By Natalee Kerr
A 90-year-old Geelong artist will celebrate seven-plus decades of creativity with a “unique” exhibition next month.
Grovedale’s Robert Tantau will showcase more than 50 paintings when his “biggest” exhibition displays works dating back to 1965.
Robert said water-colours remained his “favourite” medium for capturing local scenery.
“I would’ve painted about 1800 paintings and I’ve got a photographic record of about 900 in albums,” he said.
“I’ve painted stacks of things in Geelong, like Pakington St and the boats at Cunningham Pier.
“I’m very fond of painting boats and water.”
An award-winning member of Geelong Art Society for more than three decades, Robert was an arts teacher and education administrator for 35 of his working years., including 20 at Geelong West Technical School before retirement.
Painting was his “whole life” since first winning an art award aged 10, he said.
“My mother was an art teacher and she said to me, ‘Bob, you’re going to be an art teacher’, which I became.
“I haven’t painted for a little while but I’m starting to get back to it. I enjoy it so much.”
Robert was eagerly looking forward to his 11th solo exhibition.
“It will be lovely to see people coming in – and hopefully buying some works.”
The Retrospective Exhibition will be at Shearers Arms Gallery, 202 Aberdeen St, Geelong West, from 3 to 28 September.
