Graham Austin oam, Artist Biography 2018
Filmed for 'Put Some Colour In Your Life', 6th April 2018. Interviewed by Graeme Stevenson oam,
including painting demonstration highlighting acrylics, oils and watercolour paintings by Graham Austin.
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Awarded Order of Australia Medal [OAM] 26th January 2006 for service to the visual arts as a painter, particularly through the Australian Watercolour Institute.
Studied at National Art School, East Sydney Technical College 1958-63.
Member of the Australian Watercolour Institute [AWI] since 1972.
AWI President 1989-2003 and AWI Life Member since 1997.
AWI Emeritus President and Vice President 2003
Foundation member of Peninsula Art Society [PAS] 1981
President, Peninsula Art Society [PAS] 1986-89.
Senior Vice President [PAS] 1983/84/85/89/90/91
Junior Vice President [PAS] 1992/93/94
Representative for the Arts, Warringah Bicentennial Committee 1985/86/87
Committee Member, Manly Art Gallery and Museum, 1991-2001
Foundation President/ Senior Vice President, Drummoyne Art Society 1964-67
Have judged and opened many art exhibitions/ competitions
Solo Exhibitions
2005
Tamburlaine Wines Gallery,
Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
1994
‘The Kimberley Paintings’
A.R.T. Gallery, Balgowlah, Sydney, NSW.
1989
‘Discover the Kimberley’
North Sydney Contemporary Gallery, NSW.
1988
Menzies Hotel, Sydney, NSW.
1987
‘Mostly Pointilliste’
Gallery One, Stanmore, NSW.
1981
‘Acrylic and Watercolour Landscapes’
Nature House Gallery, Cremorne, NSW.
Dual Solo Exhibitions
2008
Graham Austin & Margaret Bendit
Taylor Galleries, Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW.
2005
Graham Austin & Richard Baxter
Rushcutters Bay Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
1993
Graham Austin, Patrick Carroll & Mary Pace
‘Romance and Myth’
Glen Street Theatre, Belrose, Sydney NSW.
1986
Graham Austin & George Largent
Imprint Gallery, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW.
Selected Mixed Exhibitions
2012
Represented in curated exhibition of Australian watercolours at
Artsite Gallery, Camperdown.
2012
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours in ‘Tradition and Transformation’, Taiwan-Australia Watercolour Exhibition displayed in Taichung City, Taiwan and Mosman Regional Galley, Australia.
2011
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours
at Artsite Gallery, Camperdown.
2010
5th Grand Festival Asian Watercolour Painting,
2010
Busan Biennale, Korea: "The Asia Meeting in Aquacolours".
2008
4th Asian Grand Watercolour Painting in commemoration Busan Biennale, Korea.
2007
AWI Exhibition, Port Macquarie Hastings Regional Gallery.
2006
VII International Watercolour Biennale, Mexico City, Mexico.
2006
3rd Asian Grand Watercolour Festival, Busan Biennale, Korea.
2004
November, curated exhibition of Australian watercolours, V1 International Watercolour Biennial, Mexico City, Mexico.
2004
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
2nd Asia Watercolour Festival, Busan Bienniale, Korea.
2002
November, curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
V International Watercolour Biennial, Mexico City, Mexico.
2002
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
Asia Watercolour Festival, Busan Bienniale, Korea.
2002
Curated exhibition AWI exhibition,
Wollongong City Gallery.
2000
October, curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
IV International Watercolour Biennial, Mexico City, Mexico.
1998
October, curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
III International Watercolour Biennial, Mexico City, Mexico.
1998
As AWI President in conjunction with Beagle Press, produced the Australian Watercolour Institute 75th Anniversary Book.
Exhibition and Book Launch, SH Ervin Gallery, Sydney, NSW.
1996
November, Curated Segunda Bienal International De Acuarela, Mexico City, Mexico.
1996
Represented in curated AWI exhibition, Wagner Gallery, Hong Kong.
1995
Invited and represented in International Watercolour Ehibition [Eposician International Agrupacion de Acuarelistas] Vascos, Bilbao, Spain.
1994
October, curated exhibition of Australian watercolours,
Primera Bienal International De Acuarela, Mexico City, Mexico.
1992
‘Signatures Above and Below The Line’
Curated exhibition of Australian Watercolours & Federation of Canadian Artists, Vancouver. [Honourable Mention].
1991
Curated AWI exhibition at Newcastle Regional Gallery.
1991
‘New Year ‘91 Exhibition’
13 person curated exhibition at Blackheath Gallery, London, UK
1991
Curated exhibition of Australian Paintings, Barcelona, Spain.
1990
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours at Museo de la Acuarela, Mexicana, Mexico.
1988
One of 25 invited artists to participate with an etching for the bicentennial book, Warringah 1988 - a celebration by its Artists and Writers.
1982
Curated watercolour exhibition,
Hesley Gallery, Canberra.
1981
Curated watercolour exhibition,
Hesley Gallery, Canberra.
