'Marine Parade St Kilda' (M)

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My interest in art began at an early age with my father trying to explain perspective to me on a piece of paper at the kitchen table. I drew a road gradually disappearing over distant hills; this was my lesson in art and the start of my journey. Sketching and drawing anything was something that I could do easily - and enjoyed. Inspired by a friend and a photographer, I enrolled in a fine-art photography course in 1988 at the Australian College of Photography Art & Communication and I started to take art more seriously; it was a fantastic experience. After four years juggling work, ACPAC classes in the evenings and life's challenges, I was named 'student of the year' in my graduating year. I learned a lot about art but photography had to take a back seat whilst I concentrated on making a living in IT. I met my significant other around this time and she introduced me to en Plein air oil painting which I enjoyed now and again but it wasn't until 2020 during the Covid Lockdown, that I really started to get interested in painting - trying acrylic and oil painting and watching hundreds of Youtube videos picking up tips how to paint. Which brings life up to the current day where I am achieving some success and reward by selling some paintings online with Bluethumb - which is an amazing platform for Australian artists. My main influences in fine-art photography have been Americans Stephen Shore, Joel Meyerwitz and William Eggleston - all landscape photographers. Which probably explains why I like the paintings of Edward Hopper, William Wray, Jeffrey Smart too. My paintings are mainly urban landscapes and everyday subject matter. I feel a little overwhelmed with artistic information right now and everyday is a new experiment and experience. I like to combine traditional realism with the energy of abstract painting and I feel that my painting is an ongoing evolution .. trying to find a balance between two seemingly unrelated styles.