Barcaldine

I came up with the working title “Full Circle” a while ago and it’s no suprise that covid and border closures have postponed plans. It began with the concept of my journey as a graffiti artist to exhibiting fine art in a gallery. I soon realised the notion of full circle adapts to many meanings and experiences both within ourselves and external elements amongst nature. I began responding full circle literally, the sphere that sustains us and the beauty provided amongst natural environment. For me this is something that puts life into perspective and is a reminder that we’re only here because of a string of events, circumstances in time and space.

Spending so much of my time travelling around painting in towns all over I have been lucky enough to see some epic landscapes and stay at memorable locations. I realised I had quite a few photos that were calling to be painted. Photos are a great way to capture an image however a painting is produced taking in the feeling that made the memory. Using these original photos as reference I produced a new body of work.

I had a venue in mind in Barcaldine, an old pub called The Globe that council had renovated. The buiding has many original heritage features and some cool modern touches, with a great exhibition space and facilities for functions. It was a short time later it clicked that of course Full Circle was destined to take place at the Globe! After working on 14 canvasses towards the show and booking the venue I called in to take another look keen to see if I was on track to fill the main gallery. I was not surprised to see there is exactly 14 perfectly spaced spots to hang work. More recently a circular viewing tower has been added to the building.

Searching beyond a curved horizon we decipher moments in time. exchanging energies. Connected by a sphere orbiting between day and night in an expanding universe. Just the seasons change our experiences often rotate Full Circle. See the gallery or purchase artwork direct from Sauce.

Blackall

One of the reasons I love travelling the Queensland outback is the abundance of inspiration for art. Arid landscapes that chase a never ending horizon, the vibrant colours of sunset, reflections in waterholes are all things of great natural beauty and leave their mark as memories whilst solidifying a connection to the land.

During my most recent trip to the outback I captured a bunch of interesting photos. This setting not far from Blackall may be relatable to many in the bush. A storm brewing afar while the glow of afternoon sun saturates a nearby paddock.  

Since returning to my studio, in between other commissions and side projects Iv’e been working on a series of new fine art. The new body of work is based on original photographs from my travels. I had to postpone my plans for a solo exhibition the past two years because of a global pandemic, maybe next year who knows I’m just enjoying pushing some paints on the canvas in the meantime.

I have entered this oil on canvas titled Tumbar Road Blackall into this years Blackall Annual Art Exhibition. 91.4cm x 45.7cm 

Convergence

Abstract forms collide with elements of nature where notions of familiarity are both endorsed and challenged. The imagined and realistic harmonise through the juxtaposition of themes.

Cabarita Community Noticeboard

This mural took some time to complete as it was finalised over the holiday season. The fine folk from Caba Creative and You and Bamboo wanted an illusion style mural (trompe l’oeil) and felt the plain wall needed some artwork which suited the area and included the local flora and fauna. Sauce used paint-brush for the black cockatoos and aerosol for some other the other features like the skateboard. It was an usual mural, as there were many different items to work around, including the ATM, the bird features were incorporated to work around these objects and I think it creates a sense of scale and proportion. 

Five Letters

ESCAPE Fine Art Gallery

You are cordially invited to the opening night of the ESCAPE Fine Art Gallery. 

The Sauce Studio gets a Workout

Lately we’ve had to juggle numerous projects around and do the project shuffle to try and keep all of our lovely and patient clients happy. 

This left Sauce with some unexpected downtime in the studio, so he made the most of it by getting stuck into some new canvas work. He even finished a commission for a friend’s anniversary. 

If you’re interested in picking up a canvas before the Christmas rush, then get into the studio now and grab yourself an original handmade piece of aerosol art.

Calvary Christian College Arts Fest 2014

Last week, Sauce visited Calvary Christian College for the fifth year in a row for the school’s ArtsFest. Sauce has been a regular feature as the Artist in Residence, where he creates murals for the school, facilitates workshops with the high school students and runs lunchtime demonstrations for the wider school community. 

A Colour Study in Brown, Blue and Orange. 

A lunchtime aerosol demonstration. 

Barcaldine

After a fortnight in Emerald, it was time to pack up the Mural Truck and get back on the road. This time, Sauce was headed to Barcaldine where he had arranged to paint at St. Joseph’s Primary School and in the CBD.

While Sauce was painting in the town centre, some feathered friends had a sticky beak at all the action. You can check out the excitement on Youtube. 

As always, Sauce made the most of his time out West and completed some canvas work and a backdrop for one of the locals in town. 

Gentrified Graffiti

Welcome back to #ArtThursday! 

  A & C, aerosol on canvas. Sauce, 2014.

This week I want to about graff and galleries. For some time now, Sauce has been painting smaller graffiti pieces on canvas. Some of these works have won awards and hung in fine galleries, and others now live in suburban lounge-rooms, which strikes the question: Does graffiti belong in the gallery?

The short answer is yes. Graffiti, aerosol art and street art are legitimate art forms and are definitely a part of the urban expression and deserve a place in our galleries, museums and cultural homes. 

 

De-stagnate, aerosol on canvas. Sauce, 2013

But… What is this doing to the art form and culture of graffiti and what about it’s rebellious roots in railways and razor wire? By removing the art form it’s ‘natural habitat’ are we devaluing and watering down it’s effects and messages? What is the state of the wider culture of hip hop, when a piece of pastiche and derivative stencil art piece can command a small fortune*? 

There is no short or easy answer to the problems of gentrified graffiti, however it does allow artists to expand their repertoire and practice their skills. Essentially, this cultural shift of graffiti in galleries commands artists to delve further into their arts practice and hone their craft, and at the very least, it allows the graffiti artist to escape the authorities one more time. 

 

Something Sweet, aerosol on canvas. Sauce, 2013

*I could delve further into this and explain it in terms of Bourdieu and maybe even Simmel but who’s got time for that?