Portrait
of Joshua Smith by Yve Close (oil on board)
View the
Gallery of the Seven Grand
Masters commissioned by the United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT
Yve Close, Sydney born, commenced studying life drawing at The
Julian Ashton Art School while still a teenager, under the guidance
of Henry C. Gibbons. Twelve months at East Sydney Technical College
followed until marriage and the raising of three children consumed
her interests. In 1968 her life-long fascination with people led her
to the Royal Art Society of NSW where, for six years, she studied
portraiture with Allan Hansen, Frederick Bates, Garret Kingsley and
life painting with Arthur Murch.
In 1975, although Yve was
already receiving portrait commissions and carrying out painting
demonstrations for art societies, she entered Joshua Smith's Lane
Cove School as a student. Within one year he elevated her to the
position of teacher and invited her to join him in painting murals
for a Balmain church. Following this arduous six-month undertaking he
asked her to become his full time associate, to work together each
and every day, which led to their twenty year painting
partnership.
Apart from teaching weekly at the Lane Cove
School they travelled to many country centres conducting seven-day
workshops. Some venues hosted their schools on numerous occasions:
Bathurst (Mitchell School of Creative Arts at Charles Sturt
University), Canberra (Canberra Art Workshop), Newcastle (The von
Bertouch Galleries), Bowral (Oxley College), Mittagong, Kiama,
Mudgee, Goulburn.
After Joshua Smith died in 1995, Yve set
aside much of her painting career for three years to write a hard
cover book on his life and work. Titled "Joshua Smith Artist"
and published in 1999, a limited number of copies are still available
from the author.
Yve Close's commissioned portraits
include chancellors, vice-chancellors, army generals, academics,
religious leaders, artists, professional and business people as well
as men, women and children from many walks of life.
Portraits of Joshua Smith by Yve Close
(click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge)
|
Joshua Smith
Gallery of Portraits in oil by Yve Close
(click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge)
|
John Close
oil on board
(click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge)
|
Gallery of Pastels
(click on each thumbnail picture to enlarge)
|
Tony Tuck
Yve Close is represented in the following
Institutions:
Marist Brothers Mother House, Rome,
Italy
Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
Australian War
Memorial, Canberra
Grand Masonic Lodge, Sydney (seven
portraits)
University of New England, Armidale, N.S.W. (three
portraits)
University of Newcastle, N.S.W. (three
portraits)
Defence Force Medical Corps Headquarters of Australia,
Victoria (two portraits)
University of New South Wales
Bathurst
Regional Art Gallery, N.S.W.
Newcastle Region Gallery, N.S.W.
St.
Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, N.S.W.
Newcastle Club,
N.S.W.
Concordia Club, Stanmore, N.S.W.
Major
Exhibitions:
1980: McInnes Gallery, Brisbane
1982: The
Opera House, Sydney
1983: Hesley Gallery, Canberra
1984: von
Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle
1987: The Woolloomooloo Gallery,
Sydney
1987: von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle
1989: von
Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle (Lloyd Rees and Friends)
1998:
Wagner Art Gallery, Sydney
1990: von Bertouch Galleries,
Newcastle
1991: Riversdale National Trust House, Goulburn
1992:
von Bertouch Galleries, Newcastle
1983: Cobb Hall, Mittagong
1993:
Riversdale National Trust House, Goulburn
1994: von Bertouch
Galleries, Newcastle
2005: Australian Embassy, Washington,
U.S.A.
2007: Artarmon Galleries, Artarmon
1984-2003: (every
year) von Bertouch Galleries "Collectors Choice",
Newcastle
Major Awards:
1980: Portia Geach
National Portrait Competition — Highly Commended
1990: Doug
Moran National Portrait Competition — Commended
1973
-1985 Portia Geach National Portrait Competition — Finalist
every year
Municipal Art Society Competitions: Numerous First,
Highly Commended and Commended awards for Portraiture, Landscape and
Still Life paintings.
Present Activities:
Each
week Yve teaches portrait painting in oils and pastels at The Royal
Art Society of N.S.W.
She is constantly in demand to demonstrate, for art societies, her particular approach to portraiture and is called upon to judge and open art exhibitions.
The copyright of all images on this page belongs to Yve Close
Thank you for visiting this webpage.
Click for "Joshua Smith - Artist" Book ordering information