Sydney Lumiere WIP

Neptune Rising Homage to Max Dupain Newport Beach New South Wales Australia 

SYDNEY LUMIERE  -A MELBOURNE ARTIST'S VIEW OF SYDNEY

From 22nd September until 20th December I lived in Sydney first in a share house in Marrickville then in December house and cat sitting in Surrey Hills near Oxford St (gay zone). After the first month Sydney was choked with a thick haze from the bush fires north west and south of the city - initially I adapted by working in doors at several libraries but eventually I became asthmatic with significant sleep interruptions and major energy loss, especially acute on my return to Melbourne,

On my way to Sydney with my mate Sculptor Dave we stopped off in Canberra. I bought a book on European perspectives on queer art from the National Gallery of Australia which I have been using to place my art in context. I identify more closely with European than American queer artists


what did I do in Sydney ?  what was the best work I did ?

My first objective was to complete my work for my Midsumma exhibition "Under the Dome of Heaven " specifically trying to improve my drawing skills so I could include drawings in my exhibition and completing some aspects of the photo-montage work I began in eastern Europe. I soon found two local drawing models handsome but at times I was both inspired and distracted by the eroticism of the situation!

For a bit of structured learning I enrolled a in a 3 hour Monday night short course in drawing at the National Art School in Darlinghurst Sydney taught by the former Head of Drawing Noel Thurgate.
Born in 1955, Thurgate lives and works in Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands. He has over 30 years’ experience exhibiting and teaching. This included nine years as head of drawing at the National Art School, Sydney. He was an Archibald finalist for three consecutive years from 1977.

I had the opportunity to work with a model I met through Deviant art who wishes to remain anonymous.  We shot in Newcastle at Stockton beach and surrounds - a solid couple of hours of outdoor shooting in bright sunlight where I focused on the abstracted male nude rather than my usual naked and personal preference.

This is my favourite pic from the shoot "Exaltate" - I entered it into into the Centre for Contemporary Photography Salon.

What influenced my choice of work?

Throughout my childhood and adolescence my family made regular trips to West Pymble on the North Shore where my Aunt and Uncle and their four children lived. My uncle was a Qantas Captain they had a house with a swimming pool and a seemingly endless supply of toilets- they had lived a few years in San Francisco and had an expansive West Coast approach to life. I can  remember Kaftans, eagle lamps, huge plates of food, pink Camellias in the garden and silk teal curtains in the upstairs living room.
I had an opportunity to to channel some of this late mid century feel in a shoot I organized with model and artist Irwin at Crows Nest Creative studio.

What did I learn ?
I can benefit a lot from short courses focused on addressing my skill gaps -and it's an excellent way to meet like minded people.

Max after Surfing by Olive Cotton 

I am technically capable of producing high quality and innovative outdoor work.
I am self disciplined and self structuring creating a routine that serves me well and keeps me connected with others as well as learning new things


what didn't I achieve and want to complete

More portraiture in homage to Olive Cotton
Integrate my drawing lessons into my expressive style
Regular access to nude models for example at nude beach
To live near an ocean beach and access coast at different times of day


THANK YOU  to

Sculptor Dave Helmers who provided me with accommodation and friendship in Sydney
Rod Spark Photographer and Fine Artist who introduced me to gay Sydney naked Sydney and his huge network of models, studios and locations.
Julia Kennedy-Bell Fine Artist who I first met in Venice and who also showed me the ropes and helped with my exhibition preparation
Nikos Evangelinos who kept me chilled with frequent trips to the beach
Chris and his husband Michael who let me house sit for them and their cat Kevin who was excellent company
My friends and family in Melbourne who support me in whatever choices I make