Congratulations to Geraldine Simmons for earning her place as a Winner in the Boynes Monthly Art Award [September Edition]!

Who are you?

A quiet, sensitive, kind and strong person, I work from my home studio in Collaroy’s northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. For the first eight years of my life, I lived in London, England and then settled in Australia in 1968. Growing up was harsh, especially at boarding school. I felt like I didn't belong or fit in. Being constantly left out, overlooked and feeling extremely anxious made learning and making friends difficult, but I excelled at art.

Having time to myself without the distraction of friends gave me the gift of solitude to think and care about other things. I loved riding my bike to peaceful places like a park or reserve. I would look with awe at the little things most people don't notice, like how the light would shine through a leaf, the patterns and all the tiny details that make our natural world such a magical place.

During my travels to the deep jungles of Borneo in 2005, the eyes of the orangutans and the astounding beauty of native Indonesian wildlife captivated me. That awe-inspiring, life-changing experience called me to raise funds and awareness for endangered wildlife. I visited a rehabilitation center for orangutans. I remember how heavy and steamy the air was as I walked towards one of the enclosures. The heaviness eased when my eyes met the most loving, big brown eyes I had ever seen. Drawing wildlife portraits was the way forward to communicate my mission.

What inspired you to utilize scratchboard as a medium?

When I was a member of QWASI a few years back, I admired how other wildlife artists could capture exquisite detail using scratchboards. I emailed the president to ask more about it. She sent me a small sample to try. I absolutely loved it! It felt so natural. I took to it like a duck to water.

How would you describe your ARTwork?

I create soulful wildlife portraits to inspire deep respect and connection to our natural world. No matter which species I draw, it feels natural to portray sensitivity and innocence as a common denominator, even in the fiercest of animals - something animals do not hide and inspires us to reconnect. I express this the most when drawing the animal's eyes, taking great care to inspire emotion.

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?

Now, more than ever, as the world faces an extinction crisis and spiritual malnutrition from becoming further disconnected from the natural world, I must educate people on the importance of saving wildlife and their habitats. When someone views one of my wildlife portraits and connects with their eyes, I invite the viewer to become more curious and look closer to learn more about them to save them.

Before I start, I take time to connect with the animals and imagine being in their world - to listen to them so I can tell their story. I take all the time and care I need to perfect each mark I make to honor and respect them at the core of my being.

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?

Before I even made a mark on my board, a lot of time went into planning the composition from the photo reference I took at Taronga Zoo, Sydney. I studied it to see how I could create the most impact in my final work. In most of my works, I leave out backgrounds or show just a hint of habitat to give it some context. For me, the focus is to portray the emotion or essence of the animal itself.

Once I sort my reference photo, I will print out a hard copy to work from. It is crucial to get the proportions correct right from the start. I use a drawing grid to draw the initial lines for accuracy and transfer the drawing to the board by using white transfer paper. I gently scratch over my lines with a fine blade knife. I work in layers, building on one tone upon the next to attain the light, shade, and texture that leads to a realistic effect. I will use diluted black ink to add depth. In the final stages, I take special care in perfecting the tonal values and contrast, but more importantly, the emotional expression is everything.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

Through each portrait, I aspire to show what is inherent in every animal on earth, what is beautiful and worth saving, and that these innocent beings are just as sentient as we are. With their soulful expressions, I can feel each of them is asking something from me, to connect, to listen.

I aspire to show not just an "animal" but a living, breathing being who shows intelligence and has feelings - who belongs to a family and plays an essential role within our ecology that balances our intricate web of life.

Animals teach us resilience and how to live in perfect harmony - more importantly, they show us how to connect, love unconditionally and live in the present moment. These are the values we can draw on to heal our planet and unite us as a heart-centered global community.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

When I worked on a commission of a flying fox, I got flustered right from the start by all the reference photos. I couldn't pick one that resonated with me, and on top of this, I felt pressured because it was a commission. I had to get it right.

I wasn't sure how to approach it. I did some rough sketches. The client chose the composition they wanted, but to me, it felt like a lot was missing. I knew I had to make a start, at least. I began drawing the eyes because this was the most important part. After I finished drawing the eyes, I started trusting my process more, as ideas came to me on what I needed to add to give the artwork some context. As I got more into the piece, I let go of all my reference photos, trusting myself and allowing more spontaneity to flow.

The lesson here was to trust myself and the process itself. The journey is always more important than the end result. The irony is, that the end result turned out perfectly anyway!

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

It's hard to define one big success because it feels like all of my achievements are the culmination of where I am now. Every success and even every challenge has contributed to my confidence and made it clear what my true purpose as an artist is. When someone views one of my works, I am transporting them into the present moment, opening their hearts and inspiring them to learn more about wildlife conservation and make a difference for animals. That feels like success to me.

If I had to name something, the standouts are becoming a signature member of Artists for Conservation, my first live solo art exhibition and a finalist for the world-renowned David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year. I achieved these by staying consistent and not giving up.

Can you give us a piece of advice you wish you had known at the start of your career?

Sometimes I would obsess with a particular outcome or wish for something to go my way, and when it didn't, I would feel dejected and put myself down. I wasted so much time and energy from feeling this way that it blocked me from moving forward. I learned that stuff happens or doesn't happen only to help you grow and evolve, no matter how painful or inconvenient. Divine timing is everything and only serves your greater good.

I also found that stepping outside my comfort zone reaped so many rewards. In the beginning, I was afraid about traveling to the remote jungles of Borneo on my own to see Indonesian wildlife and orangutans. I almost said "no", and glad I listened to "Yes" because that amazing experience was a life-changer! Diving into uncomfortable makes you feel alive and like you're living more of your unlimited potential. I realized this as a cyclist too, when I rode from Canberra to Sydney in my Riding for Rangas group charity bike ride to raise funds and awareness for the not-for-profit Friends of the National Parks Foundation. I felt utterly exhausted from riding such a long way, I thought my legs would snap on the next hill, but my inner power egged me on to the finish. Experiences like these have taught me to push myself beyond my self-imposed limits. It feels self-empowering and exhilarating to do what makes you stronger and more resilient. The cherry on the cake is knowing you are doing something that will make a difference and change lives.

What projects are you working on currently? Can you discuss them?

I've been stepping outside my comfort zone and experimenting with watercolor, after several years away from it. As much as I love creating realistic, detailed works of art, it is nice to try new things. I think this will help bring new energy, more creative flow and ease into my artistic process.

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

I would love to travel back to Borneo to see orangutans in the wild or maybe even volunteer at a conservation center. I want to take my best camera and create a new body of work from my photos and experience. I would love to see an end to deforestation and habitat destruction where these beautiful sentient beings could thrive and live in peace forever.

As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Have a go. Be brave and let go of the fear your art may get rejected. This has happened to me countless times. I've learned that art is subjective and it's never about you. Keep going because you're only getting better. Before entering, ask yourself some questions. "Is this opportunity aligned with my values and passions?" "Will it advance my career and help grow my audience?" "Is my genre the right fit?"

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?

Never underestimate your value as an artist and the good you are contributing to the world. You are serving others by uplifting their spirits, transporting them into the present moment, and inspiring a better world through the light of your self-expression. Never give up, stay committed, and acknowledge your achievements along the way, no matter how large or small.

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