DALE FRANK ON LANDSCAPE PAINTING

"If people broadened their perceptions of what landscape is, and the history of Australian landscape painting, they would be able to embrace what is non-representational art as landscape instantaneously and simultaneously," says Frank.





"Landscape is non-representational, it is an abstract concept to all people. It always was a meaning separate from image. The word itself, 'landscape', is too historically and emotively loaded to have contemporary significance as a word, for one thing, let alone an attitude to style."






Frank's landscapes are a far cry from the old tradition of plein-air painting, rendering the bush on site with some semblance of realism. In fact, his paintings, while ostensibly conceived in his immediate geographical environment, make no traditional visual reference to the vista at all. Both the paintings and the attitude to their subject are unique.






One has to look at the nature of landscape painting, says Frank.






"It is only through the arbitrary and aesthetic use of visible techniques of, say, horizon lines, or a blotch to imply a tree, where people can say a Fred Williams is a landscape or a John Olsen is a landscape.






"If John Olsen had never interpreted his work as landscape they would not be landscape, they would be European-inspired abstractions. It would be just as valid to interpret Olsen's early paintings as abstractions, but here we use the language of landscape to establish them.






"It's a mechanism by which their work is attached to both the market and to the Australian audience and art history."

blue plates

This is one of the digital prints that is being exhibited at the Tweed Regional Gallery at present.

The blue plates are reminiscent of the ones that my grandmother had. In fact for a long time she only liked things that were blue, and dressed in blue and white.

what shall I call this painting?

Does anyone have any suggestions for a title for this painting?

I am interested to hear what you think this painting is about.

This is the first painting that I completed this year (semester one).

It was painted after a break of almost 17 years( where did the time go?)

I left art school at the end of 1989 (a "post-certificate" year at East Sydney Tech- now known as the National Art School). Some time was spent in a studio in Darlinghurst, where I completed a set of seven self-portraits. Two of them were sold- one is in Wilsons Creek, I think, and the other may be somewhere in Sydney. There were other paintings, and a couple, or a few, group shows.

After that some time travelling around- Brisbane and Byron Bay for a year.

Then there was a relationship, marriage, and we brought three children into the world.

I guess that's where the time went- busy raising 3 kids etc etc. Trying to survive as best as possible.

That's enough history for one night.

I'm reflecting because I'm wondering "what's next?"-this being a period of an ending.

And of course, with endings comes beginnings.

Murwillumbah TAFE Diploma Exhibition

Tonight was the opening of our show at the Tweed Regional Gallery.
It was a great looking show, well put together and cohesive-considering it represented the work of 9 artists.

Baby Vin. Lino rubbing, Graphite on rice paper

Finally finished a lino tonight, in front of the Midsomer Murders.

It's one I started a few months ago. Not exactly an essay.

Did a few rubbings today, from zinc plates.

boxes...

this is the first of a number of boxes that I'm working on.

Recent Drawings

Recent Drawings

Recent Drawings

PAINTING FROM THE VISIBLE WORLD

Just two weeks left of the Diploma of Visual Arts, at Murwillumbah TAFE.
Our show at the Tweed Regional Gallery opens on Friday 20th of November.