence at Cloudehill and last year demonstrated and exhibited at Castlemaine Festival of Gardens and at Benga House and Heritage Hill gardens in Dandenong.

Flowers and Gardens My joyous flower studies and garden paintings, inspired by direct observation, celebrate the beauty of nature. I complete nearly all works on location ‘en plein air’. These paintings enclose the viewer in the garden. A close vantage point, with clearly recognizable plants, and architectural features help capture the essence of the specific place. Paintings are freely executed in gouache or oils with lyrical almost calligraphic mark making and gorgeous colours. Colours are often enhanced by strong tonal contrast. As in nature, green hues unify my compositions. My artistic responses are much more than the optical or the photographic but represent a fusion of all senses.

Coastal Landscapes and Seascapes Throughout my life I have painted coastal landscapes and seascapes at Ocean Grove and in recent years have painted the moods of the bay from the cliff tops at Sandringham. I relish in the freedom of these paintings. They enable me to work vigorously to quickly capture the scene. Like the Impressionists, I return to the same spot in different weather and seasons to capture the particular moment. These painterly works in diverse sizes emphasize the natural beauty of their localities.

RECENT AWARDS

2002 PAINTING ON THE HILL (DANDENONG CLUB AWARD FOR BEST WORK PAINTED ON THE DAY). 2004 WINNER WORKS ON PAPER, STRATHDON COMMUNITY ART SHOW 2006 THIRD PRIZE LIONS CLUB SANDRINGHAM “EN PLEIN AIR” EXHIBITION 2009 Selected to exhibit at GEELONG GALLERY Shell Regional Artists Program

Recent Commendations - 2000 Contemporary Section Royal Overseas League, 2000 VAS Autumn Exhibition, 2001 Open Section Royal Overseas League, 2004 Highly Commended Oils Strathdon Community Art Show, 2007 Herald Sun Camberwell Rotary Art Show, 2007 VAS Spring Exhibition, 2009, 2007, 8, 9 & 10 Commended Lions Club Sandringham ‘En Plein Air’ Show, 2009 Birregurra Art Show, Finalist VAS Artist of the Year , 1980 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, 1994 6, 2005 & 8, Finalist in Oils and Works on paper A.M.E. Bale Art Award 1992 2006 & 8, 2007 Finalist City of Whitehorse ‘Water, water everywhere’ Art Competition, Artist of the month, January2011 www.teenageland.net./

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS View www.joreitzeartist.com.au Details not yet finalized for a joint exhibition – possibly later this year

For more on Jo Reitze see
www.joreitzartist.com

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