Illawarra artist Clare Thackway moved her family to Paris

Now 18 months on the artists and their two young children have settled into Parisian life and can see themselves in Europe for years to come.

The initial move was sparked by a prestigious residency for Hodge to practise his art, though it meant both creatives would need to leave their respective side jobs - Hodge was a lecturer in painting at the University of Wollongong and Thackway was working at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

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Neither were able to speak much of the language although thought with the kids being quite young (then aged 18 months and four) it was the best time for adventure.

"It was huge," Thackway said. "We pulled both kids out of daycare, sold our cars, put all our stuff in a storage unit, then came here ... and started completely fresh in a way. It was daunting and exciting, and I think not for the fainthearted."

She said the move was "quite a shock" after living by the beach at Austinmer to then be in a dense and foreign city.

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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March the family contemplated heading back home, but decided to stick it out and continue with the European life they were strongly building.

Both Thackway and Hodge have now set up studios about one kilometre out of the city centre, and both take night classes to improve their French which has been possibly the "steepest learning curve".

There have been ups and downs, like language barriers when trying to do the "simplest things" like going to the doctor or trying to enrol a child in school, but so far the experience has been positive.

"It feels like the arts and culture are a way of life and something that's really valued here," Thackway said.

"It's really refreshing to be in a culture that sees the arts as a really integral part of life ... I feel like I don't have to justify how I make my money, it's just seen as an important part of life.

"The hardest thing at the moment ... is not being able to go home for a visit - I never imagined we wouldn't have seen our family for this long."

Both artists have continued to exhibit their work - in Australia and abroad. Thackway has recently couriered a vast amount of work for a solo exhibition which has begun in Thirroul at the Egg and Dart gallery and is on show until April 3.

The show, titled "Between Us" is a series of figurative paintings, which gallery owner Aaron Fell-Fracasso said showed influences of Parisian life although her colour palette used Australian tones.

"If you look at this show, you can see works that looks very European," he said. "We're a very landscape dominant country, the taste of Australian art generally leans towards landscape painting. But Thackway's work has a more European sensibility."

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