Dan Brock painting

brown box

2012-02-14T10:10:00.003+10:00

blue door

2012-02-07T14:17:00.000+10:00

recent paintings

2012-01-22T18:48:00.002+10:00

The Underpass 1200 x 1800

Jimmy's on the Mall 1200 x 1800

While these paintings seem abstract they are both painted with a specific representational image projected onto them. My aim is to extend the conversation on what we consider to be abstract and what we classify as representation in a painting.

Baulderstone office wall painting

2011-12-10T13:27:00.001+10:00

The Hungary Jacks Painting

2011-04-19T20:41:00.000+10:00

This painting has become know to me as 'The Hungary Jacks Painting'. It was in my last exhibition but i never got around to photographing it.

The painting comes from a photo taken at the top of the Queen Street Mall in brisbane outside Hungary Jacks.

The relationship between photography and painting has a history of exploring ideas of how representation and perception are created. The attitude and ideas implied through this relationship pose some interesting questions, i.e. what does a photograph represent and how does this representation exist with a painting? What happens during this process of change? How is the finished work linked to and removed from the moment in time, which it was originally taken from?

Help Japan

2011-03-30T19:49:00.000+10:00

On line Auction starts on Friday to raise money for the thousands of people who are effected by recent events in Japan. There is some really good work, and talk about cheap!

Face Book Auction

This painting of mine is on offer. Painted from a picture during a wonderful day drinking beer under cherry blossoms with Mr. Ohnishi

4 of the best painters....

2010-12-28T09:43:00.001+10:00

Daniel Richter

Daniel Richter disrupts the flow of painting language. There is an unexpected twist at the end of all the parts within the painting. The colour is bright, the faces are painted in a naïve manner and the narrative (although unknown) is powerful and aggressive. There are so many decisions which do not make sense. Some parts are ‘dashed off’ and others have been given attention. There is for me a real sense of the representational information coming out of the paintings surface as though pushing through the abstract gesture, pushing through the flatness and the void of information. This painting is not only discussing the way abstraction can relate to representation but also the decision making process of the artist, why are the choices made, are they random or are they meticulously considered. Daniel Richter uses the provisional technique of pulling the paint back from the viewer as if to say ‘ I can tell you have almost worked this painting out, so I am going to change it a little, then a little more’ until you cannot draw a definitive narrative and you cannot resolve the intention. There is also a shying away from grandness for what seems like willingness or a need to take chances and risk what Rubinstein calls the ‘collapse’ of the painting.

This painting is about ‘painting’, there is an image and there is gestural abstraction but the role of these techniques is to bring the viewer into the space that makes a contemporary painted surface. There is no gimmick or concept, the painting exists through engagement with the process of making and shines as an example of how we try to explain what painting can be.

Frank Stella once suggested, the hardest thing about painting is to find out how to make a painting and for me, artists like Daniel Richter and Peter Doig show how easy and how difficult that can be.

Luc Tuymans

Peter Doig

Jeff Wall

Milton

2010-07-28T14:51:00.000+10:00

Haven't posted for a while because i have not been painting. My thesis is due and its taking up all my time. I did, however finish stage one of a mural at Milton Train station (with the help of Emma, Kenji, Kerrith, Anthony, Guido and Fintan).
Stage two will commence in mid September, so also getting ready for that.
More info and images are on the Milton Blog

more from Activity

2010-05-17T18:14:00.001+10:00

Activity

2010-04-22T09:23:00.000+10:00

Brisbane blog have done a write up on Activity

This is Kenji and Emma engaging in some of the activity involved in setting up the exhibition

‘Everything you look at, any object or image, has been thought about, selected and been subject to huge activity.'Pierre Huyghe 2001

new paintings 1800 x1200mm

2010-03-18T13:49:00.000+10:00

work in progress

2010-02-17T15:31:00.000+10:00

detail

Work in progress 1800 x 1200mm

new painting

2009-11-16T20:13:00.001+10:00

acrylic and ink on canvas, 1200 x 2200mm

new farm park 2

2009-10-14T08:23:00.002+10:00

acrylic, ink and enamel on canvas 1200 x 1800

This is a re make of a painting i previously painted on to two separate panels. The original is hanging in ECC and this one is a commission. It was a great experience being able to visit the same image and change a lot of little things.

