Geraldine Simmons
Animal advocate Geraldine Simmons creates stunning portraits of animals using pencils and scratchboard. Her lifelike art and dedication to conservation make her a remarkable artist.
ARRIVING from England in 1968, Geraldine resided in Melbourne before moving to Sydney in 1975. Having parents who worked in the performing arts, Geraldine spent many weeks at boarding school, and as a quiet and sensitive child, this led to a sense of isolation and loneliness. She did, however, excel at art and so found herself drawing and bike riding - two pastimes which gave her a sense of home and belonging. “I loved riding my bike to peaceful places like parks or reserves. I would look with awe at the little things most people don’t notice, like how the light would shine through a leaf,” said Geraldine. “These experiences instilled in me the patience and care required to create the intricate details and facial expressions that bring each of my animal portraits to life.”
After finishing high school, however, Geraldine’s interest in art waned. She began searching for a career which was right for her with little success. It wasn’t until her father’s passing when she was 21 that she started on her ‘self-care and spiritual journey’. After rediscovering her love of cycling, she sustained an injury which saw her rekindling her other passion. “While I was recuperating on a couch at home, I saw a Kookaburra outside my window gently picking its way across the lawn,” said Geraldine. “The image called to me, and I once again felt the pull of my coloured pencils. I knew I had to reconnect with my creative path.”
Since then, Geraldine has continued to improve her craft, creating beautifully detailed portraits with coloured pencils. Her delicate and deliberate line work expertly captures the essence of our wildlife, as if actually sitting face-to-face with her animal subjects. In recent years, she has quickly added scratchboard to her repertoire after having received a sample scratchboard from the president of the Queensland Wildlife Artist Society Inc. “It felt so natural and easy to use. I absolutely loved it!” said Geraldine. “I took to it like a duck to water. It feels like drawing, only with a knife. The contrast and depth achievable with scratchboard perfectly complement my realistic style.”
THE POLLINATOR
Geraldine’s artworks also act as a vehicle for her efforts in conservation. Along with her lifelong love of animals, she has been a vocal member of Artists for Conservation since applying in 2004, an artist group advocating for wildlife conservation through fundraising and education. Representing 500 artists from 30 countries, Geraldine and Artists for Conservation are looking to enact a change in the treatment of wildlife globally. “There was something that was burning inside me to make a difference for animals, so I did an online search for an art organization that focuses on wildlife conservation, and that’s how I found them,” said Geraldine. “The AFC is the portal for my main website.” And Geraldine is more familiar with these habitats than you might think. In 2005, she was invited to take part in an eye-opening trip to Borneo with the Friends of the National Parks Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Indonesia. The FNPF aims to protect wildlife and restore natural habitats, involving local communities in conservation efforts, including education, volunteer opportunities and eco-tourism. Geraldine’s experience with the organisation heavily influenced her work going forward. “My first walk through an Indonesian forest was one of amazement and awe at how diverse it was. When I saw a wild orangutan nesting up a tree, I had to pinch myself. My jaw dropped because this was the first time I saw an orangutan in its natural habitat,” said Geraldine. “It was the catalyst for turning my wildlife art into raising funds and awareness for endangered wildlife.”
Following her trip to Borneo, Geraldine became hooked on all things ape. “I am drawn to primates, especially orangutans, because of the profound impact they had on me during my travels to Borneo,” said Geraldine. “It catapulted a fervent drive in me to educate people on how we need to change our relationship with animals and view them beyond being mere products, entertainment or even pests.”
As Geraldine continues to expand her portfolio, she hopes to build awareness for even more endangered species. “The more animals I draw, the more I get to understand them better and deepen my appreciation of them. I hope my art sparks conversations that will inspire people to relate to animals in a more emotionally connected way so that they can learn more, and collectively, we can turn the extinction crisis around to inspire us from not just being consumers but the earth’s custodians and co-exist.”
