Ann Thomson- What It Was Like Being a Woman Artist in the 1960s

When you went to school, your teachers, I presume your art teachers, were practicing women artists. So it was something that you witnessed at that age? Yes, that women could be artists and I didn't think otherwise, you know. But all the artists that I'd focused on, the Renaissance artists, were men. It sort of didn't occur to me until you started to feel that you were left out. When I went to art school, I started to realize that the men were getting attention but not the girls. I don't know, they just were privileged and we weren't. I could put it that way. And that's when I just started to realize that it was hard being a woman. But I really had to stop painting when the children came along. I used to put Kate to sleep and fall asleep myself because it was so tight. And then I'd go up to the little studio I had above the kitchen and work till I dropped. And I do remember it was like pushing a great rock, you know. I'm still amused at your expression, division of labour. There's none of that. And I mean, all the women found that too. We're talking about the 60s actually. Yes, it was the 60s. And you never saw a man pushing a pram or carrying a baby. So it wasn't even a thing you would even think of discussing? No, but I knew that wasn't right, you know. But one didn't speak out in those days. And all the boys were having exhibitions. Yes, it was always in my mind. I thought about it. I would say I thought about it every day. I think I knew that I would just have to keep going. But I couldn't believe it took so long to get out there. It was hard. Yes, yes. But all things that are conquered are hard. You know, you don't conquer something that's easy. And I think I'm just thinking now it was good to have got through that and helped make it happen. And that women can be just thought of as artists.