Our Guest Speaker for the KAS November Meeting was Marijke Greenway .
From our meeting Reporter:
Marijke began with a slideshow introducing her background. She painted in Holland to South Africa. Marijke eventually migrated to Australia where she loves to travel with her husband thousands of kilometres taking many photos and painting. Marijke particularly loves the outback. Mungo trees and Mallee trees are her passion. They take their four wheel drive through an area and then camp. The following day she’ll backtrack painting places she’d noted and her husband keeps track of where she is working on his motorbike. Plein air painting is what she enjoys the most. Two things she need to do this is patience and speed. She captures the vibrant colours of red cliffs and the rugged terrine using big brushes. Though she likes oil, Marijke paints mainly in acrylic because it dries quickly. She’s painted in Coober Pedy, Broken Hill and Mount Gibbs. When she travels she takes a roll of stretched canvas to cut and a staple gun. Marijke uses the primary colours as well as Australian red gold and brown madder. For dark green she uses green-black and yellow. For blue in the distance she uses paynes grey. For sky she uses Pacific blue with a bit of white. A long flat chisel brush is her favourite choice. Covering the canvas quickly with a thin wash, she blocks in the shadow areas: the darkest tones, middle tones and then highlights in the distance. Marijke uses a spray bottle of water which creates dribbles for the tree trunks which she’ll come back to later. Decisions about the placement of trees and choices of colour are made after this. Trees in the distance are big dots and dashes and small dots. The painting she demonstrated was a location in MacDonald Ranges near Overton Gorge. You have to interpret the scene with what you have, as an artist, to bring your feeling out with what you are seeing.
Marijke’s amazing works were displayed for us to view and be inspired.
MARIJKE GREENWAY 
I am an artist with three nationalities that have made up my life experiences – born in Holland, then emigrating with my parents to South Africa and eventually choosing to live in Australia with my husband and three children during l988.
My early studies took place in South Africa, but it was in Australia with its very active art world that I became most prolific in my output and variety of subject matter, and equally at home with oils, watercolours and acrylics.
Acknowledged as a popular watercolour and mixed media teacher, I have tutored regular classes for 12 years.
I have accumulated an impressive list of awards and commendations for my work and have been widely exhibited, both in group exhibitions and solo shows. During 2006 I exhibited internationally with a solo exhibition on the Greek island of Leros. I have been published with major contributions to art magazines and I am a member of several art societies, including the Royal Art Society and the Australian Society of Marine Artists.
I live at Pearl Beach on the Central Coast amidst stunning scenery – my main inspiration. My studio opens on Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm or by appointment. I welcome commissions, whether portraiture or landscape.
www.marijkegreenway.com/marijkegreenway/HOME.html
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