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Penny Olsen Penny Olsen i(A119049 works by)
Gender: Female
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Most Referenced Works

Awards for Works

y separately published work icon An Eye for Nature : The Life and Art of William T. Cooper Canberra : National Library of Australia , 2014 7104918 2014 single work biography

'‘the best ornithological illustrator alive’

David Attenborough

'In the work of artist William T. Cooper, platypuses swim in green underwater worlds, waves throw up blankets of spray, embers glow in the aftermath of a bushfire, a Thylacine emerges from the shadows, sniffing the air. But it is his paintings of birds which set Cooper apart—his raucous cockatoos, colourful parrots, animated turacos and flamboyantly displaying birds of paradise. Often placed in meticulously studied landscapes, these intricate bird portraits reveal Cooper’s close observation not only of his subjects’ appearance, but their habits, poses and behaviour.

'In this biography, Penny Olsen traces the path of Cooper’s life and art—from his childhood spent in the bush, to his teenage years as an apprentice taxidermist at Carey Bay Zoo and, later, to his work as a window dresser and landscape artist. She documents his fruitful partnership with wife and collaborator Wendy Cooper and his extensive travels in Australia and abroad in pursuit of his subjects. Olsen’s commentary reveals the development of an artist and the trajectory of a life, while extracts from Cooper’s extensive field notebooks give an insight into his interests and processes.

'Illustrated with photographs, paintings and sketches, and includes a portfolio of bird and landscape paintings that have never before been published. ' (Publication abstract)

2014 shortlisted Queensland Literary Awards Non-Fiction Book Award
y separately published work icon Our Nest is Best Canberra : National Library of Australia , 2012 Z1832760 2012 single work picture book children's 'Rocky and Ruby Robin have decided to build a nest. Before they start, they visit all their friends to see what sort of nest would be best. Each nest is different, but the robins don't feel that any of them is quite right for them. Find out which nest is best with this delightfully illustrated story.' (Publisher's blurb)
2013 shortlisted The Wilderness Society Environment Award for Children's Literature Preschool
Last amended 15 Dec 2016 13:02:44
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