Manuela has been a practicing artist and teacher for more than thirty years working and exhibiting in the UK, Spain, and Australia. Her field of interest is life drawing and portraiture using oil or charcoal. Recently, she has won first prize for the 2016 Master Skill Building Challenge at Watts Atelier. In 2017 Manuela fulfilled a lifelong dream to study in Italy and attended the Florence Academy of Art allowing her to work with artists trained in the classical skills that Italy is renowned for.
Q: What do you enjoy most about creating art?
What I love about painting and drawing is that it can be a quiet, meditative, solitary activity but it is also great to do it in the company of others. There is so much energy and inspiration we can give to each other.
Q: What does the year ahead look like?
The next year is a year of more workshops and travel. Europe is on the cards again and Ill be spending time in my old home Spain again. Creatively, Im investing time in painting and sculpture which is really exciting
Q: What do people most love to buy from you most?
I often do very quick gestural drawings at life drawing sessions around the Gold Coast and NSW and these quick dynamic drawings are popular.
Q: What is your favourite technique?
I love drawing, drawing, drawing. I cant live without it. Its lucky I love it so much because if I didn't draw, my painting or sculpting would really suffer.
Q: Is there a particular piece that gave you great joy to paint?
You know sometimes a painting seems to come from somewhere, not you. It just kind of arrives. This is rare but it happened when I painted a portrait of a young bearded man called Socrates. It was fun and spontaneous.
Q: What do you think are the benefits of doing an immersive art intensive workshop?
When we have our day to day lives, we have maybe a few hours a week to make progress on a particular technique. With once a week classes you can slowly develop your skills if you go every week. But if you spend 2, 3 or 5 days drawing the learning curve is just so steep and intense.
Q: Where is your next workshop?
The next 2 day workshop is in February - beginner portrait drawing with Artable in Broadbeach.
Q: If you could only give one piece of advice to (insert your medium ie. Water colour, acrylic, pastel, drawing, oils) students what would it be?
For me the only advice I can give is draw every day in a private sketchbook. Getting into a habit of just 30 mins or more of drawing everyday can do wonders not only for your art skills but for your peace of mind