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Guundie Kuchling |
Guundie Kuchling was a big baby when she bounced into life in the famous Austrian city of Salzburg. She grew up tall and slim, but her personality is still larger than life. From flower girl to sausage sizzler, from worm farmer to beach comber, Guundie has done it all - and never lost the passionate interest of a child. This is the key to her success as a fine artist and writer. Children just love Guundie's vibrant, funny and informative picture books. Those lucky enough to come to her workshops, also love her appearance. Mad hats, two wildly different earrings, scarf flying, surrounded by hand puppets, turtle shells and a shaved doll, Guundie enchants her audience by talking about art, animals, books, the environment, food, and other sources for her inspirations. She gives examples how to come up with ideas and to shape them into plots; she demonstrates how to use a lino block for print making; she unleashes the writer and artist in each of the students, young and old, and gets them creating works of their own. Guundie has a fine arts degree from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. She is a painter, print maker, sculptor, and picture book creator. When she gets frustrated about her art and writing and everything else, she thinks of turning to snail breeding. Will it ever happen? Guundie lives in Perth, with fish and turtles, and three pet rats. Of course, there is also her husband Gerald. He has saved Australia's most endangered turtle, the Western Swamp Tortoise, from the brink of extinction, and Guundie has been helping him all along with field work. Gerald is the co-author of the two Yakkinn books and the scientific advisor of Turtle Taxi and See Food. He is also the chef in their kitchen and the big open fire place outside, in front of the big garden pond. |