She’s won the Wynne prize, the Geelong Contemporary art prize, the Kedumba Drawing prize, the Tattersall’s art prize and others. She’s also an acclaimed sculptor and, as with her paintings, likes to work in large scale.  Her incredible installation selected for the Seville Expo in 1992 was 11 metres high and took 3 months to complete when it was shipped over to Spain.

I had a great conversation with Ann in her huge studio in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. We talked about why we need musicians and artists, what makes a strong painting, how to tap into creativity and lots more.

Her work is included in the forthcoming show ‘6 artists | 7 days’ at Defiance Gallery which opens on 23 September 2018.

Thomson grew up in Brisbane and this episode starts at a time when she was 9 years old, during WWII, when her school had been closed down amid fears of enemy attacks.

Press ‘play’ beneath the feature photo above to hear the podcast interview.

Scroll down to see video of Thomson in her studio.

Feature photo of Ann Thomson above (cropped)  by Greg Weight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubcRerANudU&t=2s

‘Ebb Tide’ 1987, oil on linen, 400 x 550cm

‘Breakwater’, acrylic and collage on linen, 2014, 91 x 122cm  (Winner Tattersall’s Art Prize 2016)

‘The Glowing’, 2015, acrylic on linen, 122 x 153cm

‘Newhaven I’ 2018, acrylic on canvas, 122 x 153cm

Water and Air series Vase V 2018, painting on ceramic 17.5 x 18.5 x 18.5

Fish Trap series V 2018, oil stick on paper, 25 x 25cm

‘Australia Felix’ (detail) 1992, installation, Seville

‘Australia Felix’ (detail) 1992, installation, Seville