Like a ladybug delicately perched upon a leaf, basking in the warmth of the sun, Glenda Cornell’s artworks exude a sense of the same quiet beauty and tranquillity.
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They offer a gentle reminder that even the smallest of creatures can bring joy to our world.
While her signature spot may not be widely known, a closer examination of her pieces reveals this very hidden gem: a tiny ladybug, tucked away amid the beauty of her creations.
“You don’t always see her straight away because the focus is on the piece, but once you look a little longer you will see her,” Glenda said.
“She resembles life. That something is growing and that something is alive in the painting.
“It’s the same with birds, birds are always in the landscape, and they are alive, and you can hear them and that’s what I love too.”
Boldly unafraid of learning and fearless when embracing new techniques, Glenda has mastered a plethora of mediums.
From traditional to contemporary pieces, watercolour techniques, and graphite, to mixing both on canvas, her experimentation knows no bounds. If all else fails, in her words, “just paint over it.”
“I like to experiment and use materials that aren’t often used on different surfaces, which helps you grow in many different areas of art — that’s what I love about experimentation,” she said.
“I play a lot and often use many different techniques and materials. Layering is another aspect I am particularly fond of.”
Alongside Glenda’s multifaceted approach to her work and the grace she radiates in all mediums, she has an extensive list of awards that spans her distinguished career.
However, the awards are far from what drives her. Much like the ladybug, birds, and other life forms depicted in her work, the process of creating each piece is equally moving.
Each creation is nurtured with love and wisdom, brought into the world like a new life, before being set free to be adored by all who encounter it.
“It’s interesting, because when I was teaching, I would often say to my art students that a piece of art is like a birth — it’s the most beautiful thing you have ever created,” Glenda said.
“It goes in all different directions throughout its life, like the naughty two-year-old, and gets out of control when it’s 13 — all of life’s experiences in a piece.
“But then it gets to a certain stage when you know it’s ready for the world, and you’re glad to see it go, happy to see it again, but if someone else loves it, well, that’s even better.”
At 73, Glenda is truly an inspiration to the arts and has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.
Her days are filled with natural light in her quaint Whistle Stop Studio Gallery in the Port of Echuca, where she does what she loves — bringing art to life.
“If I can keep doing this until I’m 90, 100, or whatever, as long as I’ve got my faculties, that’s all that matters really,” she said.
“I hope I fall off the perch like Margaret Olley, with a brush in my hand.”
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