So as this painting goes off to a new home i am very thankful to the new owners Mark and Bronnie who, like me, have a special attachment to New Farm Park.

music for spaces

2009-09-07T19:12:00.004+10:00

Honky Kong are hosting a great night at the art factory with well good aesthetics. I am doing an installation of Honky Kong's collected images. Bellow is an old sketch i did of Swifty (Archie) who is one half of the Kong. If you don't make it to the night you will die without fully understanding the beauty of life.

An old drawing of Archie

2009-08-31T13:27:00.003+10:00

Swifty not up so late

Brunswick street project

2009-07-29T19:54:00.002+10:00

Brunswick street project

2009-07-22T09:10:00.003+10:00

This work is being installed on Brunswick St. across from the train station entrance at Fortitude Valley. Should be finished in the next couple of days.

last of the impossible flowers

2009-06-17T19:39:00.000+10:00

Impossible Flowers at ECC

2009-06-09T19:49:00.001+10:00

The impossible flowers have found their way to ECC on James Street

Next Exhibition Friday 29th May @ Art Factory

2009-05-07T11:44:00.002+10:00

I Flowers 5

2009-04-28T09:11:00.001+10:00

Impossible Flowers 4

2009-04-13T13:20:00.000+10:00

This is a very big file. Please click on the image to see detail

Impossible Flowers 3

2009-04-03T18:16:00.004+10:00

Another Impossible flower, acrylic and ink on canvas 700 x 900mm

Impossible Flowers

2009-03-25T07:57:00.003+10:00

Detail

Impossible Flowers 2, Acrylic and Ink on Canvas 920 x 710mm

Impossible Flowers 1 (as above)

After school 1

2009-03-15T21:11:00.000+10:00

Arylic and ink on canvas 730 x 900mm

Queen street mall, Friday Arfternoon

2009-03-06T11:51:00.002+10:00

Acrylic on canvas (900 x 750mm)

impossible fruit tree

2009-02-23T08:43:00.002+10:00

Impossible Fruit Tree

watercolour, acrylic and indian ink on paper (900 x 600)

Recent photos from Japan

2009-02-05T12:21:00.005+10:00

Flower Storm

Indian Ink on paper A3

Residential Fruit Tree

Acrylic on paper A3

City, people walking

2009-02-04T19:45:00.005+10:00

Queen st. Mall

More Studies, Fortitude Valley

2009-02-02T18:55:00.003+10:00

Empire Hotel

Man with glasses in the crowd, crossing the road

Lady waiting at Brunswick st. lights

studies, Fortitude Valley

2009-01-28T19:43:00.002+10:00

The out post

Ann street

crn. Ann and Brunswick street

Water colour and indian ink on paper, all a3

Flowering Tree Before the Renovation

2008-12-02T13:17:00.001+10:00

Acrylic and ink on board 600 x 900mm

Yuki's Fish

2008-11-26T18:27:00.000+10:00

Painted for my nephew, Yuki's bed room. 600 x 1200 on two panels

New Farm Park @ ECC

2008-11-22T09:10:00.002+10:00

This Painting is from the July exhibition with Joe at the Art Factory. It now finds peace among the beautiful things at ECC in Fortitude Valley.

Flowering Tree

2008-11-11T14:58:00.007+10:00

Two panels 900 x 600 each. Very much inspired by Laura Owens.

What i like

2008-10-24T13:50:00.003+10:00

three nice paintings

Daniel Richter

Elizabeth Peyton

Merlin Carpenter

brunswick street project

2008-09-17T09:06:00.003+10:00

We have finished. The panels will now be coated with a protective 2 pac and will be installed at the end of the month. Big thanks to Kenji.

