Calling All Pandemic Painters

CALLING ALL PANDEMIC PAINTERS

Love, beauty, pain and death are powerful themes in art. Poetry, song lyrics, paintings, sculpture, books, theatre, film, street art, etc, all capture the art of emotion through the eyes of the creator.

Some of the worst times, of struggle and hardship, dial it up a bit and often produce the greatest works of art. Personal tragedies, illness, loss, wars, and yes, global pandemics. Artists and creators have been inspired, moved and driven to express their feelings and ultimately help us all to try and make some sense of what we are experiencing.

Sumanley Xulx , Untitled, 2020

From the Middle Ages to modern day, and long before and long after, plagues and pandemics have bore witness to those bearing witness. Historical works came out of tragic times like The Black Death and The Spanish Flu through to modern day works depicting AIDS, Ebola and now COVID!

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Triumph of Death, c 1562, Museo Del Prado, Madrid

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a Flemish Renaissance master and Medieval White Walker Whisperer, channeled his zombie apocalypse fears in his 16th century painting, Triumph of Death, a very Game of Thrones depiction of The Black Death, complete with an army of pissed off skeletons.

Edvard Munch, Self-Portrait After Spanish Influenza, 1919, Oslo, at the National Gallery

Edvard Munch caught the Spanish Flu and painted a series chronicling his illness. Munch survived unlike other famous artists including Gustav Klimt who died in 1918 after contracting the Spanish Flu while hospitalised for a severe stroke that left him partially paralysed.

Banksy, Game Changer, 2020

Painters all over the world have been busy creating everything from murals to street art, to self portraits and beyond. Beautiful, bizarre, devastating and angry. 

Has Covid informed your work? Or the work of someone you know? Share with us in the comments below!

DAN BARANOWSKI ON ICELAND, ART AND ZEN

Nauti Sailor Daniel Baranowski recently opened a show in the Blue Mountains, filled with works inspired by landscape. We caught up with him to get the down low on his inspiration, process and passions.

Daniel Baranovski, painter and photographer, working on his works for ‘Snap Frozen & Still’ in his studio at Nauti Studios, Blue Mountains.

What’s it like to live in the Blue Mountains where there are a lot of artists and creative people? 

I was born here, went to school here, in Springwood. The mountains attract a lot of people which is really cool. If you’re born and bred here stuff just filters in. But, it’s a bit of a challenge to not do a bit of a pastiche – it doesn’t float my boat.

How long have you been an artist?

That’s a really good question. Since my exhibition! Hahaha. 

“I want to be successful, not famous.”

Okay, what about this? How long have you been ‘artistic’? 

Well, that’s been an always thing for me. I’ve always been creative in that sense. Always. Always.

Tell me about your first exhibition, ‘Snap Frozen & Still’ that’s coming up.

This is the first time I’ve painted since high school. There will be paintings, ink drawings and pastel drawings. I have what I call my ‘Socratic sense of humour’ which is why I called the exhibition what I did. It’s largely inspired by a two week trip to Iceland where I took photos because essentially you can fall over there and still take a good photo. I also brought a tiny sketch book and did some 15 minute rapid fire drawings outside in the freezing cold trying to hold a pencil with a big glove on. I do and I teach Tai Chi, and am in to the whole Zen side of things in terms of immediate response to an experience, that is, the Zen idea of capturing a fleeting moment. Also, when I was there the colours were very minimal and that is reflected in my work.

I tried to stalk you on social media but you are hard to find. Why’s that?

Oh good. My plan is working. Haha. I agree with the singer Sia who famously said something like “I want to be successful, not famous.” And, I think that fame is the byproduct of talent.

“Yes, there is a lot of movement…
but it’s still a still!”

How did you find out about Nauti Studios?

I think I saw a post randomly pop up at around the same time a friend also mentioned it. I’ve been here around 18 months or so sharing a studio with another artist who is a friend of mine. I like it here because I can do certain stuff at home but it is still limited by space.

I actually heard you paint before I saw your work. I am in the studio under yours and your brush strokes sounded as if there was a lot of movement in your paintings. It’s amazing to finally see your work and realise that what I heard is true!

Yes, there is a lot of movement. That’s my thing I guess, but it’s still a still!

Who inspires your work?

So many artists to choose from, but always Brett Whiteley and Katsushika Hokusai. Whiteley’s lines and his drawings are phenomenal. The freedom that he paints and draws with – his work is extraordinary from my point of view. And then Hokusai has the whole Japanese woodcut thing. He has different ways of doing a similar kind of thing.

Up close with Daniel Baranowski and his palette in his studio.

