The life and art of Andre Schmidt

IN art, you can never achieve anything better than the eye can see and the heart can feel.

There has never been a time that Andre Schmidt can remember that he hasn’t been creating visual images.

“In my early twenties, I made a decision to spend as much of my spare time I could painting,” Schmidt explained.

“I have, as long as I can remember, loved the the painting and creating process, it’s something that I have always had a passion for.

“I’ve always embraced the process of creating and want it to embrace me, which it always has.”

Schmidt, 77, has spent his entire life living in the Sunraysia district. His formative years were spent in Red Cliffs, where he grew up on the family fruit block with parents and three siblings.

“I attended Stuart Primary School and then went to Red Cliffs High,” he said.

Schmidt was a high achiever at school, excelling in all subjects, as well as being well above average at his sporting endeavours, particularly in athletics and football.

“I loved art and drawing at school,” he said.

“There were two teachers at High School that I will always remember, Mr Barnett and Mr McIntyre, who must have seen something in the art and drawings that I created; they continually encouraged me, I was then and will be forever thankful for their support.

“Having great support always gives you confidence, and that confidence that you get in what you are doing encourages you to always be taking the next step, that allows you to improve as a creator/artist.”

After finishing school, Schmidt did what was expected of him to do and that was to start work.

While work kept him busy, he still made sure that he found time to paint.

Along with his mates, he also continued playing football. Schmidt played at that Red Cliffs Football lub, the only club that he had always played at.

He wasn’t just an ordinary footballer — Schmidt was good enough to represent Sunraysia in an interleague game, holding down the key centre half back position.

“Yes, I loved playing football, but stopped at an early age (21). I wanted to spend all my spare time on my art,” he said.

Whilst it might sound like art is and was the only thing that has occupied Schmidt’s thoughts, that simply isn’t the truth.

He met a beautiful young girl named Jeannie, and it didn’t take long for that same beautiful girl to become his wife/partner and eventually the mother of his children.

They became team Schmidt and together have built a life to be admired.

“We brought a property near Kings Billabong, where I built a studio, where I was able to paint what I like to call, local Mallee landscapes,” Schmidt said.

“The studio was set up so I could welcome anyone interested in fine art. Most of my paintings there were for sale.

“The studio also provided an opportunity for people to see my painting in various stages of completion.”

In 1994, Schmidt made what was for him the huge decision to leave his employment and concentrate all his energy into his creative efforts.

“Painting to me, is still a challenge,” he said.

“I have very few formulas for colour mixing. For me, that subject matter that I want to paint is available everywhere.

“The love of painting has never changed. I still find it a challenge, a challenge that I look forward to every time I pick up a paint brush.”

For Schmidt, the creation of another painting starts the same way.

“I mostly stand at my easel, dab some paint on the canvas or board,” he explained.

“I ask myself the same question: Is this the mark that I hope to finish this masterpiece?

“I usually turn and walk away a few steps, hoping when I turn and face the easel, I will be pleasantly surprised. Sometimes I am and that’s good, but sometimes I’m not. When that happens, I colour mix, make another mix, mark again, another three steps back, turn look, and if not satisfied I will repeat the process until I am.”

For Schmidt, paintings are made slowly. Not very often does the first spontaneous mark survive.

“I suppose that determines my style,” he said.

“The very same process occurs when I venture into the bush and in front of my subject, which is influenced by the sun, wind or rain.

“Sometime this can be difficult and a good deal of preparation is required.

“An example of this is carrying everything that I need for the top of a cliff top and then roping it down, so the breeze can’t blow it down the cliff side into the river below.

“Care must also be taken when stepping back to view the painting — the cliff edge is just behind.”

The Schmidts recently sold their Kings Billabong property, which was set on several acres, and have moved into smaller property in Irymple.

“It was time to move. The thoughts behind moving were that if we left it for another 10 years, it would be extremely difficult,” Schmidt said.

“As it is, we now have a great home with a shed at the back that I have been able to convert into a studio.”

Schmidt’s paintings are not only a magnificent representation of the Mallee, the Mallee that he loves. More importantly, his creations tells a story of the way his art has evolved over a long period of time.

Walking around his house, where his art hangs on most walls, it’s very easy to understand the passion with which he paints.

The quality of Schmidt’s art, if it can be judged by the number of awards he has won (which are way too many to list), he is without doubt, one of Sunraysia’s best and most loved artists.

For Schmidt, there isn’t now, or anytime in the foreseeable future, an end date on his painting career, which of course is good news for all art lovers.