THE ARTIST - WALTER ISON

• Born in Brisbane 16 February 1962, Wal's parents John and Fay moved to Nambour on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. This area has been his home and base ever since.
  
  
• 1975-76 During his early high school years Wal illustrated a cartoon strip, called 'That's Life', for two years in the then local paper, the 'Nambour chronicle'.
  
  By the time Wal had reached his last years of school he had become a skilled leather worker and was invited to demonstrate and create his unique hand crafted leather work at 'The Big Cow' tourist complex at Yandina.
  
  
• 1978 He was accepted into the Seven Hills College of Arts, where he studied for two years.
  During this period, and from age 11, Wal was becoming an increasingly proficient drummer playing in various local bands.
  
  After leaving college, he worked in the clothing industry screen printing and airbrushing. Firstly at the Eumundi Butter Factory, then with a Brisbane based cottage industry.
  
  Around this time 25 t-shirt designs of Wal's were bought by a local factory giving him the opportunity to buy a good selection of oil paints, brushes and canvas. This began his love for painting that remains Wal's most valued art skill.
  
  Much freelance work was produced during this period. Free standing flamingos for the Miss Australia Quest, many surfboard murals, posters, personal drawings and many paintings were created.
  
  
• 1982 Wal was one of six applicants (from approximately 150) accepted into the 'Victorian College of Arts' studying theatre set design.
  
  
• 1983 Began an enthusiastic new direction with stained glass/leadlight. Since doing a weekend course, Wal has, in the following years, created 70 - 80 commissioned and personal projects.
  
  
• 1984 With a friend, Wal set up 'Aziel' Glass studio at Mapleton Falls.
  
  
• 1985 Living and working in a beautiful workshop in Maleny, Wal designed and created enough work in glass to hold an exhibition at the Montville Dome Gallery.
  
  
• 1985 Wal designed children's bedspreads for Concetta Design, designers to Actil and Sheridan. He had three designs accepted and printed.
  
  Wal moved twice more in Maleny and produced a great deal of stained glass work during many private commissions.
  
  
• 1985 A series of works in glass (conceiving a mixed media and mirror glass concept) as well as a number of oil paintings all based on an Egyptian theme were created and exhibited at what was in 1985 'Sketch Gallery' in Noosa Junction.
  
  
• 1986 Wal designed and with the help of a friend, hand cut, painted and packaged, a series of mass-produced jigsaw puzzles for the Christmas markets.
  
  
• 1987 Wal was offered the position, from among many applicants, of Resident Artist at the Special Education Curriculum Resource Centre at Annerley, Brisbane.
  
  
• 1987-89 Wal lived and worked in a studio space at Metro Arts, Edwards Street, Brisbane. Producing a large number of signs, stained glass paintings alongside his job at the SECRC.
  
  
• 1988 - 1989 Wal was involved in a 1960's style street music group, 'Our Mutual Friend', playing percussion, blues harp, some guitar and vocals.
  
  Up through these years Wal found time to teach stained glass, airbrushing and cartooning to unemployed and other interested people. Wal continues to teach whenever he can.
  
  
• 1989 After eight months helping to care for, and watching cancer take his mother, he took time out to travel to Israel and Egypt via Athens. Wandering for three months then travelling onto the UK. Running out of money he worked in a Thames side pub in Streatley/Goring for two months.
  
  
• 1990 Back in Australia, Wal fulfilled another dream taking on the task of maintenance man a 'Ripleys, Believe it or not' tourist attraction on the Gold Coast. Working in this wax museum atmosphere alone every morning was a great stimulus.
  
  Wal left the Gold Coast moving back to the Sunshine Coast to prepare for marriage and travel.
  
  
• 10-11-1990 Margaret Castiglione and Wal Ison were happily wed. With over 300 guests on a stinking hot dye they celebrated into the night.
  
  
• 17-11-1990 Marg and Wal backpacked overland in Malaysia for three weeks then flew onto London. Travelling across Europe for four months stopping for Christmas with relatives in Catania/Sicily. They lived and worked in Amsterdam on Vondel Park, for twelve months. Wal created a number of art pieces throughout this time (managing even signwriting in Malaysia). They devoured European art galleries constantly.
  
  
• 15-10-91 Wally and Marg's beautiful daughter Hannah Marie was born at the 'Onze Lieve Vrouw Gasthuis' (hospital) in Amsterdam.
  
  
• 1992 Returning to Australia, Wal decided he needed to lay a disciplined foundation for his art career. This meant becoming a legitimate business. This choice was made to gain recognition, credibility and stability as a professional artist.
  
  
• 1992 'Harbourtown', Noosaville, Wal painted in public on the verandah. Creating two of his first abstract designed paintings. One which has recently been printed.
  
  Besides designing for jigsaw puzzles, forges steel and t-shirts, Wal has recently completed another stained glass commission along with many other works including working on two major oil paintings and another major stained glass commission currently in progress.
  
  The main focus of Wal's career at this time is the establishment of a sole proprietor, design and craft business, concentrating firstly on creating a series of 'limited edition', contemporary designed, opalescent glass and scroll cut wood, mirrors for the interior design market.
  
  
• 1994 Chaos in the camp as Marg gives up the artists wife life.
  
  
• 1995 Best left alone.......
  Writing poetry and songs began writing book 'Backsliding Forwards'.
  
  
• 1995 Writing poetry and songs began writing book 'Backsliding Forwards'.
  Created a large recycled timber and glass music cabinet for private client . As well as continuing stained glass commissions , other craft projects and painting.
  
  
• 1996 Began designing a range (eventually 90 designs ) for "The Jigsaw Puzzle Co."
  Exhibition of Designer mirrors and oil paintings @ Halse Lodge , Noosa Heads.
  Designed a 14 sq.mt Stained glass mural for the Tewantin Anglican church . (Stopped as funds had been spent/lost)
  
  
• 1997 Painting and Percussion instruments and drum set. rebuilt.
  Created a range of Neo-classical Egyptian mirror frames for manufacture industry.
  Exhibition of oil paintings and designer glass craft @ "3 Shells" restuarant / gallery , Coolum beach
  
  
• 1998 - 2000 Senior Craftsman @ Terrance Plowright Fine arts , Wentworth falls : Lead sculptor of 9.5mt. & 7.5mt. Humpback whales for 'Cockle bay' Civil & Civic commission , Darling park , Sydney (14mths) / Recycling Whale project for "Gowings menswear" Sydney / Casting fibreglass & latex molds for Cockle bay 'Brolga dance' fountain , Darling Park , Sydney / Created jigs and slumped glass for Sydney Olympics "500 sculptures auctioned on line till the games" project / Creating Large scale ceiling and wall stained glass commisions inc; panels for Blue mtns. Hydro majestic resorts 'Megalong room' / All workshop carpentry
  
  
• 2001 Busking / songwriting / poetry / private painting projects
  
  
• 2002 Helped est. "Mother Earth / Sister moon" environment centre-art gallery, Rosebank, N.N.S.W.
  
  
• 2003 Private work & Time out for music.
  Guest comedian on 4ZZZ radio , Brisbane (3mths).
  
  
• 2004 Began volunteer arts/crafts teaching @ Jacaranda arts (for victims of mental health difficulties) , New farm , Brisbane.
  
  
• 2005 Continuing to work on my first book "backsliding forwards"
  
  
• 2006