From Soapboxes to Social Media: Two Artists Shaping Queensland's Bush Art Scene
Imagine spending decades nurturing a passion, only to share it with the world much later in life. This is the reality for Marion Moore, a Queensland artist who didn't start painting until her mid-thirties. She began her artistic journey in 1960, using house paint on repurposed soapboxes to bring her imagined bush scenes to life.
For over six decades, Moore has poured her heart into her art, adorning the walls of her family's outback property. It's easy to picture the stunning Queensland landscape as her muse, but Moore insists her artistic drive is something far deeper, saying, "I think it's born in me." Her love for the land, particularly trees and flowers, is evident in her work.
Despite her legendary hospitality, Moore was surprisingly shy about her art. It took some encouragement from her daughter-in-law to finally showcase her paintings in town. "There are 68 paintings — all of them were in the house here," Moore shared, sipping tea in front of now-empty walls. "It feels a bit empty without them."
Moore is quick to shift the focus from herself, highlighting her family—her late husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Throughout her century of life, she's been a nurse during World War II, a farmer, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and, finally, an exhibited artist. When asked if any of her grandchildren inherited her artistic talent, she smiled, "I think there's only about one that's ever picked up a paintbrush."
A Different Path
Not far from Moore's property, 23-year-old Zarabella Bambling is carving out her own art career from a friend's garage in Roma. She creates impressionist bush landscapes on canvas, surrounded by camping gear and beer fridges. She recently celebrated her first solo exhibition, "Romance in the Land," in her hometown of Gayndah, where 22 of her 25 artworks sold.
Unlike Moore, Bambling embraces self-promotion. After leaving her job in local government communications to become a full-time artist, she's learned the value of putting herself out there. "I was sitting at my office desk dreaming of all these artworks and ideas I had, and I just thought, 'Wow, I think I've just got to have a crack at this,'" she said. Social media has played a huge role in expanding her reach beyond regional Queensland. "I made a decision, I was going to be deliberate and start putting more work into my social media, which then began snowballing my account with followers," she explained.
This strategy has paid off, with Bambling now boasting over 8,000 followers, 40 commissions on her waiting list, and another exhibition booked in Roma for the end of 2026.
The Role of Regional Galleries
Helen Dennis, President of the Lapunyah Art Gallery in Chinchilla, believes both Moore's and Bambling's stories highlight a thriving bush art scene. "I believe honestly, we have a lot more opportunities here in regional Queensland — mainly because we have connections with somebody at the local art gallery," she said. Galleries like hers play a vital role in nurturing regional art scenes. "We're not about just hanging pictures. We're about going beyond the gallery walls, encouraging artists, encouraging creatives," she added.
While Moore's work is traditional and Bambling's is boldly impressionistic, Dennis notes the emergence of more contemporary artists in the regions. "We have a lot of young people; we have a lot of people who are not traditionally from this area," she said. "We have to keep up to date if we're going to make this area that we live in a great place to live."
Back to Where It All Began
As the art scene flourishes, with Bambling's career taking off and Dennis's gallery evolving, Moore has retired, her hands no longer up to the task. Her artworks, once on display, have returned home to The Peaks.
What do you think? Do you believe regional art scenes offer more opportunities for artists? Are traditional art forms still relevant in today's world, or is contemporary art taking over? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
