Regional Spotlight Artist Profile | Lou Millen

The Regional Spotlight initiative is an opportunity for Wide-Bay Burnett artists at any stage in their career, working in any visual art medium, to receive mentorship and share their work at the gallery. Developed from an expressions of interest process, the 2025 exhibition brings a multifaceted survey of local artists sharing their personal connection to space, landscape, environment, home and time through mediums of painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and mixed media work. 

Lou Millen takes inspiration from her everyday life, channelling her ideas through drawing and photography.

How long have you been making artwork?

I graduated from The Tasmanian University in Visual Art in 1991/92, majoring in printmaking and drawing. I started exhibiting during my time as a student, but I would say once my course was completed that I endeavoured to make art full time. I was particular productive from 1991 until 2000, but then from2000 to 2017 I focused on commission work and a number of competitions which I was lucky enough to exhibit in.This was purely due to life matters becoming my priority. However from 2017 to the present I have found a balance with art and life, exhibiting when I am
able to, continuing to do commissions and enter competitions.

What are your favourite mediums to work with and why?

Over the years I have worked in many mediums, from printmaking to sculpture, drawing and painting but for now I find myself focused upon photography and drawing. Even though my work in these two mediums are separate from one another, I can envision them overlapping and producing work in conjunction with each other. They are two mediums that have great similarities, particularly working in black and white tones. Creating parallel results, in mood and emotions.

Who/what inspires or influences you?

As an artist I can truly say that I am not influenced by other artists. This is because I want to solely create work that is my own. However, there will always be comparisons to other people, as it is human nature to find similarities. That said, I am inspired by artists. As a young artist I found inspiration and in some cases mentorship in people such as Bea Maddock, Penny Mason Ray Arnold and Ian Friend. Now days I gravitate towards a variety of Australian artists such as Kim Anderson(drawing) Penny  Evan (ceramics) Margie Sheppard (printmaking/ painting) and Mandy Hunniford (painting), as well as international photographers Such as Alan Schaller and Franck Dsign. Locally artists like Jo Williams, Emma Thorpe and Wendy Talbot (just to name a few)  inspire me  with their continual commitment and prolific work ethic.

Subjects that influence me are things that came from every day life. It can be our surroundings, natural or man made but also humans themselves and what the body is or is not capable of. At times I find humour in subjects, portraying them particularly though my drawings or more compelling content that I craft through the use of photography.

Has your practise and subject matter changed over time? If so, how?

After leaving university, my practise focused mostly on printmaking and drawing, however I also  introduced collage and towards the end of the 1990’s started painting. My subject matters have varied from abstract landscape, man made structures to figurative. Sculpture also has had an appearance in commissions and exhibitions in more recent times. Working in predominantly wire and wood. I have always been drawn to different subject matters and mediums. However my last two solo shows concentrated on the natural environment, influenced by the Fraser Coast.

Now I am expressing myself through graphite pencil drawings, whether they are serious or whimsical and black and white photography, which I approach not only from a photographic point of view but also in the same way I navigate a drawing. I do this through the editing process, were I concentrate on tone, contrast and composition. As previously mentioned, I could see these two practises working side by side on any given subject.

What do you most like about living in the region?

Living in the area for over twenty years, I have found my inspiration in my every day environment,  for both my art and lifestyle. I have always been lured to living on the coast and after travelling for a number of years around the country we settled firstly at Burrum Heads then in Hervey Bay. The coast line has featured heavily in my work but now I am venturing into different themes and topics that are influenced greatly by the local people. Fitness also plays a large role in my life, for a number of reasons and I have been fortunate enough to find a gym in the bay that has accommodated both my exercise lifestyle and allows me to pursue my photography, giving me access to incredible athletic subjects.

I am continuously amazed at the artistic talent that is in this region, providing me the opportunity(especially in the last number of years) to mix with other artists as well as being able to view and discuss their work. Working from home and not in a studio setting I find this invaluable.

What advice would you give your younger self?

My advise to my younger self would be, try not to be so obsessive when working with an idea when you are older. As a younger artist my work was free, looser and I worked quicker, which did have its advantages. However as I have become older things have become more compulsively detailed, seeking perfection. This is not all bad but it creates time constraints, which can be frustrating when you a grappling with numerous ideas.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have found over the last number of years, friendships and camaraderie in the art scene within our region. Mixing with like minded people is exhilarating and educational, something that I have missed for many years I truly feel privileged to have been excepted for this years Regional Spotlight and honoured to be having my work hung in The Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, along side other regional artists.

What is the most interesting feedback you have had about your work?

I have been informed viewers enjoy my photographs because they create a sense of mystery and intrigue.  This applies to both action shots and random pictures of the athletes as they work out or mingle during their training. "Achieving this is fulfilling my creative goal, which I have done through obscure angles and the use of black and white."

Photo: Lumi Creative