Artist Collective Geiger and Oberhardt

Debbie Oberhardt and Tamlyn Geiger

14-15 May 2011

Tamlyn Geiger – Painting, works on paper
Debbie Oberhardt – Ceramic sculpture

Studio:
Wallaby Ridge Retreat, Canungra

What you’ll see:
Tamlyn is a prolific and diverse artist who paints beautiful, romantic watercolours as well as bright and bold oil paintings. This graphic artist draws much inspiration from her home on a working horse property on the outskirts of Canungra. Tamlyn will offer art classes during the Open Studios program, as well as discuss the selection of works she displays at the Wallaby Ridge Retreat.
Debbie is a ceramic artist who found the art form about 13 years ago after a lifetime of craft, sewing and making beautiful things with her hands. She creates big, chunky pieces as well as smaller, finer designs. She will display a selection of works during Open Studios and will demonstrate the throwing process.

Tamlyn Geiger

Tamlyn Geiger

Tamlyn Geiger’s 1900s Queenslander home is full of colourful artwork. What immediately stands out is the diverse nature of the works. There are pretty, delicate watercolours, depicting flowers, birds and trees. Then there are the bold, colourful abstract oil paintings. Somewhere in the middle ground are the landscapes. The only common thread between this eclectic collection is the artist – it is surprising to learn that all the works are by Tamlyn.
She is both prolific and diverse in her style. She’s been painting and drawing as long as she can remember.
“I won my first art competition in grade three at school and I’ve been painting ever since,” she says.
“I’m a graphic designer – it keeps you a bit closer to the industry and sometimes you get paid for your work.
“I have just always painted, I don’t know where it’s come from, I just always have.”

ESCAPE TO ART

The arrival of children led Tamlyn to take a break from her artwork until her doctor advised her to find something she enjoyed doing as an escape from the stress caused by caring for her constantly sick son. Tamlyn rediscovered her passion for painting and even now, many years on, when her temper gets the better of her, Tamlyn’s children say ‘oh mum go and paint, please go up to the studio’, aware that art helps calm their mum.
“The style of my work is anywhere from traditional water colours to contemporary work, I work in all mediums and I teach in all mediums,” she says.
“I have done more of my watercolours because you can get up and leave it. Oil and acrylics are a bit harder to get up and leave.
“Much of my inspiration comes from where I live, I just live in such a beautiful place, Canungra is just so special. I have been here for 30 years, my husband was born and bred here.”

SCENIC INSPIRATION

Tamlyn travels around the Scenic Rim searching for a quiet place to paint. She’s often out Boonah way, visiting her photographer-daughter and sketching what she sees. She also has free run of the sprawling horse property where she lives and the neighbours find her wandering through their paddocks in search of a pretty spot by the banks of the creek. Tamlyn’s painting studio is hidden up high in the loft of an old farm barn – a magic spot with windows overlooking the paddocks and surrounding mountains. She also has a watercolour studio set up on the sunny verandah of her period home.
“I think what makes a good artist is that you work for yourself, not other people,” says Tamlyn.
“I paint for me, it makes me feel good and if other people like it well that’s wonderful. It’s more than a relaxation; it gets me into my own little world.
“Everyday you’re in a different mood and I like to be able to make and create different things, different moods reflect in your work.”

Debbie Oberhardt

Debbie Oberhardt

Debbie Oberhardt has always enjoyed creating things; it’s been a constant in her life. But when she discovered clay 13 years ago she knew she had found her true love.
Debbie felt energised by the clay and the promise of so many possibilities.
“You can create so many different things,” she says.
“I had always been doing some sort of craft, art or sewing but I was looking for a change. I found clay. I went to TAFE and learned a lot of different ways of doing things.”
Debbie’s style of creations varies. She loves naturally-finished works and has her own wood kiln which takes 20 hours to complete a Raku firing. She also loves to experiment with the amazing array of finishes she can achieve.

A CONSTANT MYSTERY

“They come out and it’s not always what you think it’s going to be,” she says.
Debbie used to produce big pieces but an accident featuring the family dog, a dark house and a violent storm led to a broken arm and robbed Debbie of the strength required to throw such large pieces. Now she focuses on sculpture.
“I have lived in this area for 20 years and so most of my work is related to rural life in some way. I think there’s so much inspiration because there’s so much variety. I can look out and see all the mountains, there’s a river at the bottom of our paddock and we’re mixing with different artists who live in the area.”

NEVERENDING JOURNEY

Debbie says there’s so much to learn about clay that the journey never ends. Just when you think you know all about the drying and firing of clay the unexpected happens and you’re left with an intriguing piece of art or with hundreds of pieces of broken clay.
Debbie recalls the day that she was firing hundreds of bottles which she had created. Her husband stoked the kiln with a little too much gusto and when Debbie spotted a tall, hot flame escaping out the kiln chimney she realised things may not go to plan. The kiln had become so hot that her creations had shrunk and stuck to the shelves.
“Things turned out great though, we got some beautiful colours, and a lot of the glazes ended up giving these beautiful earthy tones. You can’t replicate that, you never know what you’re dealing with, whether you’ll get beautiful rich colours or very soft and subtle colours.”
Debbie’s approach to her art is to create pieces which she loves and which she hopes visitors to her studio will love.
“You can never tell because people have got such different tastes,” she says.
“I love creating something out of a block of clay because it can be anything, you can change it, you can move a couple of different bits of clay and you get something totally different.”