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In the weekends my wife and I love to explore Sydney. Learning about this great city, it’s culture and history has been a hobby for us. Plus the fact that we are on the constant quest in finding the “perfect” Caffe Latte and Mocha coffee.
This weekend saw us visit the Norman Lindsay Gallery.
Normal Lindsay was probably one of Australia’s most controversial, exceptional and prolific artist. In a word, an Icon. Well known for his nude art works, and his writings; the children’s book “The Magic Pudding”.
In fact the movie “Sirens” starring Elle McPherson was LOOSELY based on his life. So why does this legend make it to an FFS blog.
Well, it wasn’t going to……until we took the tour and visited his studio.
I was expecting some great “Alladin’s Cave” where the soul and secrets of this great artist would be revealed. I pictured a cornucopia of paints of every color of the rainbow……and brushes of all types sticking out of vases like roses at full bloom.
BOY DID MY EXPECTATIONS COME CRASHING DOWN!!!!!
When the tour guide prised open the LOCKED DOOR we stepped into a world that looked exactly like……..A DISUSED STOREROOM. A room which was only lit by a narrow strip of window about the door. A room which has no view of the outside world.
Not cosy, it was cold, dark, dusty, and unwelcoming.
What was amazing is the fact that the room was preserved EXACTLY as he left it. Completed with unfinished works.
His brushes, palettes and easels still poised as if the artist has just gone out for a cup of tea, only to return to continue his masterpiece. What did make the most significant impression to me is that it was minimal and functional.
Although there was only one strip of small windows, the light fell directly on the one easel in the room which dominated the middle of the room. By the way, it was made from an old large window frame.
His oil paints and water color paints, of which there were very few, were kept in two small drawers in a little old table next to the easel. There were probably less than ten tubes of each. It was obvious that he knew his tools, and made the maximum use of each. With these few colors he was able to portray and life painting that came into existence in his mind.
His pallet was an old tile and a few tea cup dishes looked like chewed up twigs.
One of Australia’s greatest known artists didn’t have the largest, best lit, most impressive art studios. He had a backyard shed with the very basics – he knew what worked for him and that’s all he used! Minimal!!!
That’s the concept of FFS…….It’s not how much you have. It’s what you do with what you’ve got!
Ray Floro
