Penny Maclaren’s realistic art is a combination of formal training and a life time of dedicated practice and discovery. She finished her formal training in 1980 and was an art teacher for over 25 years including being selected to be a moderator and art history examiner for SACE (year 12 )for many years. Her training has included attending many classes and travelling repeatedly overseas to paint. Penny has set up a purpose built studio in the beautiful Adelaide Hills of South Australia where she has taken private pupils and completes commissions.
Penny paints and draws portraits of animals, nature and people but also experiments with other subject matters. She uses a variety of mediums but is known mostly for her pastel and oil portraits and landscapes.
Penny is an international artist with art work in private collections in many countries, particularly the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway , Italy, United Emirates and Australia.
Penny is also know for her portraiture. Some completed portraits include the Chief Justice Chris Kourakis ( hanging in the law courts) Francis Bedford (MP in South Australia) and a portrait of Robert Kennedy (lawyer and philanthropist.) The painting was in his private foundation art collection. Portraits are usually done by commission but Penny has done several public demonstrations through the Royal South Australian Society of Art Penny has been a finalist 6 times in a row for the National Royal sa Society of arts and is a fellow.
This year Penny won the Wildlife award at the National Solar Art competition.