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 (24)
mushypea
Beautiful.
almck1@hotmail.com
I think this a wonderful painting and I liked your story. Thanks. Regards Alex
kenwas
Excellent work.
Mondwin
Beauty story and suggestive scene!!bravo!V:DDD
martingeorg
What a lovely story and what a great image!
AnnaKirsten
How very enchanting, both the picture and the story! Like Narnia! Lovely scene!
Elminster_ZK
You know, I think this is my favorite so far, Graeme. It really appeals to fantasy, the shadows, the ruins in the distance, the lone door. This is great, a mixture of exquisite detail (the door) and surreal blending and blurring (the ruins). Then there's the sky. I could go on for hours. Wonderful job, Graeme.
violet
Excellent work...wonderful style...very well done !!!!!!!!
JnM92
Realy reminds me of the neverending story, go you! v
Sleepman
if this had come without the story i would have been like thats pretty cool i guess nothing new. Actually no need to guess its good, but you have brought the "certificate of authenticity" thats way different.
DrmzRmyne
All I can say is that I can get lost in each of the worlds you present. I need one of those doors, a way of escape.
graemeb
Thanks all for the comments. We all need one of these doors DrmzRmyne I'm sure, sometimes I refer to them as my doors of enlightment but on other times it's like going through the door and when you close it it's like closing your eyes and going into the dream world where I think up so many paintings.
ArtByMel
This is just so incredible, wonderful art.
gunsan
Absolutely awesome!Love your treedoors, just wish I had such dreamentrances! The colors are so inviting, it must be wonderful things behind that door!
ericfarris
WONDERFUL ART AND SO CREATIVE!!!!!
dvitola
So peaceful!
glenravo
Very Zooid excellent
SevenOfEleven
Not my dreams, heights creep me out. Looks great.
SirLancelot
very surreal
ScourgeofShadows
Hmmnnn.... I guess we should have collaborated here, your door & my model :) Good moody pic! :)
Nwalkerden
This is my favourite painting of yours Graeme. Words cannot describe the opportunities you have created for the imaginations of people who view it. Everytime I look at it I see something different and that to me is a characteristic of a brilliant work. Well done.
rudiruth
Im glad I found your gallery here. I love pictures that tell stories. best wishes Ruth
duncanlong
What a haunting, beautiful idea that has been perfectly executed. Fantastic.
perspective
Astonishingly imaginative and excellent image! This is the likes of things to be found in fantasy books before the imaginative images are ruined by movies! Absolutely stunning! PS it's Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) ;)