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 (28)
rudiruth
good luck Graeme!!!
devineydesignsllc
within any great painting there is a message,and this one is clear. good luck!
Whimsical
Wishing you lots of luck!!! Fantastic painting.. really like this! :-))))
Dannii
Wow, someone's gonna have to go a long way to beat this. I wish you luck.
helanker
Thats a fantastic peace of art, you have done here. Bravo ! I wish you good luck.
A_
good luck! this is wonderful. the pose says it all. so good.
caviedes
Wow!!!! Excellent image!
crrunchyfrog
This looks like the one my daughter has here...the attitude, not the painting. You've captured 'that' look so well, I don't think any girl is as fired up than at this, ever so 'lovely', age. Great work and best of luck with the prize! Thank you as always for creating and sharing :)
TheAnimaGemini
Outstanding. Good luck. I am sure this is awinner image. :)
Gava
Awesome painting.....I wish you the best luck. Have a greate week
drmuscle
really awesome, looks like mini shaz
JnM92
YAY GRAEMEBNESSS!!!!! wooo, oh my, so pretty again:D her expression!
BGHart
Excellent painting. Her facial expression and pose is very well observed. Bravo! ***** And good luck for the contest. :)
CavalierLady
Yes, that expression is pricless. Good luck on the contest.
Synapse
Agree about Cassie's daughter ;-) Excellent technique Graeme, great use of colour.
ppetersen
Beautiful work. Her sullen expression is so dead on. The words behind her reflective of a teenager today. Best of Luck.
Akemiro
Amazing!!! Good luck with this one. 5 stars!
DawnStar
You so captured the look! I don't know what contest this is for, but it is certainly and excellent entry.
Kafra
This is wonderful, Graeme!!!! The physical attitude is perfect!
sharonc
This is cool.
AnnaKirsten
Excellently portrayed girl with lots of attitude!
zoren
very nice painting...! cool concept.
Denger
You nailed it: the posture, the sulky expression; her body language says as much as the blackboard. Excellent theme and composition! FIVE STARS
akulla
You are talented, yes you are -- in the way of the old masters but with a vision of today. A love I have for such beauty be it ancient or modern, the eye of the master lives in your work and with time all shall praise and prize it for what it is. I have seen many artists here and no other have I been so impressed with, your images flow and ebb with time itself and remind me of my youth as I explored what art once was -- in that I see in your art the echos of a story told in one frame that lasts within the mind and echos for time to come. Your art I shall follow and watch, and perhaps you will inspire me to the sort of greatness that is within you.
Fidelity2
Excellent image. 5+. B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L.
kanzler
Absolute fantastic!
ARTWITHIN
How did I miss this? Strong, wonderful portrait of a strange state in the process of growing up. Best of luck in the Moran Portrait Prize exhibit. What an honor to be selected. Hugs, x:)
Hawk23
Really excellent work. I hope you went well in the comp mate!