Julia Goldsmith - Painting with the Artist's Materials

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Every year, the Sidney Nolan Trust awards residencies to two students graduating from the BA and MA Fine Art Programmes at Hereford College of Arts. Julia Goldsmith was awarded the 2024 Sidney Nolan Trust Residency Prize for her undergraduate exhibition.

Painting with the Artist’s Materials is the result of Goldsmith’s time at The Rodd.

A natural scavenger, Goldsmith was delighted to uncover a forgotten stash of historic painting materials in the old cattle barn. As an artist who does not paint, the barn became her canvas and these time-weathered artefacts, her paint.

Nolan frequently employed non-traditional art materials such as household, spray and enamel paints as well as combining these and other materials. Canvases were made from glass, slate, muslin cloth pressed onto hardboard or cardboard rubbed with boot polish. Goldsmith feels a kinship with Nolan’s resourcefulness to use what is at hand.

When researching Nolan's life, Goldsmith was struck by his wartime experience. At first, he was able to keep up his painting while on duty in the relatively untroubled Wimmera region of Victoria, but with the threat of the frontline, he absconded. As a fugitive, he continued to paint, sourcing materials and improvising as best he could.

Taking Up Residence (8.04 mins)

Taking Up Residence is a short film in response to Nolan’s life and Goldsmith’s residency time inhabiting this place of beautiful light. Goldsmith was captivated by the quality and changing of light here in the Hindwell valley, something which no doubt captivated Nolan too.

Watch the film here https://vimeo.com/1069645057?share=copy