About Sally
Fine artist Sally McLean loves beautiful things. Through pastels and oil she captures the very essence of nature, especially seascapes, portraits and animals.
"The beauty of the world around me gives me pleasure from panoramic ocean views; pelicans gliding over the water; or the way light shines on rain drop covered leaves making them look as if they are covered in tiny crystals. This aside, I have had an affinity with animals for as long as I can remember and from a very young age it was my ambition to become a vet. Well I never became a vet but I have married a love of animals with a passion for art by producing quality pet portraiture." Sally McLean, October 2008
Sally developed a passion for working with pastels in her final year of high school. However, it wasn’t until 2005, some 25 years later that she decided to explore and nurture her artistic capability to develop it to its fullest potential.
After leaving school she channelled her creativity into her career as an engineering draftsperson and undertook a few classes at the Brisbane Institute of Art in the early 1980s.
In 2005, with her family now grown, Sally felt it was time to nurture and re-connect with her latent artistic spirit. Under the tutelage of distinguished artist Janet Ann Skinner she honed her experience of working with oil, pastels and charcoal attending weekly classes for two years. Her oil painting skills were further enhanced by attending a workshop run by award winning artist Graham W Smith.
Sally continues to refine her skills through attending life drawing classes and a painting group. In 2008 she attended photography classes at the Brisbane College of Photography and Art and completed a Masterclass Portraiture workshop at Brisbane Artists Academe run by Archibald finalist Fu Hong . In 2009 she attended a Seascapes and Boats workshop run by artist Regina Hona.
A keen yachtsperson from her early teens, Sally’s attraction to nearby Moreton Bay and the ocean feature often in her work. Her style is strong, realistic and evokes emotion through assiduous application of colour and tone.
With a fast developing reputation for quality animal portraiture, Sally also paints people, florals, and other works by commission. Her work now hangs in private collections throughout Australia.
- Exhibition RDA 2005 2nd prize pastel for Whisper
- Brookfield Art Show 2008 – Best Pastel for Noosa Pelicans
- Brookfield Art Show 2008 – Highly Commended Pastel Early Morning Lake Cootharaba
- Brookfield Art Show 2009 - Commended Pastel Guilded Quills
- She has exhibited at the Brookfield Show 2006, 2008 and 2009, the Royal Queensland Show (RNA) 2006 and 2009; Graydon Gallery 2008; Martin Galleries 2009 and Lethbridge Gallery 10000 Exhibition 2010.
“I’ve always enjoyed the texture and smell of new paper and the way in which different media take to it. Life is for living. When people view my paintings, I want everyone to be able to feel the same sense of emotion and joy that a particular image evoked in me the very first time I laid eyes on it.” Sally McLean, May 2008.
To commission Sally for a portrait or other style of painting, or to find out more about her work,
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