Meredith Gilmore Dog Portraits & Animal Art

Going Back To Art

Going back to art started as a leisure activity in 1998, almost 25 years since last doing art at school. Two years later I was introduced to pastels, after earlier attempts at watercolour.

Dogs and Pastels

Using pastels reignited my childhood love of coloured pencils, and uncovered an ability to create artworks of dogs. I discovered I could capture the character of a dog, starting with pictures of my old dogs, then doing pictures for friends, and going on from there.

I love colour and use this as my starting point, working in pastel pencils and hard pastel, to bring the out the shape and characteristics of each dog, to bring it to life. The eyes are the key to the success of a portrait, so I do these first after drawing in the shape of the dog.

Since 2000 I have done over one hundred dog portraits, most as commissions, and shown works in local exhibitions and galleries.  I also do a range of more contemporary works, especially since a trip to New York in 2010.

Why I Enjoy Drawing

Being a long-time dog person myself, I love the attachment bond between people and their dogs, and get a deep sense of satisfaction doing a portrait of someone’s much-loved pet. People love their dogs, and I love drawing them for people, it’s as simple as that.  My specialty is head study portraits of dogs, but I also enjoy drawing other animals, seascapes, and contemporary interpretations of many different subjects.

Showing My Art

I had my first solo exhibition, ‘Dogs and Beaches”, in 2004.  In 2006 I won the people’s choice award at the Gosford Overflow Exhibition, with a large dog portrait called ‘Gentle Giant’.  In November 2006, my dog portrait artworks, including a demonstration piece, were featured in the Australian magazine, Artists’ Palette, Issue 46.

In 2008 I received a highly commended award at The Overflow for an artwork called ‘Tiger Resting’. This artwork, and twenty two others of animals, were displayed at another solo exhibition, “A World of Animals”, in November/December 2008. I am a member of the Central Coast Art Society, Fusion Arts, the Central Coast Multi Arts Confederation, Toukley & Districts Arts Society and the Friends of the Gosford Regional Gallery.

My Background and Interests

I grew up in Sydney, and completed an arts degree (behavioural science major) in 1980. I left the big smoke for regional Australia, living in Townsville, Canberra, then Hobart over the next twenty years. During the 1980s I worked as a project officer in the Australian public service and went back to uni to complete a graduate diploma in communication. At the beginning of the 90s I moved to Tasmania and changed careers, working as a consultant in organisation development, training and coaching, first with a small firm in Hobart then as a sole trader from 1994.

After moving to the Central Coast of NSW in 2000, art became a key interest.   My other passion is community radio, discovered in 2007 when I took the opportunity to train as a volunteer presenter with the local community radio station, Coast FM 963.  I am now a breakfast presenter two mornings a week, as well as being treasurer on the station’s management committee. In April 2011 I  began producing and presenting a local arts program, Coast Arts, broadcast every Sunday from 6-7pm, combining my interests in the arts, community radio and grass roots community action.  The Coast FM website has a Listen Live facility with live streaming, at  http://www.coastfm.org.au/.

I also offer management consulting services – including workshops, coaching and business planning –  for artists, writers and other sole traders, as well as for micro businesses and small community oranisations.  For more details see www.realcoaching.com.au