Outsider Art, Abstract artworks, paintings for sale, original oil on canvas, acrylic paintings and drawings, modern and comtemporary by Dawn Lim.
Dawn is at the painting stage for the traffic signal boxes project, this time with the Ballarat Migrant Women's group. All forms submitted and next Tuesday they will be painiing if it is a nice day.
Tomorrow at 6pm will be the opening of the Terrain Exhibition at the Backspace gallery in Camp St, the old police building.
Dawn started another series of experiments in colour with a similar design of the finalist's piece in AAA art competition. Any comments
heres a transcript of the interview in case you can't download the video
Professional Art Practice
Carolyn Broome 30072547
DAWN LIM. B.A.(Hons) University of Ballarat
Contemporary Artist and Outsider Artist.
Transcript of Interview by Carolyn Broome 14th March 2011, recorded on DVD,
at the Artist's residence, Burrumbeet, Victoria.
Carolyn: I would like to introduce you to Dawn Lim who is a Victorian Contemporary Artist and Outsider Artist. What does 'Outsider artist' mean Dawn?
Dawn: Outsider artists are a group of people, who have mental health issues and support and encourage one another. There are opportunities to be part of special exhibitions, that promote awareness of health issues.
I have had a tough time myself and can relate to the group and its goals.The beginnings of such groups of artists had its origin amongst the patients of mental health hospitals in Germany in about 1800. They were producing work descibed as Brute art, later known as Raw Art and today referered to as Outsider Art, which envolves untaught artists, who paint emotionally and intuitivly.
Carolyn: What do you love about your present work?
Dawn: I love my work now. In the beginning, I was self-taught and did a lot of drawing. I enjoyed copying and working on portraits. I have done lots of natural landscapes too. While at University in Ballarat, I was drawn to Abstraction, as a preference. I have conceptual ideals in my work and as I work more spiritually. I continue using the skills I learned early in my painting life.
Carolyn: What do you enjoy most about your work?
Dawn: I like the inner feelings and freedoms as I use colour to express my ideas and as I struggle to make a picture work.
Carolyn: How much does colour feature in your work ?
Dawn:Well, I like lots of colour. I seem naturally able to see contrasts and hues that bounce from one another, therefore I use a lot of colour. Every painting will have a different colour balance.
Carolyn: Where do you get the inspiration for your work?
Dawn: At Uni I admired and gained inspiration from the works of Elizabeth Cummings and Aida Tomescu. Then, I was stimulated by the De Kooning series of works. Then I found the ideals and work of Ian Fairweather very inspiring and also there was Tony Tucson, all of these I featured in my University studies.
Carolyn: What was the most challenging part to the development of your abstract work?
Dawn: Well, I dont know, but I can produce works and then think about the intent later. Firstly these works come from within me.
Carolyn:I know you are a teacher, do you enjoy that?
Dawn: Yes, I love teaching. I love to see the happy people and the results of their work. The students are always happy with my instruction and I think I support them well.
Carolyn: Have you had mentors and support in your painting life?
Dawn: Oh, yes, Loris Button was a mentor, she helped me in 2008 in my honours year, she gave lots of encouragement in my painting and reinforced my chosen style. She really boosted my confidence.
Carolyn: How many exhibitions have you had?
Dawn: Quite a few. One in particular in 2007 simply came to be, when I thought about applying for something … anything. After a prayer, I closed my eyes and opened the free magazine, Trouble.Then I placed my finger at random on a spot and rang the gallery indicated by my random choice.
Carolyn: What was the name of the Gallery?
Dawn: The Mad Cafe & Gallery, at Lancefield and in two weeks time, I had an exhibition at that gallery. It worked out that the owner of the gallery, had a daughter who had met with a motor bike accident. This meant much time and attention had been spent on her and therefore artist bookings were neglected making a gap in the gallery's schedule. I rang at the perfect time and was well received in my request for an exhibition.
