I’ve been a full-time artist since 2012 when I was blessed with a purpose-built studio in the backyard. Previous to this, I had a corner in our children’s playroom and when my two daughters were young, I regularly found scribbles added to my work, Banksy style…..mysterious and unsigned.
Prior to my marriage and kids, in my mid-twenties, I had a year at Claremont Art College, which I recall with mixed feelings of fun and frustration.
I entered art school with a portfolio of children’s illustrations and all I wanted was to be a children’s illustrator, which, unfortunately, was very frowned upon at art college. Trying to unlearn detail and become loose and painterly was hard, and I still haven’t achieved it!
For many years I worked hard to break into children’s book illustration, coming close to being published on a few occasions, but it remained sadly just out of reach. It was at this point of time, when I was feeling a little despondent, that I booked a term of oil painting at Claremont Art School (which was by now just offering short-term courses), fell totally in love with oils and stayed for five years under the guidance of D’hange Yammanee, whose technique and teaching I am so grateful for.
I joined WASA at the very start of my full-time art practice and have mostly been a member ever since. I’ve built up an incredible network of close friends and peers, many of whom are also members, and I received one of my earliest prizes, an honorary mention, at one of my first WASA exhibitions.
I still work in a style affiliated with illustration and highly detailed, whimsical, and fun pieces are some of my most joyous times painting. A few are now licensed to an Australian greeting card and homewares company, Lalalandshop, which has been a great experience. I enjoy creating a story or narrative and feel there is an illustrated book in me yet, except it will be created in oils, not the watercolour and gouache of my younger days.
With my family all grown. I have worked hard to turn my art into a thriving small business and work daily to keep it growing. I’m represented by four galleries and online with Bluethumb Art which helps keep the sales ticking over. I try to paint every day and keep a healthy balance between my painting time and business logistics…it’s not easy! I regularly enter local and interstate art awards and you can find me daily on Instagram at mialaing_artist, occasionally blogging on my website http://mymiasart.com and once a month I send a newsletter to my email subscribers with art news and new paintings.
Please come and join me!
My Mia’s Art website – http://mymiasart.com
My Bluethumb Gallery
mialaing_artist.