Julian Eather

The Lyric Image

This instinctive and spirited artist has been long creating vivacious and lyric paintings in a remarkably consistent fashion. The female form, Classicism and Oriental themes mingle with verve and assurance, something the viewer will quickly appreciate in the works of Julian Eather contained here.

Created out of her seaside studio in Mosman, on Sydney Harbour, her work has enjoyed wide appreciation in Sydney and Australia. Now more may enjoy her work through this website of selected paintings from the last decade and which betokens what she will continue to create.

Julian’s talent emerged very early, being a precocious and prolific drawer even before her formal studies at the National Art School in Sydney. Then, for many years, she directed the Art Department of a highly respected girls’ school before devoting her entire livelihood to Painting and Drawing.

She loves drawing, being a gifted exponent of the arabesque line enclosing bold colour, all effected with immense poise.

From her earliest influences of Matisse and Dufy, Julian had already evolved her own distinctive style. This grew to embrace free flowing oriental designs, having reference to Classical mythology. Echoes of Indian, Indonesian and Japanese art blend with the Sun and vivid tones from around her harbour studio. These themes entwine as well, with sinuous and direct studies of the female figure and face.

Julian is, above all, an intuitive artist. Composition transpires from deep meditation, then is suddenly brought to reality with a method that is rapid, intense and confident. Then, again, begins deliberation on the next theme - and the process repeats.

Using gouache, acrylic and oil, she works surely with the authority of one who has been painting her Floating World since early childhood. Broad coloured underlays, thickly applied, amalgamate with collage, all overlaid with her characteristic and defining line work.

This brings creations that, as has been said, are not only lyrical, but redolent with energy and the force of Life. They capture and irresistibly lift the spirit. They also, thoroughly reside within the grand tradition of Australian Landscape and Figurative Painting.

Over the many years I have known Julian, I have never ceased to delight in her enthusiasm and insights. Her art is imbued with a special, vital alchemy - the result of which is before you in this collection of paintings. The viewer should, now, see that for themselves.

Paul Delprat
Principal
Julian Ashton Art School
June 2007