Artist Profile: Barbara Beasley Southgate

Born in 1939, Barbara has enjoyed a long and successful career pursuing her first love - painting.
Although guided and influenced by several well-known Australian Artists, she is basically self taught. Her expertise has developed over four decades, and although retired from teaching these days, she was an established and well-respected teacher in both oils and pastels for many years.

To Barbara painting is a passion, and sharing her gift is important to her. She demonstrates her techniques at Art Societies and Rotary Art shows throughout Victoria, and over the years has judged many of these events. As well, she has won many awards that have gained her much recognition throughout her career.

Barbara paints mainly in pastels and oils these days, but she is also noted for her work in gouache and sometimes watercolour. Through these media, she has captured with true colour and clarity of vision, and her love of the Australian countryside. Her dynamic yet restful paintings are full of freshness, energy and movement, inviting all to share her enthusiasm and insights into the nature of things. Barbara has travelled extensively, exploring her inner vision and re-defining anew her spiritual relationship with the Australian environment, and more recently, the British, European, New Zealand and more recently the USA.

Barbara has drawn much inspiration from the magnificent environment of Mansfield and the Delatite Valley, having lived in this area, from 1989-2001. This is still reflected in the wondrous moods and colours of her latest paintings.

Over the years Barbara has held regular solo exhibitions and more recently (1998 & 2000) she has had two very successful solo exhibitions in England UK.

PUBLICATIONS:
The Australian Artists magazine: Aug.1988-Article and demonstration.
Australian Telephone Directory: 1989 - Front, Area Code 057, White Pages.
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists magazine : - Front cover and article.
Australian Artists Today book: 1st edition. 1974 - Biography and reproduction
Australian Artists Today book: 2nd edition 1979 - Biography:
Australian Artists Today book: 3rd edition-1984 - Biography and reproduction.
Pastel Artist International:2nd edition 1999-2000 - Reproduction.

MEMBERSHIPS:
Signatory member of the Victorian Artists Society.
Ex Councilor and Fellowship member of The Australian Guild of Realist Artists (A.G.R.A.)
Honorary Life Member and Past President of Sherbrooke Art Society.
Member of the Ringwood Art Society.
Member of the Pastel Society of Victoria.