Irena Kaczmarek

I have successfully completed a Certificate in Ticket Writing and Poster Art with the School of Painting, Decorating and Sign Crafts, Melbourne. This included the production of a folio and sample of work and skills for the commercial sector.

This training was quickly followed by 12 months of evening classes in oil painting media and techniques.

My main source of income at this time moved into office skills and stenography in various Government settings including the prison sector.

 

Studying Diploma, post grad. courses and later Masters in Education led to community welfare and social work in various situations. Whilst working in community development, and in neighbourhood houses, I was able use my art skills in publicity, developing hand-made centre programs and in creating posters for various events.

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I combined my art and social welfare practice to study for two years as an art therapist (Claerwen Institute). For 20 years I have worked as a TAFE and University lecturer, incorporating my experience in social welfare, but also teaching art therapy as a technique in counselling practice.

 

My personal journey has often led back to art practice as an intrinsic need to create. For the past 14 years I have studied under different painters, including Carol Oliver, Lydia and Peter Kirk, Daniel Butterworth, Ann Rayment and Lianne Gough.  I feel I am ready to show my art to a wider audience and to continue to gain confidence in the process of art making.

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My chosen medium is acrylic paint, as I enjoy the process of applying rich colour and texture to my works. I tend to work quickly, so I enjoy the versatility of acrylic medium. More recently I have been incorporating the use of ink and sometimes collage, loosely applying mediums to achieve a free style and outcome.

The result is often an exciting surprise and I would call my style eclectic, with the use of realistic impressionism. Excited (and of course frustrated) by the process, I find myself painting ink portraits along with Australian landscape impressionist work, along with very loose still life colourful pieces.