And finally, which nautical creature do you resonate with the most?

Scylla and Charybdis.

(Editor’s note: These are monsters in Greek mythology, mentioned in, among other texts, The Odyssey. Scylla is a six headed beast and Charybdis is a whirlpool. The grim pair were said to wreak havoc for ships sailing through the Strait of Messina, which is located between Italy and Sicily, where they flanked either side. When the ships moved to one side to avoid one, they would inevitably be too close to the other one. A no-win situation which is where phrases like ‘between a rock and hard place’ and ‘between the devil and the deep blue sea’ derive from.)

They are the flip sides where one or the other will always get you. No matter what, you’re going to get tagged by something, but that’s not always bad.

‘Snap Frozen & Still: An attempt to capture the fragile eternity of the Void’
Dan’s first exhibition and is on now, until the 14th April at Braemar Gallery
104 Macquarie Road in Springwood, Blue Mountains
(Ppen Thursday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm)

Announcing... Life Drawing Classes at Nauti Studios with Elsa McGrath!

ANNOUNCING...

Monthly Life Drawing Classes at Nauti Studios!

After a brief break, Nauti Studios are excited to be bringing back by popular demand our monthly life drawing classes, held the first Thursday of each month!

Beginning on Thursday the 2nd of August from 6.30 - 8.30pm, these 2 hour life drawing classes are for people of all different experience levels. Beginners can master new skills and techniques for learning photorealism, amateurs can refine their drawings with new techniques and professional drawing guidance, and pros can choose to do their own thing or revisit foundation techniques. 

Tickets are $20 at the door, or available for purchase online here.

They'll be taught by Nauti newcomer Elsa McGrath, a super talented and creative artist. Read below to find out more about our new teacher!

Elsa in her element.

Elsa Isabella McGrath is a visual artist based in Sydney.

Her painting practice explores the everyday - moments considered banal are seen through a unique lens, transforming space from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and nestled organically within are human forms.

Tell us about yourself and your drawing!

Drawing was absolutely my first passion in life, and as I grew older and began to develop and discover my art practice through painting, drawing gave me the structure and knowledge about how to translate my own style to different mediums.

I think growing up in a very nature-heavy environment solidified my love for charcoal as a drawing tool. I'm really drawn to its looseness and ability for high tonal range. 

Why were you drawn to art? How long have you been doing it?

Like most creative people, I can't remember a time when I didn't have a pencil in my hand - it seems like art has been in my life since day one.

I am an introverted person, and art gave me an avenue to feel bold, brave, and expressive. I draw when I'm sad, happy, anxious, tired, lonely - it is absolutely my one true love.

What is your favourite type of art?

Though my tastes sway and change I think my main love has always been a painterly mark with a strong sway towards impressionism.

I also adore graphic novels! 

Do you find yourself fascinated with one theme or motif throughout your work?

Definitely the motif most present in my art is the human figure. It forms the base of the majority of my work. The human form is something that is forever explorable, moldable, and open to interpretation - it can be relayed in anatomical detail, broken down into two dimensional shapes, pure line - the options are endless! 

The human form is something of extreme beauty in my mind, there are no two bodies alike so each chance to depict that is really exciting!

You studied at the National Art School – what was that like?

It was a great experience! I graduated last year majoring in painting with my main body of work exploring the human form through varying abstraction techniques. 

Something I really loved about NAS was the weighted importance placed on life drawing as not only a crucial activity to participate in, but as a foundation for truly seeing what you're drawing, with the idea that you can carry those skills to any other art form. 

What are your favourite mediums?

Charcoal and oil paint! Separate, and together!

What do you like about teaching?

I believe strongly that drawing is the foundation of all art. I love being around likeminded people coming together to learn, grow, and explore their own art practice. I've been involved in all facets of life drawing for over a decade as a student, model, and teacher. 

My drawing comes from a classical draughtsmanship stance and I believe that learning how to truly see what you are drawing is crucial to grow as an artist - through measurement, perspective, tone, line weighting, and mark making. Only then once those laws have been learnt can you break them down and rebuild to suit your style. 

What are you most excited about for the Nauti life drawing classes?

Immediately, the space itself is incredible! Open, airy, light-filled - perfect for life drawing!

I'm really excited about meeting people beginning their journey with drawing and art, as well as those who have established themselves and are wanting to further their skill base, or just relax for a few hours, let go and draw! 

Finally – if you were a sea creature, which would you be and why?

A Dumbo Octopus - mostly because they are little, shy, and swallow their food whole, and I'm a notoriously fast eater. 

Elsa's work.