1977/78
Curated travelling exhibition of Australian Watercolours in New Zealand
1977
Curated exhibition of Australian watercolours, 108th Annual EXhibition of American Watercolour Society, USA
1974
Curated Mixed Exhibition
Munster Arms Gallery, Melbourne
Awards
Won over 35 major art awards plus numerous commendations.
2006 OAM for service to the visual arts as a painter, particularly through the Australian Watercolour Institute
2005 Sydney Royal Easter Show, Watercolour, Third Prize.
2002 Central Coast Festival of Arts, Wyong, NSW, Elcom Open Award; [Acrylic].
2002 Central Coast Festival of Arts, Wyong, NSW, Traditional Prize; [Acrylic].
1998 Currabubula NSW, Winsome Busby Prize; [Acrylic].
1998 Australian Artist Magazine National Watercolour Prize.
1993 Sydney Royal Easter Show; Rural Prize [Oil].
1993 Sydney Royal Easter Show; Watercolour 3rd Prize.
1993 Waverley NSW Art Prize; Watercolour.
1991 Berinba NSW, Art Prize; Watercolour 2nd Prize.
1991 Goulbourn NSW, Art Award; Watercolour, Equal First.
1991 Raymond Terrace, NSW, Tomago Acquisitive Art Award; [Oil].
1990 Sydney Royal Easter Show; Birds in Landscape, 2nd Prize.
1987 Warringah, NSW, Art Award; Local Prize, Watercolour.
1984 Willoughby, NSW, Art Prize; Traditional [Acrylic].
1983 Royal Easter Show; Watercolour.
1982 Warringah, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1981 Warringah,NSW, Art Award; Contemporary Prize, [Oil].
1980 Mudgee, NSW, Art Award; Still Life Prize, [Acrylic].
1979 Quirindi, NSW, Art Award; Open Contemporary 2nd Prize,
1979 Grenfell, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1979 Mudgee, NSW, Montrose Purchase Award; [Acrylic].
1979 Mudgee, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour Prize.
1978 Wellington, NSW, Art Prize; Watercolour 2nd Prize.
1978 Drummoyne, NSW, Art Award; Modern 2nd Prize.
1978 Manly Art Gallery, NSW, Purchase Award; [Acrylic].
1978 Gunnedah, NSW, Tooheys Acquisitive Art Award.
1978 Lismore Art Trust, NSW, Purchase Award; Watercolour.
1977 Sydney Royal Easter Show; Watercolour.
1970 Hunters Hill, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1969 Rockdale, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1969 Hunters Hill, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1967 Ryde, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1967 Blue Mountains, NSW, Art Award; Watercolour.
1964 Mirror Waratah Festival Art Award, Sydney NSW; Watercolour.
1962 Drummoyne, NSW, Art Award; Local Watercolour.
Bibliography:
Filmed for 'Put Some Colour In Your Life', 6th April 2018. Interviewed by Graeme Stevenson oam,
including painting demonstration highlighting acrylics, oils and watercolour paintings by Graham Austin.
Australian Watercolour Institute. A Gallery of Australia's Finest Watercolours. Text by Peter Pinson, Jean Campbell & Peter Laverty. Phillip Mathews Book Publishers 2006.
Australian Watercolour Institute. 75th Anniversary 1923-1998. AWI, The Beagle Press,1998.
Australian Watercolour Painters. 1780 to the present day. Jean Campbell, Craftsman House 1989.
Artists and Galleries of Australia Max Germaine, Craftsman House 1984, 1990
Australian Watercolour Painters 1780-1980. Jean Campbell, Rigby 1983. ï Warringah 1988, A Celebration by its Artists and Writers. Warringah Shire Council.
Artists and Galleries of Australia and New Zealand. Max Germaine, Lansdowne 1972/79. ï Encyclopedia of Australian Art. Allan McCulloch, Hutchison 1964/67/84.
Magazine Articles
Artist’s Palette No 42
“Graham Austin, Views from Afar” a seven page, illustrated article including a
step by step watercolour demonstration, “Canola Farms and Approaching Storm”.
Australian Artist No 210 December 2001
Volume Eighteen, Number 6. Page 24, Featured Artist.
‘The Spotillist Technique in Watercolour with Graham Austin’
Australian Artist No 195 September 2000
Volume Seventeen, Number 3. Page 62/ 3, Guest Artist.
Graham Austin, Illus. ‘Sailing Past on a Windy Wednesday’.
Acrylic on canvas, 122 x 213cm.
Australian Artist Watercolour Annual ‘98
Guest Artist Graham Austin, Front Cover Illus. “Brown Mountain” 51 x 76cm
Winner of Australian Watercolour Annual 1998 Aquisitive Watercolour Art Prize.
International Artist Vol 1 No 3, October/ November 1988 Bi-monthly
‘Master Painters of the World’ Australian Showcase.
Graham Austin, Illus “Rainforest Gleam” transparent acrylic on Bainbridge no 80
cold press mounted paper, 101 x152.5cm [40’’ x 60’’].
