Written by Shaun Ryan
ART THAT WILL MAKE YOU BEAM
For Maryborough artist April Spadina there is no better feeling than knowing her work is in a public
space, sharing a message or simply making people smile.
April has an incredible love and appreciation for the Heritage City.
While many people know Maryborough for its military and industrial history, it is also a thriving space for artists.
“There is a massive creative family on the Fraser Coast, especially in Maryborough,” said April.
“It is a diverse community that is engaging and very supportive of the arts.”
She said there was always an art workshop on the go somewhere in the city and many restaurants and cafés were more than happy to offer local talent a space to hang their work.
“Art is really important for a community, it’s not just a hobbie. It’s a way to destress and socialise with people. It brings likeminded people together and helps you explore things you might never have thought you could do,” she explained.
April specialises in charcoal drawings – and has a unique fascination with giraffes and primates.
“Giraffes are such expressive animals; they are gentle, beautiful creatures with massive eyes and eyelashes,” she said.
“And it’s so easy for us as people to relate to primates, especially orangutans.”
Drawing with charcoal will always have a special place in April’s heart, and studio, but it is not the only medium she is exploring.
Watercolours offer April a more intimate experience.
“They’re really small pieces and I use them to capture beautiful settings that I come across. It could be of the boats on the Mary River, the scenery in Boonooroo or a small alley in the CBD,” she said.
She always has a watercolour set in her car in case the opportunity to capture a moment arises.
But April’s public art works are the pieces that people might be more familiar with, even if they never knew she was integral to their design and production.
She contributed greatly to the Maryborough Story Bank and has been asked to produce numerous concept drawings for bronze sculpture projects in the city.
“It’s just the coolest thing knowing my work is out there and being enjoyed by people,” April said.
If Council wants to honour a person, business or event they often call on her to produce the concept drawing.
“I sketch an idea in charcoal which is then given to sculptor to make it 3D.”
April always knew she wanted to study art after school and never wasted any time following her passion.
But she only really felt she was an artist after selling her first piece.
“When someone was willing to pay money to have something I made hanging in their home, that’s when I
knew.”
You can keep up-to-date with April’s art projects on Instagram.
Her handle is @aprilspadina.art.