I'm an Australian artist and I predominatly paint or draw but also use photoshop etc to play with photos or to see what may potentionally become a painting and sound out my ideas. As I slowly add more and more images I hope you will give me plenty of feedback.BIO We live in a time where technology has become so advanced that you no longer even need a camera to produce amazing images. For the commercial world technology is the future, for it will embrace this new medium with open arms, however I am constantly amazed at the number of artists that still use traditional mediums and methods simply because they want to.
I am one of those people, who has a compelling desire that borders on an insane obsession to paint and draw. My pictures, although appearing realistic and simple at first glance become more complex the more you delve into the image and also create a story or better still raise questions.
I like to draw the viewer in, trap them with curiosity until they think what the hell is going on here. Sometimes my work is politically motivated, or pure fantasy Sometimes I know exactly what Im going to paint, or I just start and let the trained eye slowly pick that stroke of paint or colour that is forming an interesting direction or composition. I just play on those bits until the story seems to just come out of the brush. The description I feel most comfortable with is
surrealist, as I paint in a realistic manner but the situation may be totally unrealistic. I like the fact that I can create a world that does not exist but comes from imagination. I believe imagination is the key to society because it enables us to see the future and create it or divert it.
My traditional academic and self taught skills, enables me to paint in a manner that is universally understood and the skill and dedication is clearly visible to the viewer, something that is not seen enough these days. My paintings do not need a long, superlative filled pretencious description. I feel so many contemporary paintings are no more than decorative patterns designed to match the curtains. Galleries are filled with this meaningless pumped out decor with very little pride and skill attached, this is simply flooding the art world, purchased solely because the gallery owners say it is good art.
My aim is to bring art back to the people. The people who purchase it not because they know good art or bad art but because they know what they like and can see the human endeavour and desire that went into creating it. This is one of the principal objectives of the Zooid Art Movement of which I am a founding member.
Painting has been and still is a successful way of recording history, but I feel it is also an integral part of human endeavour, the need to achieve excellence in creation.
Graeme W. Balchin
Comments (27)
fabriced
excellent work
Mondwin
This piece looks soooo magic!!!!Splendid!bravo!V:DDD
kat
A beautiful and Magical scene, very Elvish ^_^ Excellent Painting!
Whimsical
This is soo enchanting.. it really draws one in. I'd soo like to be climbing those steps and entering that door; and yes.. Sydney has some amazing fig trees! :-)) Is an amazing tree down in Victoria too.. cant remember where exactly or what it was called.. but its was all carved with faeries and (i think) gumnut babies and similar.. my grandparents used to take me to go and see it as a child :-))))))
fluffgirl
to think you can draw this tree..wow..im really envious..what a great job you did of it... exellent
conquestos
Beautiful work. The original would be spectacular no doubt. Cheers!
_Fenrissa_
This is breathtakingly beautiful! I could look at it the whole day. I love trees a lot, too but I'm not very able of drawing them. But you did a wonderful, outstanding job! The ligt and colors are so lifelike and magical at the same time! The tree is overwhelming - huge and strong as it is. B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.! bows
abmlober
A very fine painting. And very nice thoughts accompanying it...
titta
What a mysterious atmosphere - and yet all natural! Gorgeous work. :-)
ArtByMel
An incredibly magical scene, beautifully done. It's like a vision out of every childhood imagination, at least it is mine, lol. Exceptional work.
HazyHairs
Great Work!
graemeb
Thanks for all the rap-ups it's very up lifting, it's always good when other artists like your work especially when their work is excellent too.
Elminster_ZK
Well, you certainly are a talented artist. This is an incredible piece of work. A vote for this one.
Odessey
What else can one say but excellent!
DrmzRmyne
This is really beautiful work....I wish there was a place such as this. Great detail and most definitely a fantastic fantasy scene. Bravo.
Lion
Wounderful Trees.Magic Picture.
flamestaff3000
Exellent painting! I love nature myself, I wish I could draw nature with as much detail as that. Keep up the Exellent work.
glenravo
Beautiful work something to expect from a ZOOID I would love to do a collaboration with this piece ravo
graemeb
No worries Glenravo, lets see if we can get it to work. Just put both our names on it and you have my blessing, I would like to see what it looks like. It should be very ZOOID
Ensomniac
Brilliant painting. I'm more and more impressed with your work. I enjoy a good journey through the woods too, it's instant fantasy. Beautifully done.
DEITRIX
You would make an awesome concept artist for these wooded areas. Well done...!
akahastur
Wow ! I prefer this one!
mushypea
Excellent.
JnM92
MAN im in love with your paintings, i wanna be there on that place, aaah damn, im just DESIRING to go there now, its must be real somewhere? hmm whatever, i thinks its clear i LOVE this image
ericfarris
You have a great imagination, it's so EXCELLENT!!!!
Kath13
At last I have found someone who loves trees as much as I do. Excellent work!
Deathbliss
This one is my favorites so far. It just draws me in - can't explain it. I have no recommendations - this peice is perfect. - Deathbliss