Art on Surface by Pascale Rajek: In Studio with... Ivan Goodacre

Since I have moved to May Street Studios in St Peters, I am surrounded by amazing artists and thought I should share some information about them..

So I decided to find a way to ask questions to able you to learn about them and this is why In Studio with.. was created..

Today, I will to speak about Ivan Goodacre - my next door artist.. literally..

Ivan will be exhibiting his latest body of work at May Street Gallery from 4th April..

1) Who is Ivan Goodacre?

In 2005, after 30 years of work in regular employment, Ivan Goodacre took up an opportunity to do full time art. Returning to study he set about refining an interest and technique in landscape painting depicting areas of his family background, mainly grain crops and grazing lands of the central west.

Oil on wood panel

2) What kind of art training have you had?

Training as a painter; 4 years at Sydney's National Art School (Feb 2005-Dec 2008) resulting in a Bachelor of Fine Art (with Honours) and 3 years at Canberra School of Art (Feb 1977-Dec 1979) for a Diploma of Visual Art.

Oil on wood panel

3) Can you share some of your process when creating an artwork? Where do you find your inspiration

Ivan usually goes out into the country looking for the quintessential rural farming landscape, taking photos and drawing and then reducing the image down to a specific composition and place, such as a field, a building or farm house.

Oil on wood panel

4) Tell us more about your exhibition at May Street Gallery

After 3 shows with Charles Hewitt Gallery an opportunity came up to stage a show in our new gallery in the studio complex at May Street St Peters.

Oil on paper

The show will open on 4th April 2013 at 23 May Street St Peters and run till 14 April. The Gallery open weekdays from 10am to 5pm (except Monday) and weekends 11am to 3pm.

Oil on paper

"These works are derived from my recent travels around country roads of NSW and Victoria. The imagery is partly inspired by the 1977 film of the same name, directed by Phil Noyce. Four works are made up of 2 panels and five single panels depict views of farms associated with members of my family. A further nine works on paper are derived from road travel in the Victorian grain country. Other works are glimpses of the landscape are presented in the form of a sliver, representative of the way a scene is remembered as we pass through it".