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John Millington and his partner Jann O’Connor (right) with visitor to the Clarence Valley Wendy Norris from Windeyer, near Mudgee. Pic: Lynne Mowbray

A man of many talents

John Millington and his partner Jann O’Connor (right) with visitor to the Clarence Valley Wendy Norris from Windeyer, near Mudgee. Pic: Lynne Mowbray
John Millington and his partner Jann O’Connor (right) with visitor to the Clarence Valley Wendy Norris from Windeyer, near Mudgee. Pic: Lynne Mowbray
  Palmers Island artist John Millington opened his home studio/gallery to the public over the last two weekends. John said that he started art school in Sydney in 1961. “During this time I played in pubs and clubs, which helped put me through art school,” he said. “I played anything with strings on it and I sang as well – I actually found it more fun playing than painting. “I played with Johnny O’Keefe, who coached us. He played the piano back then, although not many people knew that about him. “That was the (musical) era we were in.” John favourite genre during art school was life drawing. “I loved it,” he said. “But I never carried it through.” The National Art School graduate went on to teach art in high schools and tertiary level art. During this time he went from creating an average of three works a week to around three a year. “When you are teaching you hardly have any creativity left because you’ve given all your energy and ideas to your students,” said John. “Not that you begrudge it.” John creates his artworks using every medium and style, although he said that they are usually landscape based. His passion still lies in entering competitions, having won the prestigious Tattersalls Invitational Landscape Prize, in the ‘90’s. John said that he plans to start chasing the prizes again.