Rita Mills

Interested in drawing from childhood, I had my first watercolour lessons with Gilbert Foster in the mid-60s but for about 30 years I did little other than drawings for the Castlemaine Naturalist.

I enjoy sketching, especially people and animals.

In 1998-99 I studied drawing and watercolour with Catherine Tait, and in 2000-01 with Brian Harding, where we mostly worked en plein-air. I took part in a number of Grafton Artsfest Workshops with several of Australia’s top Watercolourists. In 2012 and ‘13 I completed very successful plein-air Workshops in Araluen, NSW, with Terry Jarvis.

My main aim is to share the atmosphere and enjoyment I get from a subject, and I feel there’s enough gloom in the world without me adding to it through my art. Watercolour is still my favourite, and I tend to concentrate in getting the best I can from the medium.

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