AFTER 40-odd years, prolific bush artist Ian Reardon has finally got himself a studio.
Mr Rearson, 78, was encouraged to paint as a child by his grandfather, Jack Isbister.
But life on the farm at Terry Hie Hie, and raising a family, meant he didn’t pick up a brush and palette again until the 1990s.
“I’ve got an air-conditioned studio now – for years, I was painting in the garage,” Mr Reardon smiled.
And the well-known and hugely popular artist has never been busier.
Mr Reardon is currently working on commission pieces for clients, but still finds time to create artworks for charitable causes.
In recent years, he’s donated paintings to race clubs, museums and organisations to either display or sell at auction.
“I’ve been doing quite a few over the last couple of years, particularly for race clubs,” Mr Reardon said.
His latest racing-themed artwork – as yet untitled – will be auctioned at the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service charity ball and gala dinner at Moree racecourse on Friday night, the curtain-raiser to the club’s Agri Storage and Logistics Moree Cup meeting on Sunday.
There are 12 items to be auctioned as well as 15 items in a silent auction.
View auction items here: Moree Chopper Ball Live Auction Items.
View silent auction items here: Moree Chopper Ball Silent Auction.
There are also 13 prizes in a raffle to be drawn on the night and two lucky door prizes.
“This painting depicts the bush races – just classic, country racing in the bush,” Mr Reardon said.
“I really love horses, and spent a lot of time with them as a young bloke. I love painting them, and the painting for the chopper service is not a particular scene, just bush racing in general,” he said.
This year, Mr Reardon has donated paintings worth thousands of dollars to clubs at Talmoi and Mungindi to sell at auction on race-day.
Other works have been donated to Moree Gwydir Industries and Moree RSL Regional Military Museum.
“You’ve got to promote the bush. I love it. There’s something about the atmosphere in the bush – it’s simply not the same anywhere else,” Mr Reardon said.
And there doesn’t seem to be any indication Mr Reardon has plans to slow down, either.
“I’ve got a heap of commissions lined up to do – about 10 at this stage – so I’m pretty busy with the brushes,” he said.
“I don’t do much on the farm now, it’s all brushes,” he grinned.
Moree Race Club Cup Weekend and Fundraiser
When: August 29-30-31
Where: Moree racecourse
August 29: Grays Online Charity Ball at Moree racecourse, from 5.30pm
August 30: Moree Cup calcutta
August 31: Agri Storage and Logistics Moree Cup meeting at Moree racecourse, from midday
Tickets: Agri Storage and Logistics Moree Cup Weekend of Racing
Online Auction: Gala Bid Moree Chopper Ball
