March 2022          This year I will be 60, and am embarking on the ‘grey nomad’ life in a caravan with my husband of 33 years. I am excited to see what the future holds and will continue to create art as we travel around Australia. My collection of paintings for sale via the Bluethumb art gallery will be on hold temporarily whilst I am away from home and unable to get home to ship anything.
After five years living in the city, in 2021 I moved to the Melbourne suburb of Coburg and a new home studio. Like millions of others around the world, the last two years of Covid19 has led to a reassessment of life’s priorities.
I can still be contacted via maryannestuart@gmail.com to ask about any works and commissions.

June 2019          The journey so far has taken me to a new career as an artist.  Painting is my current delight and I share a studio in the iconic artist hub, the Nicholas Building in Melbourne.  Contact me directly via maryannestuart@gmail.com to ask about any works and commissions.  Selected works are available through Bluethumb, Australia’s largest online art store. (on hold from June – November 2022)

I also have an Etsy store where I sell smaller works and cards. (on hold from June – November 2022)

My diploma of visual art has now been completed at what I think of as “trade school for artists” – CAE (Council of Adult Education in Flinders Lane, Melbourne).  I’ve studied and practiced painting, printmaking, drawing, life drawing, art theory and history, the inevitable and compulsory OH&S, as well as business and marketing skills to back up my new career as artist.  I’ve exhibited locally and overseas and look forward to new challenges working with colleagues in an older women’s art group (late bloomers unite!).

August 2016         As it turns out, learning about and making visual art has occupied most of the last two years. I did graduate university with my BA (Media & Communication) Distinction, majoring in visual communication.

Since then, I’ve gone backwards (academically) a little, as I am now studying part time for a Diploma of Visual Art.  Really, I just got to the point where I badly wanted to understand the nuts and bolts of making art. So I’ve taken classes in printmaking, painting, drawing and life drawing, and art business.  I am still an avid social media PRODUSER and keenly interested in the intersection of social media and art. To that end, I am making art (almost) every day and sharing it on my various social media pages, which you can access via About me

May 2014         I’m almost finished my uni degree, have two more subjects to go. Not sure whether I’m headed down an arty path or a writing path, maybe both. Anyway, the journey is still fun and I’m still inspired to make art.

June 2013         This blog exists because I was forced into it.  Mind you, I’m not unhappy about that.  As part of my third year university Design Practice unit, my aim is to continue to add images and links to things I find beautiful, inspiring, awesome, funny.

I’m a mature age student which as it turns out is quite a large subcategory. Always good to know you’re not alone when doing anything new and a little scary. Like going back to uni age 48. I’m here to make the most of an opportunity I am grateful to have now because I wasn’t ready for the one I was given earlier.

I’m surrounded by young adults at home and now at university. I have three young adult children, a husband and a cat and a home in Melbourne.

In 2013 these are some of my interests :

• England, its history and aesthetic
• Arts and Crafts era textiles and furniture, silver, ceramic and pottery designs
• William Morris, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Frank Lloyd Wright, Dard Hunter, Gustav Stickley, Stickley Furniture,
• Patterns – in design, in nature
• Symmetry – it’s unavoidable and beautiful
• Typography and hand lettering
• Colour – on my clothes, my walls, in my garden.
• Baking cakes
• Local artists – Nellie Zimmerman, Tiffany Calder Kingston
• Graphic designers, letterers and illustrators such as Seb Lester, Tom Lane aka Ginger Monkey, Tobias Hall, Jessica Hische
• Drinking coffee – Thanks to 1950s Italian immigrants, Melbourne is well known for its coffee culture and we have lots of cafes. I don’t like milk and drink a double espresso, preferably with a creamy thick crema on top.