LIFE HISTORY
Maria Herminia Morales
Maria Herminia lived her first years on the family ranch in the interior of Venezuela where she had her first opportunity to approach and observe nature.
Through her mother, a well known artist in Venezuela, she had as a child a great deal of contact with the world of art in various forms and expressions as well as with other prominent artists.
As a young girl she studied art with important artists and later took formal art classes at the Cristobal Rojas Art School in Caracas.
From a very young age, Maria Herminia also took classes with internationally recognized Japanese, Brazilian, Colombian, Mexican and Spanish porcelain art painters. Her painting talents were quickly recognized and at an unprecedented age of seventeen she was formally recognized as a porcelain art teacher by the International Art Teachers Association (USA). She maintained herself very active and well known in this field giving classes in Venezuela and giving seminars in Mexico and Guatemala. She exhibited in several countries and received throughout high awards and recognition.
Maria Herminia simultaneously worked broadly in oil, acrylics, pastels and water-colours painting themes taken from nature. At the various exhibits at which her works were displayed, her paintings were acclaimed for the vibrancy of colours, the play of light and depth of detail. She worked extensively in water-colours on several tropical flower series such as the Cattleya orchids a series of hibiscus flowers was exhibited in London.
At Bejuma, Venezuela, Maria Herminia’s grandparent’s hometown, the work submitted by Maria Herminia in a national competition for the creation of the city coat of arms, was selected. In recognition of her achievement, she was ceremoniously presented with the Order of the City of Bejuma.
Maria Herminia arrived in Australia in 2002, with her husband and two boys and is now an Australian citizen.
During her time here in Australia, Maria Herminia has continued to work with water-colours and acrylics painting orchids, local flowers and in particular gum tree leaves and pears.