Australia
John McCartin, Morning Mood, oil, 28 x 39.
What inspired your winning entry? Morning mist has always been a favorite theme and never ceases to inspire me.
How would you describe your style? Representational realism that ranges from detailed to impressionistic.
What artists, living or deceased, have influenced your work? Hans Heysen, Elioth Gruner, Arthur Streeton, Tom Roberts, Robert Simpson, Johannes Vermeer, and Richard Schmid, to name a few. Nicolai Fechin is a new influence that has yet to take effect. The list goes on.
What’s the best advice you have ever received? I can’t remember any advice given to me pertaining to pursuing a full-time fine-art career, but I’ve gotten lots of advice against pursuing it.
If you weren’t an artist, what would you be? A music composer.
What are your pet peeves? People who pretend to be artists but have no work ethic and think skill and commitment are not required. Also, art judges and critics who support this view and discourage skill or any convincing depiction of the real world.
What is one thing you will never paint? I will never paint abstract art or anything that is inconsistent with my beliefs in order to gain recognition or wealth.
What’s the most meaningful recognition you’ve received for your artwork? Receiving 20 major international art awards in less than nine months.
When you are not painting, what do you enjoy doing? Drawing, studying, and enjoying the work of highly skilled artists. Also writing and listening to music and watching movies.
What galleries represent your work? Trailside Galleries, Jackson, WY, and Scotts-
dale, AZ; Settlers West Galleries, Tucson, AZ; New Masters Gallery, Carmel, CA; John McCartin Fine Art Gallery, Hahndorf, South Australia, Australia; Morpeth Art Gallery, Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia; Gallery France, Beynac-et-Cazenac, France.
Featured in the December 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
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