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)
Lakeesha
I love your Entree drawings. They are relaxing for me, too, and I do nothing more than viewing :) Great work, keep it up :)
Mondwin
Superbly drawings.......bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx
Whimsical
what a lovely treat to the eyes your trees are! when I was a small child my grandparents who lived in Vic used to sometimes take me to see the Fairy Tree carved by writer Ola Cohn in the Fitzroy Gardens. Whenever I see your lovely magickal illustrations it always reminds me of this event that I so enjoyed. I find too, I keep waiting for some shy hidden fae folk to peep back at me from amongst your lovely foilages and trunks ;-))))))))))))))
cricri99
It is an awesome arwork...i am admiring!!! well done!!!
Kath13
The best things come from within Graeme, keep on doing what you're doing. This is yet another beautiful and magical tree, I'll never get tired of them.
delbeke
Oh how beautiful! Incredible image!
rudiruth
nice to see another one of those beautiful places! Best to you! Ruth
ARTWITHIN
Your drawing takes me back to childhood. I would take my comics and lemonade and climb up into a favorite tree. I laid back in the bow, lemonade in a hanging planter, and enjoy my comics. I feel that comfort, fun, joy, and relaxation looking at your trees, and I want to climb into them and feel enveloped by the tree. I also love the peaceful reflection in the water in this drawing. Thank you for this gift.
BGHart
I just love those gnarled trees. You are a master in creating mystical places. :) ***** Britta
TheAnimaGemini
Beautyfull, what could i say more to a masterpiece like this one? Wonderfull painting.
Valerie-Ducom
wowwww, very nice and beautiful work, excellent !!! Good week ;)
Synapse
You should show these altogether someday :-)
crrunchyfrog
Lovely to see another of these, nice work :)
mystmaiden
ohh I love this!
A_
oh i love these, i absolutely love these! :)
devineydesignsllc
don't force it let it flow!gosh I feel just like you sometime.Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JnM92
Way to go again, as soon as i read the word Entree i was like: YAAAAAAYYY keep em coming pleeeaaahehahehaeheaase
thecytron
Woooow! Awesome artwork! Bravo!!!
AnnaKirsten
Aaaah yessss! I just love these! Stairs to go up, stairs to come down, stairs just for the sake of stairs, but... Leading where, or where from? That is the question. I like to think that inside those trees, when you climb those stairs, you are taken into another, magical world, rather like Narnia! Expertly created and full of that "something" that just captures the imagination!!
abmlober
Mood, atmosphere, technique, style, details, ... All is very fine IMHO.
koosievantutte
your pencil drawings are fantastic, don't stop, i love them, they are not only relaxing for you.
glenravo
wow
gunsan
I am so happy to meet one more of your beautiful trees. Just now I want to go up that ladder and hide from the world, full of computers that crasch, and the part of me that hate it!!! Just wonderful drawing that make me a little envious. And I know that since I started use my computer I have negligated my drawing practice
bern
Nice work ! Btw, I really agree with your statement regarding drawing and painting, I really feel the same :-)
graemeb
Thanks for all your comments.
KER
WOW, the detail in this is great reminds me of something out of a TOLKIEN novel, also remiscent of M.C. ESCHER . . .great work my friend!
byron7
Fantastic work.
UCDesigns
Nice one!