Robin Norling has died, aged 77
Patonga artist, draughtsman and teacher, Mr Robin Norling, has died, aged 77.
Norling was born in Windsor, New South Wales, but grew up in Taree.
He studied at the National Art School, graduating with Honours, and at Sydney Teachers' College.
In 1961, while still a student, he won the prestigious Sulman Prize.
The following year, having just started teaching art at Macquarie Boys High School, Norling was awarded the New South Wales Travelling Art Scholarship, which allowed him to travel to Europe and North Africa with his new wife, art teacher Elaine Odgers.
During his Scholarship years, he studied at the Royal College of Art, London, where he obtained his postgraduate qualification.
In 1966, Norling and his wife began their slow return to Australia, driving through Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, immersing themselves in the many cultures they passed through.
Back in Australia, Norling returned to secondary school teaching and, in 1970, was appointed lecturer in art education at Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education.
He also began writing and presenting for a weekly ABC radio program, The Argonauts, in the role previously held by Jeffery Smart.
Television programs followed with Channel 9 and the ABC.
From 1978 to 1986, he was senior education officer at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, during which time he curated a number of educational exhibitions and led innovative programs in art museum education.
In 1986, Norling left the Gallery and took up a position at Meadowbank College of TAFE, teaching painting and drawing.
He retired from teaching and returned to full-time painting in 1997.
During the later years of his life, he shared a studio and the directorship of Patonga Bakehouse Gallery with fellow artist Jocelyn Maughan.
Norling exhibited throughout his life and won many prizes.
Three major solo exhibitions of his work were mounted in just the last two years, including a retrospective at Gosford Regional Gallery in 2015.
As an artist, Norling stood out for his commitment to teaching.
He is survived by Elaine, their children, Beth, Meg and Owen, grandchildren, Indigo, Juno, Quinn and Theo, and his beloved companion, Jocelyn, her sons, David and Stephen, and their children.
Email, 30 Jan 2017
Jonathan Cooper, Patonga