Interview with Trish Lambi

Trish Lambi

Trish Lambi has always painted but did not turn professional until 2003 when she participated in the Fourth Edition of the Biennale Internazionale dell’Arte Contemporanea in Florence Italy..

Since then she has exhibited locally, interstate and internationally and interest in her work is growing. Her work is hung in galleries in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Wollongong and in private collections in Australia, Spain, China, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Cyprus and the United States.

Light on form is Trish’s inspiration and she says it fuels all her work.

“I start each piece as an exercise in lighting form, whether that form is the human figure, or the landscape/seascape, and each piece invariably progresses into a spiritual journey where the painting evolves into a vignette of my everyday life – the emotions, the responses to external events and pressures, and the ongoing spiritual reflection: all rarely articulated”, she said.

“Whilst not intentional the women in my paintings feel and face pain and in my landscapes a deep emotion is evoked. This emotion comes as I paint and subconsciously it dictates the creation of each facet of the painting – the palette, the background, the brushstrokes. Each piece takes me on a journey, sometimes unwelcome but always illuminating,” Lambi says.

1.     What was your first job?
My first job was with the Warwick City Council where I was employed immediately after Grade 12 as a clerk typist even though I couldn’t type! After two weeks and one blown up photocopier I was offered a job with the Commonwealth Bank.

2.      What did you want to be when you grew up?
I can’t remember having a burning ambition to be anything when I grew up except to marry and have a lot of children! I know that from a very young age I loved to draw women and for a while I flirted with becoming a fashion designer. I also loved architecture but at that time I didn’t dream of making a career out of it – at that time banking, nursing or teaching seemed to be the main careers for women. It was only after working for a few years and not having married and had babies that I realized that I really did want to be an artist.

3.      What does your job involve now?
Painting! I also have to look after the documenting of my work, prepare exhibition and art show entries and attending to the marketing side of things.

4.      Are you thinking of trying your hand in anything else? 
Not at this time. I paint while my children are at school so as it is a small window of time I tend to concentrate on what I love best which is oil painting. I don’t really have that much time to experiment with other mediums and as yet I haven’t had the inclination either. Oil painting still challenges and excites me although when the kids are older and I have more time, I wouldn’t mind trying sculpture.

5.      What is the biggest challenge you face at work?  
The biggest challenge for me is marketing my work – I would much prefer to be in my studio actually painting rather than talking about it! I am really quite shy so that is something that I have to force myself to do. Having your work (and therefore a big part of you) hang somewhere for all and sundry to judge is daunting yet exhilarating – there is nowhere to hide. I also find it difficult to articulate my work – I’m much better at painting!

6.      What is the best part of your job? 
When I’m painting I’m in another world – I love it! It’s also great meeting people who have a real affinity or connection with the work I create. It’s quite a bond and I treasure it.

7.      What is your advice for people starting out in your industry? 
My advice is to stay true to what you love to do, have fun and persevere in the face of rejection. Art is so subjective, rejection just comes with the territory and you need to have a real belief in your work to keep putting it out there. Above all, be optimistic!

8.      What makes you happy?
My family – they make me laugh and cry and feel totally alive. They’re really what it’s all about. Spending my days painting also makes me happy!