My name is Gulpilil

Having met and spoken with David Gulpilil in Darwin a few years ago, I felt great admiration for what he has achieved for himself and Aboriginal people. This strong spirited man impacted me deeply and I wanted to capture the essence of this complicated man in an artwork. I will always regard him as one of Australia's greatest pioneering Indigenous artist of his time.

I used Willow charcoal on Rosaspina paper and sealed with a permanent matt finish.

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Jillian’s interest in art and drama began in the early days at school in Melbourne. She was fortunate in having excellent teachers who motivated and inspired her. This steered her in the direction of pursuing a career involving the arts ….and this made a start in Darwin NT.

In Darwin NT University Jillian completed a Fine Arts Degree (printmaking and painting), and teacher training resulting in employment as Art teacher for 17 years in Darwin High School. Yet Jillian felt the urge to keep developing her own personal skills, so she and four fellow graduates decided to start up an Art Centre which was registered in 1982 as Darwin Visual Artists Association, which has been a focal point for artists and exhibitions in Central Darwin ever since. (DVA was situated in Frogs Hollow for 37 yrs, but is now in the Harbour View Building, Darwin.)

So what next? .…a move to Queensland after 30 years in the Top End and more teaching in schools. Jillian studied a Post Grad at UNE in Drama and English whilst working in Queensland schools. She has travelled to many countries.

After joining the Buderim Craft Cottage and Maleny Printmakers Jillian continued exhibiting, practicing and learning new techniques along with the occasional workshops (drawing, painting and printmaking.)

Themes for Jillian’s art work centre on - a respect for the natural environment and empathy for mankind. Her motivation comes mainly from people and landscapes. These have been her main focus art.

For Jillian, creating artwork is both fulfilling yet challenging as the battle with conceptual ideas and emotion are transformed into some sort of meaning and visual imagery takes place. So experimenting with different techniques and mediums became essential to her. Jillian made use of acrylics, oil paints, etching on aluminium plates, and various drawing techniques using charcoal and graphite. She believes that the true purpose of creating art is not necessarily to create more famous artists, it’s more about creating more complete human beings who are critical thinkers, who have curious minds, who can lead productive lives.