John A Robinson

Barry Morgan - $180 Price
22cm x 40cm
Oil on Board
Tears - SOLD
22cm x 40cm
Oil on Board
Coat - $180
22cm x 40m
Oil on Board
Dog - SOLD
22cm x 40cm
Oil on Board
Lindsay Robinson - "Head 2 Head"
Head to Head - $1900 Price
90cm x 110cm
Oils

A Q&A with John Robinson

John A Robinson lives and works just north of Brisbane in Redcliffe. He was born in Boorowa, NSW in 1952. John spent his early years in Cowra before he moved with his family to Brisbane in 1967. He trained as an art teacher at Kelvin Grove C.A.E. and at the Queensland Art College. John taught in secondary schools and senior colleges from 1975 – 2012.

John, you are passionate about art, how is art important?

To me making art is like prayer, a good day at the office and holding your grandchild close, all at once. There are moments in my life when I am at peace with the world, when time stands still.  From whence I move on refreshed, rejuvenated, ready to head out to meet the day; that is how I feel when I make art.

When you make a work of art, do you have a process that you follow?

To the casual observer. I guess they would see a series of seeming unrelated daubs of paint that I push, thin out or wipes back. These ‘irrational’ gestures ‘close’ as meaningful forms.  I see my job as an illusionist who lays down the visual and tactile cues for the viewer to find meaning.

John, how would describe your art?

My work has been described as allegorical or ‘conversational’. My works often generate discussion. I investigate new ways of seeing the world; how the world is perceived. I try not to make assumptions as I sets down of images and meanings.

Is portrait painting new for you?

Portraiture or as I call them ‘face’ painting has become a recent area of interest of mine. I am a regular member of the weekly portrait group at the Redcliffe Art Society where I can explore my new found passion for ‘face painting’.

John colour is a strong element in your work?

To my knowledge, there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that specific colours have specific emotional or physiological connection, but what is clear to me is that our response to colour is personal, its meaning is an outcome of our upbringing and therefore our culture. I love colour and it potential as a prompt for our emotions.

What role does wire drawings have to play in your practice?

I reassess my practice all the time. My wire drawings have allowed me to explore the limitation that wire offers. This experience in this material has forced me to simplify not only when I work with wire but I have found it has influents my painting.

Before I painted, I used bits of found wire to make ‘stuff’. My wire drawings come out of the need within me to reuse the found, manipulative materials that are all around us. I particularly like how wire and the shadow it throws create images that seem to have an inherent sense of movement and energy. Coat hangers are irresistible, they can be teased or cajoled into images that are linear and animated.

Selfie - $1250
110cm x 90cm
Oils
Back to the Sea - $1250
105cm x 81cm
Oils
Heads and Tails - $450
60cm x 60cm
Oils
Selfie Smile - $950
75cm x 60cm
Oils
Brassica I - $550
60cm x 60cm
Oils

Contact John

    v

    Back to the Sea - $1250
    105cm x 81cm
    Oils

    Gallery