Northern beaches artists - Geraldine Simmons

Northern beaches artists - Geraldine Simmons

The Eyes Have It

The Eyes Have It - Pittwater Life Magazine p.40

ENDANGERED: Art4Apes Virtual Artist in Residence

The Virtual Artist in Residence Program is awarded monthly to the artist or photographer who has submitted 3 or more entries to the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest 2020. The Rickie Report introduces Geraldine Simmons, our Virtual Artist-In-Residence.

https://www.therickiereport.com/2020/12/22/view-current-endangered-fine-...

Wildlife Artist to raise awareness for endangered wildlife

Guest Artist - Trendy Art Ideas

Featured artist - Hyperrealism magazine #11 June, 2020

“Featured Artist” - Hyperrealism Magazine #11 - June 2020- p.68 -73. This magazine interview gave me the opportunbity to talk about AFC and my art.

Artist Profile - Boynes Emerging Artist Award

Geraldine Simmons is an English born mixed media artist who studied under both Val Kemsley and Pina Bartolo. Simmons draws mostly wildlife as she understands the simple fact that animals are great teachers of unconditional love and what it means to live in balance. Now more than ever in this new world order of bush fires, mass deforestation, illegal wildlife trade and even Covid - 19,  Simmons is inspired to raise awareness to the massive wake up call we are now receiving. 

Australian Artist magazine - "Scratch Me Happy" - by Geraldine Simmons

Geraldine demonstrates and describes the art of scratchboard to create realistic and expressive animal portraits in a 10 page featured article in the January, 2017 issue.

Following is an excerpt from the magazine... "For anyone who is not familiar with this medium, scratchboard is an etching medium that consists of a thin masonite board covered by a layer of pure white clay that is sprayed with black ink. Sharp tools such as ‘x-acto” knives and fine fiberglass pens are used to scratch or scrape away the black ink to expose the white clay underneath. Various textures can be achieved depending on the abrasive tool used like oil- free steel wool for example, which is effective for creating the ‘fuzzy fur’ texture for a koala.

Instead of adding a line like you would when applying graphite pencil to white paper (positive drawing) scratchboard is the opposite; scratching away black to reveal white (negative drawing). It is a very time-consuming medium that requires a lot of patience and focus but I find that once I get in the swing of things I lose any sense of time that I am sure many artists can relate to."

ARTISTS MAKE A PLEA ON BEHALF OF WORLD’S WILDLIFE (Manly Daily)

A GIANT humpback whale, a snow leopard, an orangutan – these beautifully crafted images are designed to make you think.

Dino Halcrow and Geraldine Simmons want to wake people up to the urgency of protecting wildlife.

Artists Dino Halcrow and Geraldine Simmons use different media but have come together for an exhibition about their love and concern for animals and the environment.

Called Looking At The Bigger Picture, the exhibition, at Painters Gallery, Manly, shows marine life and mammals on canvas and scratchboard.

Ms Simmons, of Collaroy, said impacts on animal habitat would eventually reach humans and greater understanding was needed.

“Our vision is for people to see wildlife in another light. They are not just creatures beneath us,” she said. “What we’re trying to convey is wildlife are sentient beings, just like us.”

The exhibit contains facts and notes on the artists’ experiences with the animals.

Mr Halcrow, of Ingleside, said: “It takes awareness for us to become custodians of the planet we call home.

“Most people say, ‘We enjoyed the show and left with a small seed of thought’. It’s making people think about their actions and responsibilities.”

He has long been fascinated by the ocean and has used his art to promote environmental responsibility.

Ms Simmons has also used her art to promote better understanding of endangered wildlife since she met orang-utans in Borneo in 2005.

The two have displayed their works together at the suggestion of the gallery owner.

The exhibition runs until Friday.

The Gallery moved from Mona Vale to Manly last year. Picture credit: BRADEN FASTIER 

Life As A Human interview with Geraldine Simmons

Geraldine Simmons donates personal works of art to assist and support several animal welfare and environmental groups and also initiated “Riding for Rangas” a biennial charity bike ride that raises funds and awareness for Orangutans and Friends of the National Parks Foundation, FNPF in Indonesia.

FNPF is a local non-profit organization working to preserve Indonesia’s wildlife and habitats. The philosophy of FNPF is that we are all connected. They take a holistic, balanced and comprehensive approach that recognizes the inter-relatedness of human beings, animals and the environment.

LAAH: What exactly is it that you do?

GS:  I am the founder and organizer of the “Riding for Rangas” charity bike ride that raises funds and awareness for FNPF, a NGO based in Indonesia that protects local wildlife and habitat while helping local communities.

LAAH: When did you start? 

GS: It all started after I returned from a trip to the Tanjung Putting National park in Borneo where FNPF carry out their valuable conservation work. I saw firsthand the destruction caused by the planting of palm oil plantations that threaten local plant and animal species, especially orangutans. This motivated me to turn my passion for cycling into an annual fund-raiser event.

LAAH: Why do you do it and what is the motivation or passion that keeps you going?

GS: I do it because I love to. My passion for endangered species motivates me to raise the awareness of their fragile habitat and how threatened these creatures really are. It’s soul destroying seeing the habitats of these magnificent creatures being wiped out as a result on the one hand of human greed and on the other, ignorance at the damage that is being done.

As a wildlife artist and activist I’m urging everyone to not only avoid products with palm oil, but also to more importantly support the relentless and challenging work of the FNPF.

For more of this interview click on the Website URL below.

Pedal Power Helps Raise Funds

Peninsular Living Magazine article on Riding for Rangas 2013