About Wendi

Wendi Reis was born in a small Australian town outside Taree and spent most of her childhood in different towns of N.S.W. with her parents who were both school teachers. She lived in Cooma, at the foot of The Snowy Mountains, for nine years where she grew to love the beauty of the Australian bush and its inhabitants. Most of her spare time was spent exploring the bush and its wild life. She moved to her much loved southern suburbs of Sydney bordering on the bush where she has resided ever since. While training as a teacher she met her husband, Ken, who assists her in her artwork as her photographer. They now have two daughters.

Wendi awarding prizes at her art school's annual art show

An illness forced her to change her career direction and she became keenly interested in painting and other creative endeavours. She states "It became a compulsion to paint, I had no choice!" She studied art for several years under the guidance of various Australian artists. "When I first attended classes I was still too sick to hold my arms up to paint on an easel, but it didn't deter me. I had to paint flat on a table." "Doors began to open for me- I was invited to address a variety of small functions about my art work culminating in an address to over 300 people. It was nerve-racking but rewarding to share my love of art."

She has been guest artist at various occasions, such as the one held by The Saints Gallery, Sans Souci, Sydney where she felt overwhelmed by the number of people who turned out to see her work. Many of her paintings hang in both public and private collections overseas as well as in Australia. Eight years ago on the request of friends she set up The Sutherland Shire Children's Art School which is continuing to expand.

Wendi and 2 of her paintings at The Saints Art Gallery

Ken, Wendi's husband, assists her in her art work as photographer

When asked how she paints, she replies,"I make numerous trips around the countryside taking photographs and observing. Wherever I go I have a camera on the ready so as not to miss out on a pelican landing in the water, an especially beautiful sky or a gum tree that demands to be put into a painting at a later date. Occasionally I take my paints and easel outdoors but being oils, dust and other airborne substances can attach themselves to the painting. Some of my paintings are based on my photographs , some are from my mind and others are from mental pictures that I take as I travel by in my car. I become so immersed in observing that I forget I am driving. Recently I spotted a magnificent native plant, a Gymea Lily, which stands up to about 4 metres tall growing in someone's back yard and I stopped dead in the middle of the road, totally forgetting that there may have been someone driving behind me."

She admits that she is not really happy unless she is working on or thinking about a new painting. She often works on her art into the small hours of the morning. She likes most of all to paint birds and the sea. "I find an escape from the stress of city living in the tranquility of the sea. When I am painting a seascape I am there mentally on the beach." "Our Australian birds and wildlife are among the most beautiful in the world and it gives me great pleasure to capture their beauty and share it with others." She makes the sky a feature in her paintings. Mostly she works in oils but occasionally ventures into pastel and watercolour. In addition she has a collection of pencil portraits of famous people whom she sketches in spare time. She is also engaged in writing an animal book. Many of her paintings may be viewed at The Saints Gallery, Sydney.

Wendi in front of her wall of paintings at Shoalhaven Gallery

Wendi at the Gymea Bay Arts and Crafts Festival

In May 2001 she held a solo exhibition at the Gallery Equinox which proved to be a great success with several hundred people visiting the exhibition during the three week period. In July 2001 she was the feature artist at Gymea Bay Arts and Crafts Festival. Following this success, she was invited to be feature artist at Engadine West Arts and Crafts Festival which was held in November. Here is an excerpt which appeared in the local Engadine District Newspaper: At the Engadine West Annual Arts and Crafts Fair a number of sold stickers were displayed quite early in the show. If that is anything to go by, it seemed to be quite a successful event. The Feature Artist, Wendi Reis, had some brilliant pieces of work for purchase. Her talent and eye for detail that she showed saw many of her pieces sell quickly. She captured the natural beauty and splendour of many simple things shown in her work, the background remaining clear with not too many distractions to falter from the main focal point. The Waratah or Gymea Lily appeared as a main feature on many pieces. These proved to be a good seller. -By Angela, Engadine District News.

If you would like to buy one of Wendi's paintings, to order a painting especially made for you, would like permission to put one of her paintings on your page, or you would just like to tell her how much you enjoyed looking at these pages, please email her at wreis@ozemail.com.au