Still have no idea what it will look like when installed as we have only seen a maximum of 6 panels (of 26) together at any one time.

day 5...

2008-09-03T09:37:00.004+10:00

Now we have finished all the images. I am on holidays for a week then we add the final touches... cover the images with an 'anti graffiti coating and install it at Brunswick street. Will blog again then

day 4.....

2008-09-01T20:41:00.003+10:00

day three...

2008-08-28T20:29:00.002+10:00

day two...

2008-08-27T20:15:00.003+10:00

After painting the sky and some flat colour, creating some really nice shapes we moved a few images around and decided to go with this view of the Valley mall from the front of the Empire Hotel. This space is about 12% of the total size.

day one...

2008-08-25T20:04:00.003+10:00

These 26 panels are compressed cement and are about 40kgs each.

Kenji showing just how well our safety vests work.

Brunswick street Project

2008-08-18T15:09:00.004+10:00

Over the next month i will be documenting the process in painting a 31.0m x 2.4m mural. The project is a commission through Queensland Rail and will be on Brunswick street in front of the train station.

Theme is the local area "entertainment precinct"

The wall will be made of 26 panels of ply (1.2m x 2.4m).

These are a couple of images i have collected form around the site

This is part of the wall

Art Factory Exhibition july 2008

2008-07-22T08:48:00.002+10:00

A couple of photos from David Howards review of our exhibition. Check it out... here

Last painting for new exhibition

2008-07-17T13:53:00.002+10:00

Black tree with turquoise wash and spots, Acrylic on canvas (900 x 1200mm)

Red Flowers with spots and clouds

2008-07-15T13:06:00.002+10:00

Acrylic and ink on Canvas 1200 x 900mm

Paintings for new show july 08

2008-06-27T18:38:00.004+10:00

Exhibition opening with my good friend Joe Daws will be held at The Art Factory Gallery, 84 merivale st south brisbane, Opening party is 5-8pm on the 19th of July

New Farm Park with Glass House Mountains, acrylic on ply 2 panels (1200x900mm each)

Air at the Tivol with Flower, acrylic and ink on ply (1200x900mm)

Glass House with Cotton Blossom

2008-06-03T11:59:00.006+10:00

Acrylic on ply 1200x600mm

PLEASE click on the link to Peter Doig's exhibition at the Tate.

The view from Jo's back yard with tree

2008-05-21T11:27:00.003+10:00

Three panels on ply (900x2200). Made from photos taken at Jo Daws' Parents property in the sunshine coast hinterland.

2008-05-13T08:24:00.003+10:00

This is my studio. Very small and very dusty but it does the trick.

This is a three panel acrylic on ply. Total size 1200x2400.

Double Portraits

2008-05-02T13:20:00.003+10:00

The first two are on Masonite panels 2400x1200mm.

Tan and Kim

Steve and Roids

Michelle and Clay

Me and Marns (Chris)

Blossoms in the Valley

2008-04-14T12:59:00.005+10:00

This new painting is on two ply wood panels 900x1200mm each. The total width is 2400mm. The ply is fixed to pine frame and joined in the centre with bolts. Ply is a tough surface to work on but is much lighter and stronger than Masonite. The paint is all acrylic and ink

The image is made from three photos. Far left is a shot taken from outside the empire hotel in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley, looking down Anne street. The centre are cherry blossoms in Japan and the far right is a woman walking up Wickham street also in Fortitude Valley.

The light brow colour at the top of the image is from the exposed ply surface.

the art factory gallery

2008-02-05T07:45:00.002+10:00

Thanks to all who made it to the Art Factory last Friday night for the opening of economic painting. It is a very encouraging thing to finally see all the paintings up together on one wall.
A specail thanks to Jo Daws and Kenji Uranishi who (as usual) gave up their time to help set up the show. To Drew for being the bar man. Very special thanks to Tanya.

