Dashing off quick artworks featuring meat at Sydney’s Royal Agricultural Show has resulted in the production of an extraordinary work that will be auctioned at the Australian Wagyu Association conference in Mackay this week.
The painting is the most ambitious “meat art” work that Cairns artist, Belinda Williams has attempted to date but also the most stunning.
Belinda, who grew up on a dryland wheat property west of Moree, started painting as a kid and had a dream at an early age to become an Australian artist.
Taking up the brush full time in 1997, she was approached by Qantas and was sponsored to travel and make art.
By 2014, she was keen to promote her country roots and began to paint cuts of meat on music score sheets.
“It was a little bit random at the time but it sold immediately and the meat theme was born,” Belinda said.
In 2017 she was appointed as the resident artist at the Sydney Royal Agricultural Show, and while speed painting, she was approached by a number of Sydney chefs who had enjoyed her food art creations.
“I was painting in front of thousands every day. Unknown to me, I had the show’s resident chef and others watching, and they said they wanted more.
“It spurred me on to make more time for it.”
A relationship has since been formed with Sydney’s Victor Churchill Butcher in Woollahra, who showcase to the world what Australian growers produce, and which has allowed her to continue with her body of meat-themed art.
Her most recent work is the stunning two metre mixed media work on a side of hide, titled Visions of Wagyu, which she says “encapsulates all things Wagyu” and will be auctioned at the AWA conference and tour gala dinner in Mackay this week.
“The oversized artwork needs a little explanation,” Belinda said.
“There are many stories woven into the canvas, including a hand-plaited iconic Australian stock whip, which is attached to a bullock hide, which was a home kill 20 years back, and which fed a family in the bush for six months.”
The painting came from a meeting between Belinda and John Kilroy, whose restaurant, Cha Cha Char is a major sponsor of the Wagyu Edge conference.
“He liked what I do and he asked if I were interested in painting a work for the conference.
“When I heard that 50 per cent of the proceeds would be going to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, I said, I’m in.
“I’m from the country and those are the sorts of causes I want to support.”
The hide came from an old croc-hunting friend in the Brisbane Valley, who’d had it rolled up for 25 years, and it was enhanced by expert tips from RM Williams on making it supple and ready to paint on.
It all adds up to a most unique work of art for whoever is the purchaser in Mackay, and will give them ownership of a raw, realistic work of art from one of Australia’s most energetic watercolourists.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
