Orange born Loretta Blake has enjoyed a lifelong interest in art and twenty five years ago she began painting seriously.
In 1985 Blake travelled overseas and visited many famous galleries in the United Kingdom and Europe. This prompted her to forgo her career as a hairdresser to paint fulltime. She then sought out tutors in Australia to assist in the development of her style and has great respect for her still life tutor, the late David Wilson of the Julian Ashton School, Sydney, and the Macquarie Art School in Bathurst.
One becomes immediately aware of Loretta’s first love in selecting the subject matter for her paintings – flowers in many forms. Landscape and people have gradually given way to floral pieces which express vibrancy and spontaneity, exude colour with great detail and display considerable technical skill showing a wealth of natural talent.
Her home in rural Australia has her studio set in an extensive garden planted with lots of camellias, roses and other species, all of which inspire her work. Loretta, being a keen gardener quotes Monet - “I must have flowers, always, always.”
Blake, whose passion is classic art, has had a distinguished career in Australia and overseas, working in oils as well as water based paints. Her interest in painting has grown into a way of life she is passionate about. She and husband Barry, an Outback Tour Operator, combine their interests in a stimulating combination. Their daughter, Larissa, exposed to art from early childhood is pursuing her own career as an artist.
In 1987 Loretta was a cofounder of Six on the Turps, a group of regional artists who painted and exhibited successfully for over ten years. During this year she also had her first sell-out exhibition in Sydney. Her work has been published in the Australian Artists’ Magazine. Her first corporate purchase was by the Australian Grande Prix Board in 1991. In 1995 Loretta was included in an exhibition of Australian Women Artists for Australia’s Bicentenary celebrations. Blake exhibits extensively on the east coast of Australia.
