Regina Dolan – co-founder of Brisbane Art Workshops
bio
Welcome to Brisbane Art Workshops website and my Profile Page.
I am a co-founder of Brisbane Art Workshops, an exciting and rewarding initiative that myself and co-founder, Krisstie Byrnne have embarked on. My passion for art first kindled as a young child, when I was living in austere and very dreary basic migrant camps [my parents were concentration camp survivors] and I was born just after the war. My surroundings were devoid of colour, books and toys, and it was at this time I had my first experience seeing finger paints at the camp kindergarten. The colour simply overwhelmed my senses. I was hooked.
I succeeded in winning art prizes as a young teenager, and spent a short stint at Tec. College, but because of financial practicalities, eventually had to study bookkeeping, shorthand and typing. I married in 1967, had two wonderful daughters, a wonderful husband, and eventually succeeded in getting my Diploma of Fashion Design and Diploma in Business Studies, and then some-how turned my domestic clothing sewing hobby, working from under my house, to eventually building a factory and employing many staff. I had become a Designer; Retailer; Wholesaler and Manufacturer of quality ladies fashion and corporate-wear for very large organizations such as the Wesley Hospital, an Expo Pavilion contract; and outfitted Harvey world travel nationally, among others. I was honored with a Life Membership from the Logan Chamber of Commerce as a member of the Executive for 13 years running their Business Achiever Awards, and was on the Business Advisory Board of Queensland for two years. This line of work was very different from being an artist, but during this time I was constantly doing fashion illustration, and working with colour and design, so it was a tradeoff, yet my heart yearned to be an artist.
Just over 10 years ago I had a life threatening health challenge which made me look at what I really wanted to do with my life, and I realized I wanted to paint. So over the last eight years I have done three years part-time with the now defunct Arts Academy, getting a solid grounding in traditional techniques, and have attended numerous workshops and summer schools which were tutored by some very talented artists, to which I am very grateful. I’ve won various prizes; a 1st prize for Portraiture, Landscape and have also received three Highly Commended Awards, and have sold a few paintings, so slowly, bit by bit, my dream was coming true.
I ran a Holistic Cancer support group for four years and helped people use colour, drawing and mandallas to explore their creativity, and it was then that I came to the realization how important it was to express one’s creativity as a method of healing the soul. When my husband died tragically five years ago, this once again had me look at my life and my direction, and when facing another life challenged health situation three years ago, decided to sell my clothing business and take up a Diploma of Fine Art, which is nearly completed.
During my years studying and doing workshops, I have met so many wonderful, talented, interesting budding artists and have identified a need that good solid foundational drawing, colour, compositional and painting skills are imperative tools in allowing the artist the freedom to express themselves in whatever genre they choose. By providing talented, quality award winning practicing artists as tutors, Brisbane Art Workshops will offer an invaluable resource to the artists of Brisbane, to help DEVELOP THE ARTIST WITHIN.