The NSW Freemason Volume 30 Number 5 October 1998
Page 15/16/17
‘Celebrating a Vision’ Article and illustrations celebrating 75th Anniversary of
the Australian Watercolour Institute, by Graham Austin.
Australian artist No 144 June 1996,
Volume Twelve, Number Twelve. Pages 36/ 37
‘Exclusivity with a purpose’ Article on AWI by Graham Austin.
Illus “Tree Fern and the ‘She’ Tree”.
Australian Artist No 136 October 1955
‘Volume Twelve Number Four. Pages 18/19
The Quiet Artist, Frank McNamara OAM’ Tribute article by Graham Austin.
The Lion Incorporating Lang Syne & Foundation News
Published by the Editorial Committee of The Scots College.
Volume 3 No 4 December 1993.
Back cover illus “1893-1993 Utinam Patribus Nostris Digni Simus”
Scots College Centenary Celebration painting by Graham Austin.
Australian Artist No 76 October 1990
Volume Seven Number Four
‘A Pointilliste Explores a New Technique’
Illustrations and Article by Graham Austin.
Collections
Represented in many collections including Manly Art Gallery, Lismore Art Trust; Drummoyne, Ryde, Waverley and Pittwater Councils, Montrose Wines, Tooheys, Tomago Aluminium, Trinity Grammar, Scotts College, Kincoppal College, The Prince of Wales Hospital Randwick, Elcom Credit Union, International Museo de la Acuarela Mexicana, Hornsby Bestowed Art Collection and many private collections in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia. Also UK, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Netherlands and Japan.
Have participated in solo and/or mixed exhibitions in Australia, USA, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Malaysia, Korea, Taiwan and Mexico.
Study Tours
1977 Fiji
1988/89/90 Kimberley region of Western Australia.
1990 Northern Territory, Bathurst and Melville Island, Bali, UK, France, Italy, Singapore.
2005 Fiji
2007 Northern Territory, Tennant Creek and Barkly area.
The Biographical Sub Plot
If it was not for the encouragement of drawing in and decorating school text books Graham Austin would have been a dismal pupil. He did however, become a Prefect at High School which some intimated ‘He shows leadership skills and has a good mind, appearing very relaxed and unmotivated to use it’. Whilst attending High School at Leichhardt my father an engineer, said ‘If you gain good marks in maths, I will send you to art school on Saturdays, if not, I will send you to coaching college’. He sent me to coaching college and my marks for algebra and trigonometry became impressive. The tolerant tutors also enjoyed my cartoons of them. In 1956 I left school at 15 after acquiring the Intermediate Certificate, comfortably passing in all subjects. Mission accomplished and I have never had any necessity for algebra or trigonometry since.
My grandfather took credit for discovering my artistic talent, he maintained I was unbearably crying in my cot, something of a nuisance. ‘Give him a pencil and paper, that always shuts them up!’ he exclaimed. They gave me the pencil and paper and he often repeated how I drew the ceiling and adjoining two walls and the light hanging from the ceiling. Unfortunately that drawing was never kept as evidence but I like to continue my belief.
After leaving school I worked in Insurance for three months and hated it. With my samples from the National Art School where I had received 'A' passes with monotonous regularity, receiving one 'B' pass. Took a job as a Junior Artist at a display company, and loved it for six years. Moved on to a design studio for 7 months. I was painting in my spare time, won my first fine art prize while studying part time at the National Art School.
After my 7 months at that studio I was offered a job with another design studio. I stayed 3 years before moving to George Patterson Advertising, employed as an Art Director. In December 1968 I won the Sun Newspaper’s Police Commissioner’s Road Safety Poster Competition. First prize was a Holden Torana and a $200 Wales Bank Account and I was very pleased.
Later moved to Weston Advertising as Creative Director before moving on 3 years later to SSC&B:Lintas as a Senior Art Director. I was always writing, designing and illustrating for these companies. I went freelance which gave me more time to paint, freelancing one minute and painting the next.
I was always keeping myself busy. I was ‘virtually’ the first President of Drummoyne Art Society. The ‘actual first' pulled out after 3 months, I took over and was President for three years getting that group up and going. They continue to this day.
I later did a stint of three years as President with the Peninsula Art Society that was flourishing on Sydney’s northern beaches. In later years it ran out of momentum.
I was approached to become President of the Australian Watercolour Institute [AWI] and ultimately became the longest serving president in its history so far, over 14 years.
BE Minns, the first president in 1923, also served 14 years. The AWI continues to successfully advance into the future.
I had energy to burn and enjoyed serving twenty seven years of my spare time, [fourteen as Vice President], on the Board of the Masonic Youth Welfare Fund, now called 'A Start in Life', a worthwhile charity assisting needy children. For those twenty seven years I created and donated the Fund’s successful marketing and advertising as my goodwill and worthwhile effort, raising extensive charity dollars. Now I paint full time.
