Artist of the Week, Seren Spain

Often we become trapped by our attitude to drawing, grasping on to what's familiar and recognisable, unable to depart from the fixed image.  It can be extremely difficult to detach from that and discover the unknown, to let the 'truth images' rise to the surface.  Seren's work displays a gradual sense of liberation, it is intimate and multi faceted.

Artist of the Week, Tania Lee

Tania's work is immediate and raw.  Her choice of palette vivid, her application deliberate and strong. She like many others 'thinks' she can't draw.  It is a common thread amongst many of the Roar Drawers and many talented Creatives.  Art is a subjective thing and we are sensitive beings. It requires bravery and commitment, to go out on a limb, get into your zone, trust the process and allow yourself to be vulnerable and honest.  Ultimately it shows, it is the difference between strong work and work that is safe and 'perfectly groomed'.

Artist of the Week, Jocelyn Sakinofsky

You can feel the frenetic energy in Jocelyn's work.  Gradually she builds up the pace, the layers, rubs back and distresses until her work takes on it's own life form. Occasionally Jocelyn works on pre textured surfaces giving her a platform to work from, instantaneously breaking through that starkly defying, bare surface.  Her work is immediate and beholds an irresistible sense of liberation and integrity.

MONA GALLERY, Hobart, Tasmania

I was fortunate enough to escape to Tassie on the weekend to visit the much anticipated MONA Gallery.  After all the hype it didn't disappoint. It was an incredible experience, the excavated building was impressive in itself, particularly when arriving by ferry, setting the stage from afar.  The exhibits are an eclectic mix of everything from confronting and perverse Modern, to Ancient Egyptian. I won't give away too many surprises, least to say there was much local art with intermittently dispersed BIG names like......Jean Michel Basquiat, Sidney Nolan and John Olsen (located on the ceiling as you walk upstairs to the restaurant).  You can self guide with the iPhone gizmo and use the optional headphone set, to listen to the amusing interviews together with matching song. Dramatic, theatrical, ostentatious and ultimately a celebration of creativity without the austerity of your average gallery. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the winery and a bite to eat whilst you're there, soak up the entire experience. 

 View of Mona from the ferry

Snake 1970-72

SIDNEY NOLAN

 Fat Car 2006

ERWIN WURM (amusing interview)

Skin Flint 1984

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Artist of the Week, Cherry Irwin

Fortunately I photographed Cherry's work over a few weeks, as it was only recently that she made an accidental, mark making, discovery (scroll down). Cherry blotted her water colour with paper towel only to reveal a textural imprint, not unlike that which you would achieve through silk screening.  I admire Cherry's sense of exploration and sacrifice, it would have been far easier for her to stick with what she knows, particularly as she is quite an established drawer. The possibilities are endless!

Artist of the Week, Eugene Wood

The simplicity and sculptural qualities of Eugene's work is comforting.  I particularly like his generous use of the page in his compositions, and the abandoned details of face, which leaves something to the imagination.

Artist of the Week, Shi Buffalo

You have to be fully engaged to start to see self in your artwork, and for it to become almost autobiographical.  You begin to identify with whatever was going on in your life at that time.

Artist of the Week, Natasha La Brooy

It can be extremely challenging to let go of the external form, and really put ourselves into the picture plane.  Natasha says "When I feel myself working too tightly, I literally draw a bold line through my work, to force myself to let go and get over that preciousness."   It is this kind of liberation, accepting the human aspect of her marks, not trying to tidy it all up, that gives such integrity to her work. This is Natasha's a dance if you like, HER story. 

Artist of the Week, Alex Speechley

Yes, they are drawn on postcards and almost obsolete aerograms.  They are dissected, distorted and beautifully woven together, offering a simultaneous sense of enquiry and mystery.  Why limit yourself to drawing only on what's sold in Art Shops? 

Artist of the Week, Trudy Rice

This is what happens when you begin to sacrifice, when you stop dictating and let things happen.   Trudy didn't plan to create this lucid transparency, she simply took an open approach, and witnessed it unravel. Her compositions still retaining a great sense of balance.

Artist of the Week, Sharon Crabb

Sparse, linear, entangled, entwined.  Quite simply, sometimes less is more.  Using a bold black background set the stage for quite a statement. It is definitely worth experimenting with various surfaces.  I particularly like Sharon's changes in rhythm and pressure.

Artist of the Week, Grant Overend

There is a very tactile, raw quality about Grant's work.  He has clearly made his claim on these images, displaying a great sense of abandonment and sheer authenticity.   It is quite an accomplishment to maintain such an expansive, directness with ones work. 

Artist of the Week, Renae Turner

Renae's work has a real presence, it is lyrical and robust. A powerful combination, the structure in her work relying not on any theory, but a very raw, instinctual base.  Allowing a natural progression of ideas, marks and sculptural qualities to evolve.

Artist of the Week, Penny McQueen

Penny's work is totemic and primal. Her language is direct, bold and fully committed.  These pieces were done in small sketch books, using markers.  One doesn't necessarily have to work to a large scale in order to liberate their marks, it is more about finding what mediums work best for you. 

Artist of the Week, Laila Hugrass

One of the hardest parts about drawing is getting over that mental block, getting the chatter of the mind to stop trying to orchestrate everything. To surrender and distort, allowing the structures of your work to rise to the surface themselves.  It is breaking that visual skin, that enables a culmination of ideas to converse and intertwine as one solid work.

Artist of the Week, Robyn Dansie

Robyn's work is not decorative or peripheral, it is robust and generous.  Occasionally in Roar Drawing we collaborate with others.  The middle picture is the work of Robyn and John Carlin (featured last week).  It illustrates a most unpredictable outcome of combined energies.  Robyn's frenzy of coloured marks set a vibrant and energetic undercurrent, whilst John's image quaintly merges through the chaos. Quite an exhilarating result that neither Artist would have proposed alone.