Art for Art’s Sake

Most teenage boys spend their time chasing girls, tinkering with cars and playing footy but 16 year old Steve Simjanovic spent his teenage years painting and developing a lifelong passion for contemporary modern art. With a belief in his artistic talent, passion for colour and determination to succeed, Mr Simjanovic has long held the dream of becoming a professional artist. Growing up in a working class family, it was not feasible to devote his time to developing a career in the arts.

“My Yugoslavian parents held traditional values of hard work which included putting bread on the table and standing on your own two feet,” Mr Simjanovic said.

With his sights firmly set on developing a trade, Mr Simjanovic doorknocked his way into a sheet-metal worker’s apprenticeship in a local engineering firm which he completed over four years. Still with an unwavering passion for painting, Mr Simjanovic enrolled into evening classes at a local art college, where he fine-tuned his skills after working a ten hour day as an apprentice.

“I was so tired and physically drained by the end of the day that being in the right creative mind space for my classes was too difficult. I stopped attending classes so I could complete my apprenticeship, I was left to paint on the weekends or any spare time I had,” he said. Fast forward ten years, with his qualifications under his belt Mr Simjanovic successfully applied, for the fourth time, to the Kelvin Grove College of Art.

“I was determined to attend Art College so I could take my ability to the next level; it was a great opportunity to push myself and to learn techniques and skills from a range of experts and artists I admired,” he said. “Everything else I do is a means to an end but my art is my world, I have worked continuously to make my passion my profession”.

The recipient of many artistic prizes and awards, Mr Simjanovic’s painting focuses on floral imagery and contemporary Australian landscapes. “I enjoy painting nature’s creations mainly due to the challenge of capturing their vibrant colour, uniqueness and beauty.”

With his motivation still going strong, Mr Simjanovic is embarking on his fourth individual exhibition in West End on December 14 which will feature a collection of 25 contemporary floral imagery pieces.

Mr Simjanovic is excited about the upcoming exhibition and says it is the beginning of more things to come. “My dream is to keep on painting and to develop my passion into a profession; hopefully this exhibition is a step in the right direction,” he said.