The Artist’s Friend – 2012

Oil on canvas. 75 x 75 cm

Contemporary painters, particularly in Australia, utilise the epidiascope projector extensively to reproduce photographic-like images which are then fashioned as finished paintings. This is most probably because of the encouragement to reproduce a recognisable likeness in the anachronistic but all important Archibald portrait prize. My painting of The Artist’s Friend more than hints at this being a much used crutch deployed by conceptually and morally bankrupt pseudo-artists. I derived the title from the colloquial reference to Pneumonia as being the ‘old people’s friend’ – a helping hand into the next world! Photo-realistic painting for no purpose other than to display a technical proficiency produces posthumous art.

I have no objection to the use of the epidiascope. It is what is done with the image after this initial drafting aid is used that makes or destroys an image; and if the objective is to replicate a photographic image, why bother painting it! My epidiascope is purposely painted from life and takes on an animated zoomorphic quality; the machine beast now voraciously intercedes in the art process and speaks for the artist!

Contemporary painters, particularly in Australia, utilise the epidiascope projector extensively to reproduce photographic-like images which are then presented as their finished paintings. This is most probably because of the encouragement to reproduce a recognisable likeness in the anachronistic but all important Archibald portrait prize. My painting more than hints at this being a much used crutch deployed by conceptually and morally bankrupt pseudo-artists. I derived the title from the colloquial reference to Pneumonia as being the ‘old people’s friend’ – a helping hand into the next world!

I have no objection to the use of the epidiascope. It is what is done with the image after this initial drafting aid is used that makes or destroys an image; and if the objective is to replicate a photographic image, why bother painting it! My epidiascope is purposely painted from life and takes on an animated zoomorphic quality; the machine beast now voraciously intercedes in the art process and speaks for the artist!