Monica Batiste
Monica's parents met in Singapore where her father was touring with the Australian Army and her mother was touring with a German dance company.
Her mum had one son in Germany, Ralf, and Annelies went on to have three more children with Geoff (Blackie). Wayne, Gabriela and Monica.
Annelies and Geoff were sent to Malaysia for a three year Army tour, and after they settled in Eastern Creek, Sydney.
Geoff was sent to Vietnam and on his return trained soldiers in Camden. Annelies ran a successful ballet school in the Rooty Hill School of Arts.
Life in Eastern Creek was isolated and there were challenges. Art was Monica's way of connecting and expressing herself. When there were difficulties, she drew. When it was hard in school, she drew. Art and English were her favourite subjects.
Portraits, figurative, drawing and doodling are the bits that bring her together.
She paints with oils on canvas or linen and illustrates children's books with gouache on cotton paper.
Daydreaming, drawing, writing, dancing and connection with friends and family.
Monica lives in Brisbane with her husband Andreas and blends her time with art, her family and teaching yoga at Suttons beach.
Education
Mentoring, painting and drawing, short courses with Scott Breton 2012 – 2025
Painting with Ben Smith 2021.
Short courses with Julian Ashton teachers at Atelier 2012 - 2022.
Traditional painting and drawing with Atelier Art Classes 2012 – 2020
Creative writing Sunshine Coast university 2009 – 2013
Illustration and Design, Cert 111 The Arts Academy 2006 - 2009
Visual Arts Diploma (Penrith TAFE) 1979 – 1981
Achievements and Exhibitions
2025 Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane. Finalist in Aspire Gallery Petite Pieces.
2024 Finalist in the Queensland Figurative with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane. Finalist in the Rotary Art Spectacular, Finalist in Aspire Gallery, Interview with Recovered Futures on her arts practise. Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2023 Finalist in the Lethbridge online exhibition for small-scale paintings
2022 Finalist in Salon Des Refuses for the Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalist in the Queensland Figurative with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2021 Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2020 Finalist in Salon Des Refuses for the Brisbane Portrait Prize
Finalist in Petite Pieces at Aspire Gallery
Art exhibition with Red Poppy Art Gallery
2019 Monica featured in an award-winning documentary on the creation of her painting ‘The Storyteller,’ for the Brisbane Portrait Prize, including interviews on local radio and featured in the Redcliffe Bayside and Herald newspaper about her work and the first Brisbane Portrait Prize.
Soloist Exhibition with Red Poppy Gallery
2018 Grant to study painting at Julian Ashton with Paul Newton
Grant to study painting in Melbourne
Created, illustrated, wrote and published several children's books
Founded, ran, and taught a portraiture class for two years
2017 Finalist in Cultivate the Arts Intensive program with Edgeware
Soloist Fine Art exhibition with Atelier in Brisbane.
2016 Exhibition with Redraku in the Redcliffe Cultural Centre
Finalist in the Rotary Art Spectacular
Finalist in the Moreton Bay Innovation Awards
Highest Achievement Award with the Balmoral Arts Academy
2014 Solo Foyer Exhibition with the Redcliffe Art Gallery
Solo exhibitions in Moreton Bay regional libraries
Group exhibition with Atelier Art College
Favourable review in Teachers Curriculum and in Australian Yoga Journal for Monica’s illustrated books
Several local media publications on Monica’s art
2013 Established Monica’s Art Gallery
2012 Interview on Radio station 99.7FM. Published illustrated books
2010 Exhibited with Artists Afloat
Finalist in Zonta with a Highly Commended
2009 Interviewed on TV show Brisbane-31 about her arts practice
Thank you for taking the time to read my CV
Monica
Monica's parents met in Singapore where her father was touring with the Australian Army and her mother was touring with a German dance company.
Her mum had one son in Germany, Ralf, and Annelies went on to have three more children with Geoff (Blackie). Wayne, Gabriela and Monica.
Annelies and Geoff were sent to Malaysia for a three year Army tour, and after they settled in Eastern Creek, Sydney.
Geoff was sent to Vietnam and on his return trained soldiers in Camden. Annelies ran a successful ballet school in the Rooty Hill School of Arts.
Life in Eastern Creek was isolated and there were challenges. Art was Monica's way of connecting and expressing herself. When there were difficulties, she drew. When it was hard in school, she drew. Art and English were her favourite subjects.
Portraits, figurative, drawing and doodling are the bits that bring her together.
She paints with oils on canvas or linen and illustrates children's books with gouache on cotton paper.
Daydreaming, drawing, writing, dancing and connection with friends and family.
Monica lives in Brisbane with her husband Andreas and blends her time with art, her family and teaching yoga at Suttons beach.
Education
Mentoring, painting and drawing, short courses with Scott Breton 2012 – 2025
Painting with Ben Smith 2021.
Short courses with Julian Ashton teachers at Atelier 2012 - 2022.
Traditional painting and drawing with Atelier Art Classes 2012 – 2020
Creative writing Sunshine Coast university 2009 – 2013
Illustration and Design, Cert 111 The Arts Academy 2006 - 2009
Visual Arts Diploma (Penrith TAFE) 1979 – 1981
Achievements and Exhibitions
2025 Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane. Finalist in Aspire Gallery Petite Pieces.
2024 Finalist in the Queensland Figurative with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane. Finalist in the Rotary Art Spectacular, Finalist in Aspire Gallery, Interview with Recovered Futures on her arts practise. Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2023 Finalist in the Lethbridge online exhibition for small-scale paintings
2022 Finalist in Salon Des Refuses for the Brisbane Portrait Prize, Finalist in the Queensland Figurative with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2021 Finalist in the Harold and Agnes Richardson Drawing prize with the Royal Queensland Art Society, Brisbane
2020 Finalist in Salon Des Refuses for the Brisbane Portrait Prize
Finalist in Petite Pieces at Aspire Gallery
Art exhibition with Red Poppy Art Gallery
2019 Monica featured in an award-winning documentary on the creation of her painting ‘The Storyteller,’ for the Brisbane Portrait Prize, including interviews on local radio and featured in the Redcliffe Bayside and Herald newspaper about her work and the first Brisbane Portrait Prize.
Soloist Exhibition with Red Poppy Gallery
2018 Grant to study painting at Julian Ashton with Paul Newton
Grant to study painting in Melbourne
Created, illustrated, wrote and published several children's books
Founded, ran, and taught a portraiture class for two years
2017 Finalist in Cultivate the Arts Intensive program with Edgeware
Soloist Fine Art exhibition with Atelier in Brisbane.
2016 Exhibition with Redraku in the Redcliffe Cultural Centre
Finalist in the Rotary Art Spectacular
Finalist in the Moreton Bay Innovation Awards
Highest Achievement Award with the Balmoral Arts Academy
2014 Solo Foyer Exhibition with the Redcliffe Art Gallery
Solo exhibitions in Moreton Bay regional libraries
Group exhibition with Atelier Art College
Favourable review in Teachers Curriculum and in Australian Yoga Journal for Monica’s illustrated books
Several local media publications on Monica’s art
2013 Established Monica’s Art Gallery
2012 Interview on Radio station 99.7FM. Published illustrated books
2010 Exhibited with Artists Afloat
Finalist in Zonta with a Highly Commended
2009 Interviewed on TV show Brisbane-31 about her arts practice
Thank you for taking the time to read my CV
Monica
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The Storyteller
Award winning documentary by Col Trethaway |
Radio interview with Richard Lancaster on local radio station 99.7FM 2019
Early days
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Film by Edgeware
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