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Geraldine Simmons
AFC
Wildlife artist for conservation |
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Australian artist Geraldine Simmons is so grateful for the magnificent wildlife that graces our world that inspires her to draw from her soul.
Geri lives with her family in Collaroy on Sydney’s northern beaches. Her surroundings are abuzz with the colour and noise of local wildlife. Possums, rainbow lorikeets and kookaburras, visit her backyard often while she may spot a brief sighting of a wallaby or lyrebird on one of her very early morning bike rides. Experiences such as these provide the inspiration for her work in pastel, coloured pencil and gouache. Geri has evolved these mediums over a number of years to capture the nature and essence that bring each animal to life.
In her hometown of London, England, Geri' s father nurtured her young artistic spirit by encouraging her to draw everything around her. After graduating from a Melbourne boarding school, Geri pursued other paths. Fifteen years later, a near fatal push bike accident woke her up to her true calling. While she was recuperating on a couch at home, she saw a Kookaburra outside her window gently picking it's way across her lawn. The image called to her, and she once again felt the pull of her colored pencils. With the power of magnets, this inspiration drew her back into the innocence and power of animals in their natural world.
One of Geri’s most profound and awe-inspiring experiences was traveling to the remote areas of Indonesia to witness the orangutans – our closest cousins, in their natural habitat in the deep jungles of Borneo. As a witness of their behavior, seeing how they survive in their environment helped her appreciate their great intelligence, adaptability and resilience. Some things made her laugh and some things made her cry and since that trip she has brought home a lasting impression that she aspires to portray in all her works of art.
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Support for Conservation:
Over the course of her career Geri has been invited to support several animal welfare and environmental groups through donations of her works of art. Friends of the National Parks Foundation (http://www.fnpf.org) in Borneo, Indonesia, who focus on the conservation of Indonesia's orangutans and bird life, is closest to her heart. In 2004 she was invited to visit the Tanjung Puting National Park where she witnessed the tireless and relentless work of the FNPF volunteers. A few years later Geri was inspired to put her love of push bike riding to raise funds for FNPF by founding the “Riding For Rangas” charity bike ride, now an annual event (http://riding-for-rangas.blogspot.com.au). Riders are sponsored to complete the challenging 330km distance in two days.
In 2005 Geri received her first invitation to the Humane Society International Extinction Denied art exhibition. All proceeds from the sale of her drawing “Man Of The Jungle” went to Friends of the National Parks Foundation. In the 2007 fundraiser, Geraldine sold her work “Evening Sun” where 100% of proceeds supported Humane Society International animal protection campaigns.
In 2006 Geri donated her drawing “Sole Koala” to help raise funds for making the feature-length documentary “Milking The Rhino.” Made to raise awareness of African wildlife conservation, the film won many awards in several film festivals, including Best Documentary, Best Nature Documentary, Best Cinematography.
Since 2008 Geri has sold several artists proofs and limited editions for the benefit of the Borneo Orangutan Society and the Silvery Gibbon Art Auctions.
Geraldine is a volunteer for the Friends of the Bush in her local area where she helps to remove invasive weeds that choke the natural bushland and destroy wildlife habitat. The main project she is involved is the "Return of the Mermaids" restoration project who's aim is to restore Mermaid Pool at Manly Vale back to environmental health. Mermaid Pool is a beautiful natural oasis on Manly Creek (just 3 km from Manly's famous surfing beaches).
Special Achievements:
- 2012 - Art Of Conservation 2012 Exhibition
No Tree, No Me was chosen for inclusion in the 2012 Art Of Conservation Exhibition and can be viewed in the virtual exhibit along with the work of all accepted artists .
- 2010 - AFC - Conservation Artist of the Month - May 2010
The AFC Conservation Artist Award is awarded monthly to honour a member for outstanding artistic talent and extraordinary contribution to the conservation cause.
- 1988 - 2013
http://geri-simmons.squarespace.com/
Publications:
- Best Of Worldwide Animal & Wildlife Artists - Volume II (2012)
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- AFC's 2012 Exhibit Book
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- Artist profile - Wildlife Artist Magazine (2006)
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Organization Membership:
- Queensland Wildlife Artist Society Inc
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All rights reserved. All images and text © Copyright 2013 Geraldine Simmons - Member of the Artists for Conservation Foundation (Formerly
the Worldwide Nature Artists Group) www.natureartists.com.
This site represents the original artwork (nature art and wildlife art) of nature
artist and wildlife artist of Geraldine Simmons and is protected by international copyright laws. Use
of nature art, wildlife art or any other images or text from this site, requires
permission in writing from Geraldine Simmons ().
This site is part of the Artists for Conservation (AFC) Web site. (Wildlife
Art - Nature Art - Conservation) Artists for Conservation is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to
nature art, wildlife art and conservation. On this site you will find world-class
nature art and wildlife art by today's leading nature artists & wildlife artists.
The AFC site is the Web's premier location for nature art, wildlife
artists
All content appearing in pages featuring Geraldine Simmons is the sole responsibility of Geraldine Simmons. The opinions expressed on these artists' pages are those of Geraldine Simmons and do not necessarily reflect those of the Artists for Conservation
Foundationi (AFC).
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