Jan
Larsen
My Uncle Wilfred Garnet Gates was an artist specializing in water colour painting and when I was a small child he gave me the ends of his water colour tubes which I cut open and used. My subject matter was painting fairies wearing skates and some landscapes from my imagination. I entered paintings in the Parramatta Children’s’ Art show and the Legacy Children’s Art Shows where I was awarded prizes, mostly books.
Later a great uncle Jack Murphy, a school teacher, gave me a Windsor and Newton tin of water colour paints which I still have, of course the pans have been refilled.
I attended Strathfield Girls High School (1951-1955) where my art teacher Mr. McCann encouraged me in my art studies. After school I went to East Sydney Technical College, The National Art School (1956-1959) and studied Design specialising in Interior Design and worked in the field for many years doing domestic and commercial projects.
In 1970 The Rum Runners For Sydney Hospital Had an exhibition at Royal Naval House in
Gloucester Street Sydney, I exhibited and sold four artworks, pen and wash drawings of buildings in The Rocks area of Sydney. I assisted in the setting up of this exhibition.
I married in 1969 and had a child in 1971.
I traveled to Denmark with my family in 1973 where our second child was born. Then I studied at The Royal Academy of Fine Art in The School of Architecture, Foreign Students department.
In 1975 we went to Nigeria in West Africa for my husband’s work where I spent some time with a group of Aqwete Weavers learning their traditional weaving process. I attended The International Art Symposium at Nsuka University. Whilst in Nigeria I spent a lot of time seeking out the art and textiles of the country.
We went to Papua New Guinea for three years and I joined The Arts Council of Port Moresby where I potted and painted and taught pottery one night a week. Art and pottery exhibitions were held at the Arts Council in which I exhibited paintings and pots and assisted in the organization. I also taught pottery at Ela Beach Primary School one afternoon a week. I worked part time for an architectural firm doing Interior Design projects for multi story office interiors and some domestic projects.
My husband was transferred to Libya, the children and I stayed in Denmark, where I became a proverbial tourist visiting art galleries, palaces, design
centres, soaking up the European culture for a year. I also learnt Danish two half days each week.
Next we went to Tanzania in East Africa where I spent time drawing with a group of International women and doing some weaving and drawing at home.
We returned to Australia in 1982 and after two years we moved to Canberra where I studied to become an Architectural Technician.
We went to Istanbul Turkey in 1988 for a little over one year where I mostly became a tourist again visiting all the ancient architectural wonders.
Returning to Australia I opened our Design office in Sutherland. During this period I attended watercolour workshops with Jenny Mac Naughton a well- known artist.
I was a member of
ATASDA, Australian Textile and Surface Design Association and enjoyed creative textile projects and workshops in my spare time.
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