About me
Geraldine Simmons Call me 'Geri'
I would like to share my background with you to give you a picture of how I evolved to be the artist that I am today.
I am an Australian artist who lives and works on Sydney’s northern beaches with my husband and two children. I have loved drawing ever since I was a child and was lucky enough to receive some encouragement and nurturing of my drawing ability from my father who recognised it when I was about 3 years old. Funnily enough, in school I was always the best at art and the worst at maths ! As I approached the end of my school years I had no career direction because I failed so badly in my exams. For several years I meandered more and more away from my art with a terrible empty feeling of no sense of purpose, trying various ‘jobs’, yet nothing filled the void.
In my early 20’s I found a passion for push- bike riding and this did fill the void for a while yet it certainly was not a career choice! However, it took a near fatal bike accident to wake me up to my true calling. While I was recuperating on a couch at home, I saw a Kookaburra outside my window gently picking it’s way across the lawn. The image called to me, and I once again felt the pull of my coloured pencils. With the power of magnets, they drew me back into the innocence and power of animals in their natural world.
Since that time I have built up my portfolio (including illustration) to what it is today with hours of trial and error into perfecting my mixed media drawing technique.
I have been involved in a selection of exhibitions both in Sydney and the USA, including an exhibition in New York City as well as winning awards at international juried art contests. However, my proudest moment was gaining signature membership to the exclusive Artist For Conservation – host to internationally prominent wildlife artists.
One of the biggest highlights of my career was my second invitation to exhibit at the Humane Society International Extinction Denied art exhibition. My original drawing ‘Evening Sun’ sold within minutes of the exhibition opening. It’s such a special feeling to know that your artwork can make such a difference and capture people’s hearts so quickly. This meant so much to me knowing that the sale of my painting could help towards saving an endangered species.
I believe that my journey as an artist is a continuous blossoming of my potential yet at the same time, with the more animals I draw, I get to understand them better and deepen my appreciation of them.
I sincerely hope that as I take you through the process of learning my techniques and by sharing my challenges that your world as an artist will open up too and inspire you to develop your own style and to feel empowered by the animals that you draw.