Christine Broersen has two great loves in her life: her family and her art, both of which resonate deeply with her.
As the eldest sibling of a large family, a mother to five grown children, and a grandmother to one, she cherishes her life immensely.
Balancing the duties of motherhood has given her an insightful preview into the natural beauty of life's most precious moments, a perspective she brings into her portraits with perfection.
Initially treating her art as a hobby, she later embraced it fully once her children grew older, however, today 30 years later, the self-taught pastel artist brings both people and objects to life with extraordinary detail.
Art has always been a significant part of her life and as a child, she fondly remembers buying chalk from her local shop and collecting anything she could draw on.
"Anything I could find as a child, I would take home,” Christine said.
“Anything blank was my canvas.”
Specialising in pastels and painting with a focus on still life and portraits, realism has been her calling, and her work is nothing short of stunning. Looking at her art, you’d think you were seeing a photograph.
Christine's work is renowned for capturing the subtleties of light, shadow, see-through elements, vibrant colours and intricate details that display wondrous depth.
Each piece is a beautiful representation of her talent and showcases her creativity, which she said was an integral part of who she is.
“I’ve always been creative and if not creating something, it’s depressing,” Christine said.
“If I’m not making something out of nothing, then I’m not happy.
“I feel lucky that I’ve been able to pursue my passion and not rely on it as a form of income while working with my husband’s business and raising our children.”
Christine has an impressive artistic career, including participation in numerous group exhibitions, solo shows, and she has a plethora of prestigious awards.
She also operates a studio in Shepparton and occasionally teaches there.
Additionally, she holds a significant role as secretary within the Australian Guild of Realist Artists which she has been a part of since 2007.
One of Christine's notable recent achievements is her collaboration with the Moon Kodax time capsule, also known as the Lunar Codex.
This ambitious project aims to preserve contemporary human culture by sending a curated collection of artworks, literature, music, and films to the moon.
Christine’s work is included in this collection, which features contributions from over 40,000 artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers from 248 countries, representing a diverse range of human creativity and cultural heritage.
“I don’t really understand science that well, but I suppose it’s like a time capsule where the works have been encoded into a format that can withstand the harsh conditions of space,” she said.
“It’s really exciting and just mind-blowing and is set to launch early next year.”
At 70, Christine's journey is one to be admired, with all her original and uniquely touching work revered by many. However, it’s far from over yet.
“I intend to do this until I can’t hold a pastel or paintbrush anymore, and then I’ll probably try with my teeth,” she said, laughing.
“It’s funny how just standing in front of something can make you feel happy. I might try a few new things, and I’ll just keep going until I can't anymore.”
This article originally featured in the inaugural Heart the Art magazine. To read the full feature, head to https://www.sheppnews.com.au/features-and-magazines/heart-the-art/
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