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 (25)
Belladzines
just beautiful.. reminds me of Lothlorien in a way...
Nightwright
Wow, what a beauty! Love the tree, leaves, stairs ... lovely painting!!!
Mondwin
Superb and symbolic artpiece!!!bravo!V:DDD
wildgoha
yeah ! very beauty symbolic !
Whimsical
Love your tree pictures/paintings.. they are always soo magical! :-)
mmirnii
super cool!!
A_
really beautiful! love the illustrated look of it.
joaq
Great artwork, colors and composition are splendid!
Ranlinde
Awesome. Reminds me of Lothlorien trees in LOTR the movie. Definitely fave!
sazzyazzca
Beautiful work that invites one to go up and up into the secrets beyond. :)
ArtByMel
It is always nice to see where it all began. I can see why it just took on a life of its own. Wonderful, simply wonderful.
Izabela
Excdellent detail..
Elminster_ZK
So this is what started it all... this is really cool, Graeme. It has a very story-book feel to it, unlike the other Entree, which seems more surreal. Excellent work! Vote.
dvitola
Excellent work with watercolor. Very vibrant and mysterious!
JnM92
Beautifull and speaking, great!
ppetersen
Wonderfully done. An eld tree in an Elven forest... Excellent work. Superb detail and colors...
glenravo
hmm good for a collaboration i think
Eroticartist
OMG! This is excellent! I love doing works that just take a mind of their own. Looks like you have the patience of a saint!
TwoPynts
It has an organic MC Escher feel to it, very cool!
kenmo
Very imaginative....V
kimariehere
aweesome idea and work!! love this!
AnnaKirsten
Wonderful surrealistic composition, excellent technique and colours. Very fairy-tale bookish!
Ensomniac
I really like your trees and stairs. In fact I may build some stairs around the olive tree in my back yard I like the idea so much.
Nwalkerden
What fun! We should find a tree like this for a ZOOID clubhouse! hehe
Kath13
Ooh I just found this one - wonderful - I wish someone could make models like this! Just love your fantasy work (especially the trees ;o)