Tales of war inspire paintings

Painter Jan Malkin was prompted to find out more about her family's involvement in World War I after an Anzac Day parade three years ago, leading her to create 100 paintings to commemorate 100 years of Anzac.

Malkin's grandfather was mentioned in dispatches and received medals.

She said he served in the Somme and she remembered her grandmother telling stories about how he would came home on leave and she would iron the seams of his clothes to pop all the lice.

"He was from Yorkshire but ended up in a Scottish regiment somehow wearing a kilt, the Seaforth Highlanders, and his brother too," she said.

The more Malkin learnt about the war, the more she began to paint until this time last year - after moving to Karratha - she realised she had about 50 paintings and decided to go for 100.

"What I wanted to do in the paintings was touch on the emotions from all sides, the families, the soldiers, the animals," she said.

"I read a lot of books, saw a lot of films, old videos, songs, and used the internet as well as listened to people's stories.

"A Vietnam veteran used to walk past where I was painting at a gallery in Queensland and he just kept commenting and encouraging me.

"I had to do other projects in between to lift myself - it got a bit intense."

Malkin almost ran out of storage space, but managed to finish 100 paintings before the centenary.

"I don't think it'll ever finish really; there's so much more to do," she said.

"I think it will lead onto the Second World War, Vietnam and Korea, because I've still got lots of information and photos and things in my head."

Part of the proceeds from the paintings will go to Legacy and Mates for Mates.

The exhibition will run at Karratha Library until the end of April and Malkin will be there on Wednesdays.