About the Artist
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I am an artist working in oils because this is the only medium that gives me the flexibility and result that satsfies my eye and have painted using oils since the age of eight. I have studied and painted in the style of the Old Masters for thirty-six years.
In my late teens I had the opportunity to spend five years (1976-81), studying with a remarkable teacher - Jaques Wengrow - in Melbourne Australia. He was able to impart knowledge of techniques that would help me to achieve my artistic dreams -Patience, time, passion, precision, knowledge of materials/glazing techniques, etc. and continue to practice my interpretation of those skills to this day.
Jaques Wengrow: Anecdotes as told by his family:
His parents had told him: that, as a baby crawling on the floor of his father’s garret studio in Paris, he found a piece of chalk, and drew a face on the floor… a simple circle with eyes nose mouth represented… Wow! This scene has real romance for me, because Jacques' father was that typical starving-artist-in -a-garret in Paris, during the period before world events shattered that lifestyle forever. (World War II)
As the youngest student ever admitted to Ecol de Beaux Arts, Jacques, actually sat where my heroes (the likes of David, Ingres etc) sat, and learnt basically what they learnt.. Those time honoured craftsman skills.. Quite lost in today's world of, ‘the faster the better’ and instant results.
In my time with Jaques I produced only three portraits the landscape below, completing it in 1981. Precision and techiques overriding speed.
| The Split Tower of Heidelberg Castle - after Blechen (1798 -1840) |
Influences and inspiration
Albrecht Durer - for his draughtmanship - Titian, Vermeer, David, Ingres, Raphael, Escher, Salvidor Dali.
There is a duality to my work, and when I held a one man show at Catchadeli House in Sale Victoria, many thought that there were two artists involved - the classical and the surrealist.
As a child of the seventies I was heavily influenced by the great Surrealists (Dali etc), and it was by studying those works, that I concluded that the best way to paint those pictures that rumble around in my head and scream to be painted; was to learn HOW to achieve the real, in the unreal situation; to bend and warp time/space and ideas…
I have lived a life, raised a family, worked, and amongst all those things the constant remains - TO PAINT!