Artist and creative free spirit Sandy Muston likes to delve into matters of mind and imagination.

   I caught up with Sandy at SCECGS Redlands High Country Campus one morning about 10.00am. He’d just cooked up a big breakfast for 150 famished hikers. Like most artists he has to work to support his art.

   “I never look at recipe books when I cook”, he said, “and it’s much the same when it comes to painting. I let my mind wander and make it up as I go. Even the Snowy Mountain scenes are made up. They’re not real. I never work from photos, I simply paint what comes to mind and feel’s right.”

   It’s well worth taking the time to view a couple of fine examples of Sandy’s work hanging in the Jindabyne Horizons Quality Hotel.

   I especially like the humour in his “Settlers Last Supper.” I am told it has some familiar locals featured.

   Sandy tends to paint on a large scale. He has produced murals and large works in abundance but tells me he’s interested in small works too and everything between.

    He works in oils, acrylics and watercolours. The colours in acrylic paint are just a bit too vibrant though for Sandy.

  “Watercolours are my favourite”, he said “but they’re dangerous. You have to be careful.”

He believes there is no right or wrong in art and it’s all an expression of the artist’s personality.

   “A dark mind will produce dark paintings for example,” he said.   

      Sandy is proud of all his creations and in particular his daughter Anya, depicted in this striking and yes, large, portrait he affectionately refers to as “The One Eyed Violinist.”   

Artist, Sandy Muston with his painting of his daughter, Anya, "The One Eyed Violinist."

Anya has been awarded several music scholarships and has studied in the UK and is now working with the SBS orchestra. She also fills in with the Sydney Symphony and has just been asked to audition for the Melbourne Symphony. She lives for the violin and hence “The One Eyed Violinist.”

   Congratulations Anya and congratulations Sandy on both creations.

   Like all true artists Sandy’s painting is his life and he humbly and unconditionally shares his joy of art with anyone interested.

   “I’m always learning new techniques and styles. You can never know it all. Life’s a continuous learning curve”, he says.

    I asked if he would consider teaching others and his response was an immediate “certainly”. 

   Sandy Muston can be contacted on mob. 0422 285 076 or e-mail sandymuston@hotmail.com  

To see past ART ZONES visit www.pauldion.com “Articles and News.”