John Nightingale, the gallery owner, had many contacts , many of them in Melbourne. He promoted his gallery very professionally and my exhibition was well patronised, resulting in the sale of seven large canvases and I made a lot of money. Eveb after paying the 35% gallery costs, I was thrilled.
Carolyn: Were there any special requests from this gallery?
Dawn: No, but there were when I went to the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne . It was worth going to that one as I received, because of my attendance, three other invites from gallery owners wanting me to show my work. One was to a Gallery in Geelong, testing to see if I would fit in to their preferred profile for their customers. Another was a gallery in Prahan ans the third, a Gallery in Toorak, where I did have an exhibition in 2007. In addition since the Melbourne exhibition, I have had exhibitions in Ballarat at the Arthur Gallery and Sturt St Gallery and some further exhibitions at the MAD gallery in Lancefield, have followed.
Carolyn: Did you arrange contracts, release forms, and meet GST and other requirements? How did you manage those official and financial requirements?
Dawn: Well, I have been blessed with a husband, who has the skills to handle these details. In addition, he has built a web site and keeps it up to date, by handling the blogs and uploading photos. He organises all the tax and use of ABN etc.
Carolyn:Have you applied for and received any grants?
Dawn:Yes I have and I think I applied for too much money, which rulled me out. Many liked my work and and said favourable comments about my works, but no grants were forth coming. I was the recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship in my honours year.
Carolyn: Do you visit many Galleries and opening events?
Dawn: Yes I do, when I left Uni in 1996, I went every month to Melbourne. For several years, I attended openings. Now I attend all I can in Ballarat, there are a lot of good galleries here now.
Carolyn: How do you transport your large canvases?
Dawn: Simple we bought a panel van.
Carolyn:Have you any advice for up and coming students?
Dawn: Keep working at becoming artists, listen to your teachers and mentors, dont give up, keep going, follow your heart. Look to the Government support agencies for support, even advise from gallery owners on how to present your work.
Carolyn: Do you follow the guidelines yourself?
Dawn:Yes I do.
Carolyn: Thank you Dawn for your interview today, it has been very informative, I have enjoyed hearing from you and other will be helped as they watch and listen.
another wonderful day at the market and made a lot of friends and met a lot of people
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This show is rather interesting,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z-6JNnNZ3E
Here's a small YouTube video of Dawn and Glenda Burton, with her painting "silver textures".
They had a great afternoon and I served ice kachang!
This month's exhibition had some impressive paintings such as the two below.
The upstairs main gallery is small but adequate enough to show of the paintings
The gallery courtyard at the back of the gallery's emporium is wonderful, beautiful gardens and seats. The gallery has come a long way with its emporium chocablok with art works.
I am delighted to have met the co-owner Steph. She is a very nice person and they run a good gallery, another of the wonderful art scene in Ballarat.
When I begin to paint I have no idea of what I am going to do. I have types of paintings that I love and want to emulate and learn from, they are here locked in my heart.
So, with those thoughts in mind I just start painting, after I have chosen some colours and have had a prayer.
One of my lecturers whilst at University, told me to try and have my colours prepared so all I have to do is paint. I did that with this painting and enjoyed the composition that evolved.
As usual when I think the painting is near to completion I look at the painting for a while (I do this with every painting) and begin to understand what I have brought about.
I get a strong feeling of silhouettes of buildings from the Biblical days, even Jerusalem perhaps, at Sunset, and I think the lower ocher colour in block form on both sides could be baptismal fonts, dug out of clay.
I believe my method of painting can bring about my subconscious and experiences.
Fresh off the press, untitled yet. Dawn has been busy at our cabin, which she has a good setup for her studio now and don't have to go into town to paint.
Dawn has signed up for an international project which starts from Brooklyn, N Y, and tours the USA. Just under a couple of months to complete a sketchbook with a predetermined theme. It will be a good way to promote her in the US and we can track how it went.
Dawn’s artist profile on the website is http://arthousecoop.com/users/dawnllim
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