Capturing the unmistakable light of the New England region is what drew artist David Perks and his wife Bev to move from the coast and settle in Guyra in 2011. An exhibition of David’s paintings will open on Monday, November 26 at the Gala Centre in Guyra for two weeks, Monday to Fridays only.
David studied graphic art at the National Art School, East Sydney and later established his own graphic design studio in Sydney in 1959. Tired of the creative constraints of graphic design and, after an overseas tour with his family in 1971/72 visiting the great art galleries of Britain and Europe, he decided it was time to pursue painting as a career.
In 1972 his entry into the prestigious Wynne Landscape prize was selected to hang and his first one-man exhibition of 40 paintings at the Robert Wardrop Gallery, Roseville in 1973 sold out. Since this time, he has exhibited widely and won many arts awards. David’s works are represented in the Commonwealth Artbank, BHP, IBM, AWI, Newcastle Building Society, Skefco and Varley Engineering Art Collections in Australia, USA and Japan. He was commission by AMP to paint the Sydney Cove area and BHP and AWI have commissioned him to produce a group of in-plant paintings of their steel and cable making processes. In 1994 he was commissioned by the Royal Australian Navy to produce a painting of the Adelaide class frigate, HMAS Newcastle and later HMAS Canberra.
David describes his painting style as traditional/realist and predominately uses oils with an under painting of acrylic.
“The length of time a painting takes me varies a lot,” said David.
“One of the things I love is the actual painting process, not necessarily finishing and only when I am extremely happy with it will I say it is complete.”
His style has remained the same over many years with his greatest influence the master painter Rembrandt.
“He was such a classic, wonderful painter but there have been many influences, including some Australian artists,” said David.
“I just happened to go that way in my painting; it is the way I like to portray the landscape and my subjects.”
Light has been the most exciting part of what David paints and especially the combination of light and water. He began painting outside in the environment but would have so many people hanging over his shoulder and the ever changing weather, he decided to sketch first outside and then paint in the studio.
“I would take the odd photo as well and I did this mainly so that people would look at my paintings and recognise the scene.
“They became a reference for getting things exact.”
David’s exhibition runs for two weeks from Monday, November 26, on Monday to Friday. All paintings will be for sale. The Gala Centre is located at 136 Bradley Street, Guyra.
Story: Jo Harrison
