Collie artist, writer and master puppeteer Frank Over is providing some of his most prestigious works to the Collie Art Gallery’s latest collection.
The 88-year-old’s latest piece, Waiting for Matilda, is currently on display at the Forrest Street premises.
Mr Over came up with the name after seeing comedian and writer Tim Minchin discussing his stage adaptation of Matilda.
Mr Over has been perfecting his skills as an artist since he was 17-years-old, learning and practicing in pencil sketching, ink drawing, water colours, oil painting and abstract art.
Mr Over has developed works for exhibitions in Perth and Fremantle throughout his career.
He lived and worked as a commercial artist in Perth before moving to Collie in 2010 to be closer to his son and daughter.
Mr Over has also written and illustrated several children’s books, all featuring the adventures of the Woobley family, published by Bunbury’s PickaWooWoo Publishers.
He has also begun to write about Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).
He said artists find inspiration from all manner of people and situations throughout life.
“You get inspired to do it, it’s a bit hard to say how it comes about, but away you go,” he said.
“Sometimes it’ll just start with a sort of scribble and when you’re talking on the telephone or something, it’s surprising where it comes from.
“It’s in your blood, if you’ve got fire in your belly you’ve got to do something with it.”
Mr Over’s latest collection saw him sketch and paint over trails made by white ants in wood blocks.
He said Collie has provided an array of areas to draw inspiration from.
“Sometimes, something takes your fancy – like last Christmas, I was driving through Collie in the back streets and there were Christmas trees in full bloom, it was really beautiful,” he said.
“I thought: “Wow”, there was a little park, just stuck in these back streets, so, what did I do? I did a painting of a Christmas tree, it took me about three days.”
