Photos: Supplied.
A celebration of Australia’s natural beauty – plus some iconic architecture – is the theme of the current art exhibition at the Redlands Coast Museum. Aspects of Australian Art is a display of artworks from painter Carol Dinte and china painter Shirley Stoodley.
Carol has been drawing and painting most of her life. Her parents and grandparents lived out west and loved the plants and wildlife. These were Carol’s subjects as a child, when she’d venture out with a sketchbook and a clutch of coloured pencils or crayons. Failing that, she’d draw pictures in the dirt. These days her favoured medium is acrylic, sometimes mixed with ink or watercolours.
“I’m a keen gardener, so I’ve come to know the details of various plants and flowers,” Carol says. “When Russel and I travelled around Australia, if we pulled up to go bushwalking, he’d be way ahead of me with a camera, but I stopped to look at things. I took notes in my diary, but no sketches, no photographs, I just kept the pictures in my head.”
Carol’s favourite birds are kookaburras, ravens and wedge-tailed eagles, and her favourite flower, despite the fact that she’s allergic to kapok, is the bright yellow blossom of the kapok tree.
Carol chose the theme for this, her third exhibition, and involved her friend of 40 years, Shirley Stoodley. Shirley has been painting china for 20 years (“My mother-in-law used to enjoy it, so that’s probably what influenced me”), but this is her first exhibition.
“I usually just paint for myself, things I can use around the house, or as gifts for friends,” she says.
“I was a bit nervous about being in an exhibition, but I’m really surprised at the good response I’ve had, and I’ve sold pieces already!
“I’ve enjoyed the whole process, so yes, I’ll probably do it again!”
Aspects of Australian Art runs until February 13, 2026, at Redlands Coast Museum, located at 60 Smith Street, Cleveland. For more information, phone 3286 3494.
