Australian Artist / Designer / Tutor
TRACEY CREIGHTON
I grew up in Brisbane and knew at an early age I was destined for a career in art. At 16 years of age I attended the Queensland College of Art and completed a three year full time course in Commercial Illustration. I went on to work as a graphic artist and in 1982 opened Queensland’s first private graphic art college in Brisbane, then another on the Gold Coast in 1989.
It was after moving interstate and spending 20 years as a graphic artist/educator that I decided to enrol in oil painting classes. This brought about a whole new direction in my artistic life, so when I relocated to America in 1997, I promptly enrolled in oil painting classes at the local community college.
My first solo exhibition was in Newport Beach, California which consisted of 27 paintings completed during the time I lived in America. Since my return to Australia I have held numerous solo, joint and group exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Mildura, Merimbula, Canberra and Hamilton Island – Queensland, where I was also invited to teach art classes to guests and staff at the resort.
When painting I draw on my own personal experiences – spiritual, emotional and physical. Each piece is influenced by that experience, albeit the use of colour, texture, form, design or some other intrinsic elements.
I don’t purposefully set out to paint a particular subject but rather allow the painting process to take me on an exquisite journey. That journey may be guided by my mood or desire to capture a moment in time, or perhaps a feeling about a place I have visited. Moulding myself into my artwork, finding myself one with the paint, I intuitively choose each element, freeing my mind of all thoughts other than where the painting dares me to go.
Excitedly I watch as each piece evolves through the layering of paint, mediums, textiles and texture allowing the artwork its own personality and unwritten words to speak. I am in love with the creative process.
My career spans some 40 plus years as a self employed artist, educator and entrepreneur. I have been blessed to have a career where I get to do what I love every day. I am still as excited about being ‘on the road that never ends’, as I was when I was sixteen attending my first day at art college. I expect the coming decade to reveal new works with strong imagery and design, drawing on my cultural, life and travel experiences to create ever-changing works of art that reflects a sense of mystery, wonder and beauty.
I now reside in the beautiful seaside town of Merimbula, NSW where I continue to paint, exhibit and run creative art workshops. I am happy to consider all commissioned work for the home and corporate environment.