I am Tanya Frazier, Australian born & bred in Sydney, as a teenager I fell in love with the French language and a small photo of a Monet lilies painting. So began a lifelong passion. I'm an incurably, old fashioned romantic. I adore roses, turquoise, pink and red. I am simply a person who is excitable yet quiet, gentle, caring, gracious and slow to anger.
I moved to Central West NSW in 1990, where I have lived in Orange, Millthorpe and Blayney. I have also lived near my family for a year on the South Coast at Huskisson, where I was inspired by the beach, the colours of the sea and painting the waves.
I paint in acrylics in a fast Impressionistic style, design and create jewellery, mosaics, and have played with many mediums. A new addition is childrens books and illustrations... bringing a series Miss FiFi the lost kitty. I am a very keen photographer and all images on this website are taken by myself and are therefore copyrighted. I am conducting French excursions to Giverny, to give painting lessons in Monet's House and gardens.
I love to teach from a basic level and share my passion for creativity. I especially enjoy teaching beginners to discover a positive creative experience. I teach how to tap into your right side of the brain, the creative side. From me you won't learn lots of colour names and palette mixing, but instead layers of colour, shapes and strong composition elements. I like to encourage how to be brave, be positive, in order to paint your heart and soul. But just as each journey starts with a step, each painting starts with a stroke! I am also excited to share my love of Giverny, Monet, Van Gogh and the beautiful French people.
In 2014 I spent three months in Giverny to establish roots and develop a strong base for my courses. This is a new venture for me, as far as overseas courses. However I have been operating my art business, galleries and courses for many years and have an ABN 25518720249 and registered business name Addicted to Colour since 2001. My lifelong dream is live full-time in Giverny as a teaching and exhibiting artist. July - August 2015 was the first course given in Giverny for 2 weeks "Un Coeur pour Giverny" experience.
I love coffee, especially in a café or better still Ancien Hotel Baudy in Giverny, watching the world go by, listening to French everyday conversations and seeing the twilight sky of pinks and mauves gently change to the blues of night.
Education or Professional Qualifications
No formal studies in art, however I have attended a vast number of one to two day workshops since 1996. The workshops were conducted by noted artists such as: Herman Pekel, Colina Grant, Joy Engelman, Tony Mason, Loretta Blake, Grace Paleg and Reg Campbell in watercolour, oils, pastel, sculpture, silk painting and mixed media. I have also attended numerous drawing and life drawing courses over several months with Beverly Parr, Wanda Driscoll and Annisa Turner including a TAFE course in Life Drawing at Orange TAFE with Jeannie Littlewood in August 1999. But the reality is I pretty much have done my own thing, I have learnt a lot sitting sipping coffee and really looking into Monet's paintings, his palette, his composition and subjects. I will do this just before I go to Monet's gardens and then seek out a similar composition, effect or subject then just paint from the heart.
I like to experiment with photo editing applications and belong to an international group of editing artists that communicate on Instagram via @applifam. I have renovated two homes, including a gallery. Working in finance sector incorporating several computerised accounting systems for over 20 years.
Books and Articles Written
Australian Artist, September 2001, Studio Secrets of Australia’s top artists, page 44 & 45.
July - October 2014, Giverny I have written a first draught of my book Un Coeur Pour Giverny.
January 2015, Miss FiFi...the lost kitty!! Goes to France, written, illustrated and designed self-published book, Vistaprint.
February 2015, Tanya's Heart Series. photography, quotes, editing and designed little book of inspirations, self-published, Vistaprint
July 2015, Miss FiFi...the lost kitty!! Dares to Dance, written, illustrated and designed self-published book, Vistaprint.
Awards Won
2001 CWA Art Exhibition, Orange Regional Gallery, 2nd Place Pastel Section.
2001 Nola Trantor Achievement Award for Photography, Orange Camera Club.
2001 / 2002 Orange Camera Club, Several local awards for photography including Print of the Month published in the Central Western Daily.
2002 & 2003 Orange Show, Photography Section, Highly Commended, Landscape Postcard.
2002 Cowra Festival, Calleen Art Award, selected to hang in Cowra Art Gallery.
Solo Exhibitions
August – October 1999, Introducing Tanya Frazier, Cobbler’s Garden Gallery, Millthorpe
April – May 2000, Into the Blue, L & S Gallery, Bathurst
August 2000, Pickled Pepper Café & Gallery, Molong
October 2000, Pin Oak Studio, Millthorpe
April – June 2001, For the Love of It, Cobbler’s Garden Gallery, Millthorpe
October 2002-2009, Continuous exhibition as Owner, Curator of Addicted to Colour Gallery, Millthorpe
February 2010, From Dark to Light, Cowra Japanese Gardens, Cowra
June 2013, Le Voyage, 2 Fat Ladies, Lucknow
June 2015, La Galerie Blanche, Giverny France
January 2016, Le Salon Indien, Paris, France
Group Exhibitions
October 1997, Condobolin Art Prize, Condobolin Art Group,
May 1998, Mothers Day Sale & Exhibit, Orange Art Society, Newstead Bowling Club, Orange
May 1999, Mothers Day Sale & Exhibit, Orange Art Society, Newstead Bowling Club, Orange
October 1999, Floriart, Orange Garden Expo, Botanical Gardens, Orange (co-ordinated exhibit)
November 1999, Femme Fatale Four, Kite Street, Orange
March 2000, Canowindra Historical Society Exhibition, Canowindra
October 2000, Floriart, Orange Garden Expo, Botanical Gardens, Orange (co-ordinated exhibit)
November - December 2001, “Christmas and Collectables” Cargo Road Wines, Orange
December 2001, Country Scene Gallery, Molong
March – April 2002, Calleen Acquisition Art Award, Cowra Regional Gallery, Cowra
December 2005, Souled Out, Orange Regional Gallery forecourt, Orange
June 2009, Art Study, Giverny, France
September 2011, Coastal Indulgence, Milton & Ulladulla for Escape Artfest
September 2011, Shoalhaven Open Art Prize (SOAP), Ulladulla for Escape Artfest
December 2013 – December 2014, Orange City Apartments, Orange
Collections Work Held
Work held in private collections Australia, France, America, Sweden, South America and United Kingdom.
Mediums
Acrylics, painting and drawing with pastels, charcoal and is also creative with sculpture, photography, mosaics and ceramics. Designed, created and sold jewellery for several years using beads, wire and fibres. Another area of expertise is in painted furnishings using layering effects such as shabby chic and a natural instinct for interior design.
