Australian Artist Finds New Use For Vegemite

Vegemite has been part of Australian history since 1923 and has become a household name. Some love it on toast, others like Vegemite sandwiches, then there are those who can’t resist creating wiggly worms with biscuits. Julie Gould, an artist on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland has found Vegemite to be great to paint with.

 

[Julie Gould, Beerwah Art Gallery Proprietor]:      

“You can manipulate it. Any artist knows that if they use watercolors once you make the mark, that’s it. You can’t rub any off, that’s it, it’s unforgiving.”

 

Julie first used Vegemite in 1985 when completing her commercial arts certificate and her lecturer asked students to paint using anything other than artists’ medium.

 

 

[Julie Gould, Beerwah Art Gallery Proprietor]:

“People ask does it go off?, does it go mouldy?, does it have vermin eating it or anything?, but it’s so high in salt anyway, it’s preserved itself. I’ve found it hasn’t faded or gone mouldy or anything, it’s perfect medium really and you can lick the brush.”

 

Julie enjoys painting different subjects but has developed a fascination with ladies from the 1920s.

 

[Julie Gould, Beerwah Art Gallery Proprietor]:

“I just love the dresses and they had such a freedom because they were allowed to vote all of a sudden. They had this empowering look on their faces in all the photographs.”

 

She sometimes uses other paint mediums and objects to create 3D pictures.

 

[Julie Gould, Beerwah Art Gallery Proprietor]:

“I use broken jewellery as well and coffee beans and I use a hot glue gun and attach them so that they are tactile, you can touch the canvas and feel it.”

 

With Julie’s talent, Vegemite is sure to take a more visual place in Australian homes.

 

NTD News

Queensland, Australia