New Associate and Full Members
The SWLA council nominated two associates for full membership and four non members for associate membership this year.
Liz Myhill and Paul Henery became full members. Both artists are recent winners of the Birdwatch & Swarovski Optik Artist of the Year Award. Liz Myhill was awarded a place on the John Busy Seabird Drawing Course in 2018.
"I feel very honoured to join a group of artists who work so hard to put a passion for nature and observational drawing at the forefront of what they do. It inspires me to see each artist striving to relate these experiences through diverse, vibrant and dynamic work and encourages me to take risks, to keep pushing my own work forward as well as being a community that nurtures, supports and works together to realise a greater potential. I'm really looking forward to being a member of this community, to new friendships, connections, projects and wherever the journey may lead." Liz Myhill
Laura Andrew has exhibited with us for several years. Her paintings in oils, often on linen, create a sense of movement.
Melanie Mascarenhas was a recipient of a bursary place on the John Busby Seabird Course in 2019 and Adele Pound had a bursary spot the previous year. Adele’s large observational pieces of insects are especially striking.
"For me, the SWLA has been a uniquely inspiring, friendly and generous community and an invaluable source of motivation in my own practice. The members have always shown a genuine interest and their guidance and encouragement has pushed me to find my artistic voice and fuelled my determination to be a better artist. To be elected an Associate member and be part of a supportive, like-minded creative community that is dedicated to celebrating the natural world in all its forms is indeed a great honour as well as a huge personal achievement." Melanie Mascarenhas
"Becoming an ASWLA is a great honour and a personal milestone. For me, it is a validation, not just of my work now, but all the work and associated waxing and waning of motivation and confidence that has brought me to this point.
But more important is what has been repeated many times during the run up to the 60th exhibition. That is to become part of the welcoming and supportive community that is the SWLA . I believe this comes from the collective desire of the members to communicate the value of nature through the work they make, giving the Society a uniting purpose larger than any one individual." Adele Pound
The first time that Tianyin Wang exhibited with us he won the Larson Juhl Award.
"Art is my life time journey. Art could be a lonely career choice, as I spend most time alone in the studio or out in the natural world, where I get my inspiration from.
Every time in a SWLA exhibition, I have the opportunity to see many other talented artists’ works, and talk to them, everyone uses their own visual language to represent the wildlife they truly love in their unique art form. I believe behind each artwork, there is a creative soul with passion for mother nature, just like myself. Years ago, I didn’t know there is a group of people (who) also have the true passion to creating art, and at the same time, get inspired by our natural world. Now, I am feeling so proud (that I) can have the opportunity be a part of the society, my art journey is less lonely and more inspiring." Tianyin Wang
