hootgallery - steve fitz
E X P L O R I N G T H E A R T I S T
Motivation
From one generation to the next, the way the world is run has not changed. With the internet and social media, what has changed is our awareness. The veil on human nature has been lifted and we see a world being destroyed by greed and the battle for money, power and control. The only way I can see, to balance the ugly, is to expose the darkness and add some beauty to the world.
I have always had a strong sense of fairness and justice and that coupled with being creative has lead me down a path of using art to carry a profound social message. When topics are taboo art becomes the vehicle to attract public attention to a story that needs to be told.
Some topics, like the connection between fossil fuel and war including Ukraine, Gaza and the South Chia Sea can only be whispered and passed on by word of mouth. So what am I? An artist, or an activist using art to speak a "Truth Story"?
My new series of oil paintings and sculptures have been developed to attract attention and embrace Planet A2025 at exhibition.
About
For me, finding art was an exploration. You explore your creativity with different styles to find out who you are and what you love and go where it takes you. You look for what you are most comfortable with and what fits your persona.
Photography sparked my creativity and I developed my art from there. This evolved into servicing the top end of the Sydney advertising industry in the area of photo composite, retouching and darkroom special effects before computers or photoshop. 10,000 hours in the darkroom creating magic from an art directors imagination. Production managers expected picture perfect, with the mind set that consumers like to associate with perfection. So over 20 years last century picture perfect was in-grained into me. It's where I come from.
With my current series of art I produce a digital montage, using all my previous image creation skills, and use that as a template for brush work reminiscent of the renaissance masters to create startling realism. I love this new style, it's me. I have gone full circle from picture perfect to painterly and abstract then back to picture perfect. And once again have found my place and it's paradoxical different.
In the 19th century, around the time of the advent of photography, picture perfect was still the norm and impressionists where the rebels. I've turned that on its head. My startling realism rebels against the now norm and the painterly status quo which suits my rebellious nature, in a subtle and unpretentious way.
Timeline
BODY OF WORK 2000 to 2023
(1) Photography
(2) Ferns
(3) Minimalist
(4) Abstract
(5) Raw Landscape
(6) Seascapes
(8) Earth Storm
(10) Surrealism
SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL 2024 +
(11) Planet A2025
(12) Encounters
(13) Pixies Series
(14) Rococo Punk
(15) Neoclassical
(16) Costume Drama
(17) Mythology
(18) Sands of Time
(19) Dreamscapes
(20) Sculpture
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS
I'm a great believer in supporting the arts and we can do that by viewing and participating in art exhibitions: Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize entries for 2024 at the Art Gallery of NSW have been submitted.
PREVIOUS
2006 Village Living Gallery, 2007 Avalon Community Center, 2008 Archibald & Winn Prize, 2009 Village Living Gallery & editorial, 2010 Archibald & Winn Prize, 2011 Panoramic images x 10 commissioned by Manly Community Center, 2012 Chelsea Lane Gallery and editorial, 2013 Mission to Seafarers Art Awards, 2014 Paddington Art Prize entry, 2015 Art in the Park exhibition, 2016 Picture Theater Arcade Art Gallery exhibition, 2016 Avalon Market Day sales. 2017 Manly Daily editorial and exhibition at Avalon Art Gallery in remembrance of our dear friend Edgar Britt donated to Avalon Community Library Sept 2018, Mixed Palette new series exhibition Avalon Recreation Center 17th - 19th November 2017, "Exhibition By The Pool" - Avalon tidal pool art display this summer 2017/18, On display at TAP Gallery - "The 22nd Real Refuse" - 259 Riley Street, Surrey Hills, N.S.W 2010 Sydney, Australia. 22nd May - 3rd June 2018. 12 - 6pm. Bluethumb on-line art gallery from January 2019 - Featured Artist. Contemporary Art Gallery On-line 2019 all photography winner 1st place. "PLANET A2023" distinguished work published in ArtAscent Vol 43 Sensuality - July 2020. "Party with Picasso" distinguished work published in ArtAscent Vol 44 Abstract - August 2020. Front cover Pittwater Life November 2020 edition "Finding Diamonds". Front cover Pittwater Life April 2021 edition "Barrenjoey Dreamtime". PLANET A2025 being considered by the Art Gallery of NSW for inclusion in their collection for the historic record. Sulman Prize entrant 2024 "Matriarch of the Modern Man". Archibald Prize Entrant 2024 "Rococo Punk - FAME". Wynne Prize entrant 2024 "Bloody Moo Mate from Bulahdelah".
