Allyson Parsons - artist: Lisa checks out this exhibition in the Outback region of South Australia
Travel the open road between Burra and Morgan and you are in salt bush country.... miles and miles of it. About 50-kilometres from Burra we turn north into Redcliffe Station. Just as we arrived, Henry had just finished his lessons via the School of the Air and he and his little brother, Jack were making their way to the woolshed.
It was a hive of activity - a swirling madness of shearers and flying fleece. But in the midst of it all was Jack and Henry's mum, Allyson Parsons. Like an island in a sea of madness, she was stealing a few moments to pursue her life long passion - painting.
Allyson is considered one Australia's great landscape painters. Her forte is the Australian bush and the detail in her paintings is amazing - individual spears of grass, eucalypt leaves and stunning light.
"When I see colour and light together I get really excited," said Allyson. "I just want to get it all down really quickly." A frantic rush follows to get the essence of things on canvas - whether it be the coastal dunes near summer holiday shacks, the russet reds of the northern Flinders, a shearer's bike against a old stone wall or the end of a long day in the shearing sheds.
Her inspiration comes from the bush, which surrounds her - the salt bush sheep country that covers the 100-thousand acres of Redcliffe station that carries 12-thousand merinos.
"I especially love it when what I call the 'magic hour' happens. That's between five and when the sun sets and it just glows." And it's that late afternoon glow on canvas that's caused many to marvel at her work. From shearing sheds to the vast sand dunes of the Simpson Desert - they are all part of Allyson's never ending quest to capture moments in time but she's also had top overcome some incredible challenges.
Allyson was born profoundly deaf and for many years no one knew anything about it.
"I didn't discover I was deaf until I was four - it was only because I was lip reading. That was the only way I could get by really. I've never learnt sign or anything like that and I do wear hearing aids."
Even in childhood, wrapped in her own little world, she'd shown an amazing artistic talent. So did her deafness heighten her senses?
"I get asked that a bit and I often wonder if there is something in that and whether it makes your other senses a lot sharper. I guess I have more of a seeing eye."
Allyson's paintings also caught the eye of her husband, Myles. He saw an exhibition about 20 years ago and invited her to his property to capture it's magic on canvas.
"I took her for a drive around," said Myles. "I kept in touch with her and I ended up with two paintings…"
And a bride! It's a unique partnership - the farmer, the artist, the kids and the landscape that supports and sustains them.
For enquiries regarding Allyson Parsons work contact 8853 7067. Her next exhibition is on at the Prairie Hotel at Parachilna through September 2006 to commemorate the pub's centenary year. It's all part of the Flinders Brush with Art Festival. Please email info@postcards-sa.com.au if you have any further questions.
Allyson Parsons
Landscape artist
Ph (08) 8853 7067Exhibition of landscape paintings
Parachilna
'Brush with Art Festival'
Throughout September 2006Published 9th July 2006
