Untitled (2015) ink on paper
confines in my work like having a very simple
palate, metaphorically speaking, from which to
paint.
Was making art an important part of your life
growing up?
I've been drawing and painting as long as I can
remember but have always thought of it as a way
to entertain myself rather than anything as lofty
as "art". There's a compulsive and therapeutic
element to the process and I never really
considered showing my work till fairly recently.
Growing up pre the Internet there were many
hours of boredom to fill. Melbourne has always
had a very vibrant arts scene and I think
boredom was and is a huge driver for that. The
Internet has kind of robbed us of that still, silent
ennui that allowed people to daydream, and
encouraged activity.
Were there any artists you admired, or
genres of art that were a special influence on
you?
The NGV in Melbourne was always a great place
to visit as a kid and I'm sure most of my
influences can be traced back to that one gallery,
particularly some of the Australian painters from
the 40's and 50's like Albert Tucker, Joy Hester
and co. There were some great Australian
surrealist painters, whose names elude me, in
there as well. Before there was such a thing as
"street art" Mirka Moira's beautiful work had long
adorned walls in the streets and bars of
Melbourne. There's always seemed to be a
tradition in Melbourne of a romantic and naive
style of painting and I think Mirka was a big part
of that. Comics and cinema have always been a
big inspiration too.