Terry Griffin–The Artist
Terry Griffin is a Melbourne-based watercolour artist who also draws with various media. He has exhibited regularly since 2009.
Motivation for his art often comes from travel; staying for some time in locations to observe and then create new pieces.
Visits to locations in semi-arid Australia result in thematic work inspired by, for example areas around Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie. He has adopted this approach in Australia and when painting overseas.
He aims to use this experience to explore possibilities in a series of abstract watercolours. Drawings and photographs complement his paintings.
Watercolours
His interest in watercolour painting centres on its transparent quality, using few colours to create many. His technique and abstract style have developed out of an initial influence from Paul Cezanne’s paintings in this medium.
The watercolours, mostly wet on dry and of limited palettes, aim to maximise colour possibilities from transparent overlays. Masking and paper collage build layers forming a matrix of colour, tone and shape to create unique paintings.
Other Media
Charcoal, pastel and graphite are used as drawing media. Natural ochres have been prepared and used in paintings on board.
Exhibiting
Solo exhibitions have been held at a private residence which transforms to an intimate gallery with a tranquil garden setting. Curated group shows have provided opportunities for other artists to meet and exhibit their work.
Recent Exhibitions
ART IN THE LANE 20 – A Collaborative GRID Project
Lockdown and isolation: children in my extended family were at home. I was thinking of something they might do ‘together’.
An A4 photograph was gridded and cut into stamp-sized squares – GRID1. With some large blank squares, these were numbered and sent out to all the family.
The idea was for families to enlarge their sections of image to the large squares. Later returned, the drawn or painted squares were pasted to sheets of paper and these taped together. The completed image was hung and photographed and a copy sent to everybody.
GRID1 is black and white – 1.1 x 1.7m
While this was under way, a similar collaboration was started with a group of artists who had exhibited at Art in the Lane exhibitions held in 2016, 17 and 18. Another A4 photo, another lot of larger squares – GRID2 is 2.5 x 1.7m also in B&W.
GRIDs 3 to 9 followed, many in colour. Two children have each done an A4 drawing in colour. These, GRID10 and GRID11 are for kids.
Other GRIDs by groups of family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues have been introduced.
As works are completed they are hung in the lane for neighbours and passersby to see. Initially one, then two, three and then seven, building to an expanding pop-up exhibition reappearing periodically outside on fine days. Photographs are sent to participants waiting to see the unknown images their efforts have created. If possible, some come by to see the results.
This GRID Project has become an engaging collaboration during this pandemic.
A huge ‘Thank You’ to everyone who has made it happen.
ART IN THE LANE 18
2018 (October)
A distinctive collection of small works by twenty artists. The exhibition included acrylic, oil and watercolour painting, sculpture, mosaic, ceramic, pastel and pencil drawing and Antique Venetian handmade glass bead jewellery.
CROWDED HOUSE
a RETROSPECTIVE exhibition
2018 (April)
A solo exhibition of work by Terry Griffin. Work included paintings, drawings, glass and photography.
ART IN THE LANE 17
2017 (September)
A diverse collection of work by seventeen artists. Work included acrylic, oil and watercolour painting, sculpture, film, folded paper installation, photography, pastel and graphite drawing and jewellery.
GOLDFIELDS and WOODLANDS WA
2017 (April)
After a recent stay in the Kalgoorlie Goldfields area of Western Australia, he has produced a series of watercolour paintings: WOODLANDS. These are based on an abstracted idea of the trees of the Great Western Woodlands, particularly the Blackbutt trees – Eucalyptus lesouefii.
Returning with a range of natural ochre colours, he has used these on plywood panels to show dense matt colour and texture of the earthy medium suggestive of elements seen in the Western Australian GOLDFIELDS.
ART IN THE LANE 16
2016
A group exhibition by 16 artists with varied media and subjects represented, including some of recycled wood hung in the garden.
IN THE MIX
2015
A solo exhibition of a variety of the artist’s work.
‘SILVER CITY – twice removed’ – Broken Hill
2014
Exhibition of a series of watercolour paintings complemented by drawings and photographs. A book titled ‘Silver City – twice removed’ was published by the artist to illustrate this exhibition. A copy is held in the State Library of Victoria(SLV). There is also a file of information about the artist in the ‘Australian Art and Artists’ archive at the SLV.
BATH AND BEYOND
2013
An exhibition of watercolour paintings, drawings and photographs executed while staying in Bath in England, and Rome and Offida in Italy.