Economic Painting

2008-01-17T07:54:00.000+10:00

The recent paintings on this blog will be at my exhibition Economic Painting opening 6pm at the Art Factory Gallery in South Brisbane (84 Merivale St.) on 1st of Feb 2008. Please come if you are in town!! Send me mail if you want more info. dantan@bigpond.net.au

new paintings

2007-12-08T20:22:00.001+10:00

These two paintings will be on the wall at my exhibition opening on 1st of feb (details above).
They are painted on what is becoming my standard size of 1200 x 900 sheets of Masonite with pine backing frames. Both are acrylic and Indian ink (no titles yet).

I am enjoying being in the space between abstract and representational painting. This painting also has the original photograph playing a big role in the representation with silhouette and poster realism.

The sky blue is also becoming a bit of a standard, although it is a little different every time. Pale blue is such an inviting colour. I discovered this blue when doing paintings for Maxwell's bedroom.... its such a boy colour! It should be noted that I also use a lot of pink.

2007-11-28T10:20:00.000+10:00

new paintings

2007-11-20T07:29:00.002+10:00

This painting was made from two photographs. One of a retail clothing store and one of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Both photos were taken by Jason. I have used light pastel colours and thick, mat acrylic mixed with a lot of gesso. The result is powdery, delicate surface with sharp definition.
The painting is yet to be named, 900 x 1200 on Masonite

This painting is made from more different photos than I can remember. It has been a work in progress for about a year. Again, sharp lines are the key along with attention to balance and colour.

Also yet to be named 900 x 1200 acrylic and ink on ply wood.

Photos for new work

2007-11-12T08:42:00.001+10:00

These photos are an example of some of the images I am using for new paintings. They come from a collection of photos taken by my brother Jason on a recent visit to Japan.

Painting from another persons' photos is a first for me and the results are exciting (I think). These new paintings will be part of the next exhibition in Feb.

Drawing from Photos, portraits

2007-10-02T08:02:00.000+10:00

This is Mr Onishi. We stayed with his family on a visit to Japan a couple of years ago. The photo from this sketch comes from a day of celebrations under Cherry blossom trees.

Kat from an old photo (about 5 years)

Matt from a Sydney visit a few years ago (he is a cheeky bugger)

My Son Maxwell at 2 months old

Fortitude

2007-09-20T14:47:00.000+10:00

These images are from a painted installation at the Creative Industries Precinct on the Kelvin Grove campus of QUT.

The project was done at night using projectors over one week with the help of Kenji Uranishi and Jo Daws.

My brother-in-law Kenji is a ceramics artist and Jo is a landscape painter who also works with ceramics. The completed painting was 12 metres wide and called 'Fortitude'.

Fortitude comprised images from Fortitude Valley and Westend in Brisbane at a time when both environments were undergoing massive social and architectural changes. I believe the word Fortitude sums up the ability of these two suburbs, both rich with history, to take on the challenge of a rapid change. They both adapt to the new while remaining centred in their respective histories.

Drawing from models

2007-09-20T14:19:00.000+10:00

This is still the best way to draw

Early portraits

2007-09-20T14:03:00.000+10:00

All these portraits are made with acrylic paint and Indian ink. They are on paper or Masonite and were all painted in 2003

Photoshop fun

2007-09-20T13:40:00.000+10:00

Lately i have been hand drawing black and white outline images and painting them in photo shop. The process and finish is less textural than using paint but the gesture of painting still exists and its allot less messy!

recent paintings (acrylic)

2007-09-17T13:02:00.000+10:00

Brunswick Mater 900 x 1200mm

Mel and Dan 900 x 1200mm

Michelle and Clay 600 x 900mm

Given Tce. Paddington with Japanese sky line 1200 x 3100mm

Power to the Boundary 900 x 1200mm

Recognition 1 600 x 1200mm

Beautiful Mater

2007-09-17T12:46:00.000+10:00

This is my most recent painting. I finished it yesterday. My aim was to use block colour, abstraction and poster-realism. The work is 900 x 1200mm in acrylic and Indian ink