Sandra Cooksey-Nott - SMACN Fine Arts

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Mudgee, NSW
Sandra Cooksey-Nott - SMACN Fine Arts

Since a very young age I have been fascinated by all types of art.

I spend much of my spare time creating an array of pieces exploring different mediums and subjects, although, I am quite partial to en-capturing the beauty of animals large and small.

17/08/2026

Very excited that one of my plein air paintings has made finalist in the Regional Art Prize 2026 , The Corner Store Gallery.

09/08/2026

And the base layer continues....
Taking time and taking care with getting the right tones layed out ready for the details.

31/07/2026

So excited to share that I have been selected as a finalist in the Regional Art Prize 2026! Such an honour to be a part of this exhibition with The Corner Store Gallery along with 74 other incredible artists 🤩

26/07/2026

A little update on progress...

18/07/2026

Progress is slow, but he is coming to life...

17/07/2026

Now the birdies are off the drawing board I wanted to get this portrait started before holidays were out. I have had this idea for while and began brewing it in the background... deciding on scale, ordering the board, prepping said board, countless attempts at capturing the right 'feeling' behind the lens, thrn finally captur8ng a cpuppe shots that held the right 'meaning', then composing them into the 1 image, drafting onto the board, and today, finally blocking in some skin tone... re wiring the brain to oils after spending the last few months on pencils and pastels.

13/07/2026

"Band Practice"
68cm x 48 cm
Polychomos coloured pencil and Pitt Pastels on Pastelmat

Inspired by the vibrant rainbow lorikeet, this artwork celebrates one of Australia's most recognisable bush birds. Although often hidden amongst the reflective greens of the bush, their presence is impossible to ignore. Their colourful feathers, playful personalities and unmistakable calls bring life to the landscape every day.

The lorikeets' voices remind us of a band learning to play together, sometimes loud, lively and a little out of tune, yet always full of energy and joy. It was this musical connection that became the inspiration behind the piece.

For our family, this artwork is especially meaningful. Our son has a deep love of music and proudly performs in his school band. The joyful chorus of the lorikeets reflects the excitement and teamwork that comes with making music together. We also have a much-loved pet lorikeet, whose vibrant personality and curious, sometimes erratic nature brought inspiration to this artwork.

I chose coloured pencil to capture the bold, chaotic brilliance of the lorikeet, while soft pastel was used to create the gentle, light-filled bushscape surrounding it. Together, these mediums reflect both the striking beauty of the bird and its natural connection to the Australian landscape.

A huge thank you to for allowing me to use his birds as inspiration for my composition.

06/07/2026

Each day a little bit closer, this little curious guy is making a little more sense as he peeps over cautiously to his slightly more chaotic friends.

17/06/2026

Progress is still progress, even though it is slow. The bush tones are beginning to take hold in this background.

07/06/2026

And so the background effort has begun....

Address

Mudgee, NSW

Website

http://www.smacnfinearts.com/

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