Rhonda Favaloro

Tutor: Botanical Art

Having spent many years as a registered nurse with eight years of study, Rhonda decided that her retirement also demanded eight years of study. At the age of 52 she gave up her PhD studies when she realised that she would rather be painting, a hobby she had prior to academic studies.

Thus started eight years of studying painting. Having already painted in oils, the expectation was that she would continue with this medium, until she was introduced to watercolour. Watercolour was captivating, challenging and frustrating, especially when she branched out to learn from Victoria's watercolour teachers.

Getting rid of detail was impossible. Fortunately, quite by chance, Rhonda heard Jenny Phillips talking on the radio about the importance of detail in botanical art. Shortly after, she met with Jenny and was accepted into the advanced beginners class. Since that time (1996) she has developed the skills to represent fruit and flowers so that she could successfully exhibit in many exhibitions.

She has been represented in the Art of Botanical Illustration since 2000; in exhibitions at Villa Mulberry, South Yarra (including group of six botanical artists; Woodbine Art Gallery, Malmsbury; the Mill Art Exhibition, Malmsbury; International Nurses Day, Operation Art Exhibition, North Melbourne; and the Ballan Art Show (2005, 2006). She was also selected as a finalist in the Australian Artist Magazine Challenge (Still Life and Florals, 2005). Other awards include a Highly Commended Award at the 2005 Ballan Art Exhibition, and the 2006 Judges Award for Best Painting in the Show.

Rhonda enjoys sharing the skills she has learnt with others who have a desire to paint and draw detail.