Sophie Jarrold: Goondiwindi artist brings rural landscapes to life on canvas By Clare Beeston, Windmill House Creative

Growing up on a small farm in south-west Victoria, landscape artist Sophie Jarrold didn’t expect art to become a career pathway in her mid-30s.

“I studied art at school, with art history and painting being one of my major year 12 subjects,” Sophie mentioned.

“I’ve always enjoyed being creative, and I have memories of my childhood home being filled with paintings - my grandparents were also beautiful painters.”

Now a local to the thriving Queensland border town of Goondiwindi, Sophie’s hand turned to art once again when her father requested a painting for his birthday just a few years ago - a mere 12 years between having a brush in her hand.

Since then, Sophie’s art career has skyrocketed. Sophie landed her first art exhibition at the Goondiwindi Art & Civic Centre in February 2023, ‘Big Skies and Wildflowers’, in partnership with artist Robyn Beeston. With the exhibition selling out Sophie’s artworks in just one night, her reputation continued to grow. From the exhibition, Sophie’s 2023 commission availability sold out within the week, as well as developing a print collection, and becoming a key art stockist for multiple stores across Queensland.

“Art has given me the confidence to put myself out there and back myself. It’s a scary thing putting something you’ve created out into the world to be judged and critiqued, and it’s still something that I struggle with. It’s also changed the way I look at landscapes, always thinking how I’d paint something and studying how the colours are falling. I also can’t drive past a sunset without taking a photo of it to recreate on canvas later!” Sophie says.

Known for painting the many rural and agricultural landscapes she comes across in her travels, Sophie has a passion for recreating the land in dynamic acrylics - sunsets, sunrises, wide horizons and big skies.

“My advice to others is to paint for yourself. All of my paintings have a memory connected to them. Enjoy the process, give yourself space and the patience to let yourself be creative. If you’re loving what you’re painting, you’ll produce your best work.”

How to purchase Sophie’s artwork: Connect with Sophie on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sophjarroldart/ or visit her stockists:

• Harry & Kit Goondiwindi
• Harry & Kit Toowoomba
• Nutmeg Goondiwindi

Instgram - @sophjarroldart

👉  This story excerpt is from Issue #18 of Kickin Up Dust magazine: December 2023.