Artist Tricia Reust chasing her best yet

Tricia Reust is an award-winning artist who has managed to make the finals of the Bald Archy Prize twelve times, but she has not yet created “the one.”

The resident of Clontarf, famous for their mixed media works, is compelled to paint or draw in her home studio every day.

Tricia says she’s not inspired, but feels like she “has to do it” otherwise she becomes someone you don’t want to be around. Even her husband keeps his distance when she disappears into her workspace.

“I just get totally lost in it,” she explains.

“It’s the same when athletes say they’re in the zone. I don’t feel when I’m in it. I’m just in it.”

It’s a calling that will continue to drive her pursuit of “the one”.

“I haven’t created the piece yet. I haven’t created something that says what I want to say yet,” she says.

If Tricia was to take a punt at what the piece might be, she would put her money on a portrait of Michael Connolly, a renowned Redcliffe Aboriginal artist. On a number of occasions he has sat for her during the past six years, she would love to create a work that tells his story and the one of his people.

Her latest Bald Archy piece, Snakes in the house, is currently on tour through Australia and it has a dig at the infamous dual citizenship crisis that once embroiled federal parliament.

With previous portraits of rugby leagues Phil ‘Gus” Gould and Cricketer Andrew Symonds are just some of the ultimate recycler has created.

In most cases, Tricia says she has no qualms about cleaning off the canvases and starting again.

“I’m just always ready for the next one,” she explains. But there are exceptions. These include a painting of her husband and works inspired by her children and family.

Tricia loves portraiture. “I’ve never met a person that I haven’t seen something that I want to capture,” she explains.

“If I know them, I have to admire them. If I don’t know them, I just walk up to people and ask if they will sit for me.”