My Passion & Background

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.

I believe it is imperative to start out drawing and painting with a solid technical, fundamental base of realistic drawing and painting skills.

Like when building a house, a solid foundation is vital. It is from this firm knowledge base that we can break free to create whatever our heart desires. We can exclude the knowledge we have gained, but we cannot add abilities we do not yet possess.

Martina Pook

Pook, as in book. 

My beloved grandfather, the artist Ernst Weitkuhn, was the inspiration for my passion for the arts. After having received arts training for three years at the Peter Schneider Atelier in Germany, I became a commercial illustrator and practised this profession for over 15 years.

Self-portrait of my grandfather the artist Ernst Weitkuhn

In 1991, I immigrated to Australia and kept working as an artist and illustrator. Because my English was insufficient, I needed to improve swiftly. So I enrolled at the QSPGA, Queenland School of Printing and Graphic Arts to pursue a degree in Graphic Design with major in illustration. I resumed my career as a commercial illustrator not long after. My clienteles included major companies such as BP, BHP, the Queensland Government, Channel Ten among other clients. I began teaching and worked as a senior art instructor at the Gold Coast Art School in Southport, which was noted for its strong teaching standards at the time.

Co-Founding and co-directing Illustration House Pty Ltd, a visual literacy centre with a gallery and art school that teaches art and visual literacy to children, adults, and teachers, has been one of my favourite projects throughout the years. I left the business because of the severe terminal condition of my late husband and cared for him until his passing in 2005.

Over the years, I passionately held numerous jobs within the arts industry, including giving presentations and lecturing at art business seminars and discussion rounds for budding artists. I started out by teaching after school art classes at the Robina State School, Tallebudgera State School and the St. Andrews College.

In 1999, I had ceased working as an illustrator to teach art full-time, which became my main focus. I also judge art shows and provide seminars about artwork evaluations, business skills and planning within the art sector.

In 2003, I was nominated as Member of the selection panel for the Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea organised by the World Bank, UNESCO, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Florence, Italy for the selection of Australian Artists.

In 2009, the Gold Coast City Council extended an invitation to join its Regional Arts Development Fund Committee. I served on the committee for two years, making suggestions to Arts Queensland regarding the funding of emerging artists and art organisations.​ 

On a personal level, I have found utter joy and peace in my marriage to Deane.  Indisputable,  he is the ideal husband. Art is my main hobby. 

But the by far greatest joy happened in 2010, when I experienced an unexpected, almost unwilling, but immensely profound conversion that led to a deep connection and belief in Christ. As a result, my interest these days steered closer to ministry and volunteer work.