Johnathon Smith
Born: Mildura 23
April 1987
School: Wentworth Primary School/Coomealla High School
Johnathon became interested in art from the early age of 8. He would often skip school to go out bush with his father and other elders where he would see animals in nature and knew from that point that in his heart he wanted to paint.
He started sketching cartoon characters (Bugs Bunny and Marvin the Martian) at home. He later enrolled in TAFE at Dareton where he started to experiment and use acrylic paints to do aboriginal art. His teachers Kathy Benchmark and Jo Hill (indigenous artist) both encouraged him to do indigenous paintings and to study different aboriginal artists who use lines and dots as their mark. Johnathon predominantly uses dots as his mark because he likes his art to be tidy; dots give a smoothness and roundness to his mark. Johnathon painted animals such as kangaroos and emus, much of which came from memory. His technique is often based on real object with a stylized outlook
He has two sisters and during the time Johnathon went to TAFE they were able to learn from him and encouraged each other artistically. He left TAFE in 2006 after 2 years of study and has continued to create art using acrylic paint which has a smoother finish which suited his style as it dries quickly.
Johnathon hopes to keep his culture going and eventually be able to use his art to teach younger aboriginal children the stories which he depicts. One of his favourite aboriginal artists is Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. He is embarking on a traineeship through The Art Vault and is being mentored by local indigenous artist Lance Atkinson. He has enrolled in TAFE and hopes to finish certificate 3 in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Culture and Arts.
Johnathon now paints on a full time basis at The Art Vault and has already sold his paintings to various private collectors and local businesses.
'Johnathon Smith began his traineeship in Certificate III in Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Arts with The Art Vault, Mildura and Sunraysia Institute of TAFE in January 2009. Johnathon is studying studio-based subjects including painting, drawing, ceramics, photography and printmaking. Cultural studies and occupational health and safety are also part of Johnathon’s traineeship program. During his employment at The Art Vault, Johnathon is being mentored by local artist Lance Atkinson. Johnathon has also workshopped with, and worked alongside artists such as Geoffrey Ricardo, Anita Laurence and Bill Young. Already this year, Johnathon has completed and sold three paintings. The last completed work has been purchased by the Mildura Arts Centre for their permanent collection.'
Excerpt by Sheridan Williams—Teacher Education and Media, Sunraysia Institute of TAFE