Dailan Pugh was born in 1955 in Melbourne, Victoria; and raised in a shack built by his parents in bushland at Dunmoochin, near Hurstbridge on the outskirts of the city. The shack evolved into a rambling house as he grew.
He currently lives and works at Byron Bay in north-east New South Wales.
“I have drawn and painted all my life,” the artist reveals. “I had some tuition from my father Clifton Pugh; but no formal training. Being raised in an artistic environment and spending lots of time in the bush provided my artistic education.”
Growing up, playing and exploring in the bush, as well as raising injured and orphaned native animals, has made this man passionate about Australia’s natural environment. A strong nexus between art, the environment and conservation has directed him down life’s path.
“It was an aesthetic fascination with rainforests that drew me to north-east New South Wales,” he says. “My need to learn about my subject led me to learn about its species, ecology and fragility; thereby diverting me into becoming an active forest conservationist. After a decade as a volunteer co-ordinator with the North East Forest Alliance, I spent some years trying to improve management of native vegetation on private lands, creating sanctuary zones in the Cape Byron Marine Park; and on conservation issues around Byron Bay. I used my recent explorations of Australia’s arid lands as my inspiration to return to artwork – first with pastels and then gouache. Over the last two years, I have begun oil painting – using the marine environment as my muse.”
The natural environment, devoid of obvious human artefacts, has always provided Dailan Pugh with artistic inspiration … although he also enjoys drawing the human body from life.
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Denne historien er fra No 167-utgaven av Artists Palette.
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Eye of Observation
Draw, draw, and draw some more; develop your artist’s eye of observation. Sterling advice from a lady who believes that seeing shapes in paintings requires a truly ‘arty’ eye.
Pelicans To Portraits
This lady has painted everything from pelicans to portraits. She has completed commissions including cats, dogs, horses, possums, numerous beach scenes … and even a Scottish piper.
Gregory John Brennan: Lost Profession
Looking back on his early career as a bulldozer driver, this rural New South Wales painter laments the days when he was too young to appreciate his outstanding potential as an artist.
Pastels: Once We Were Important
A simplified and well named painting tells a powerful and interesting story. This clever pastel artist is delighted to share her techniques for the benefit of others.
Fibre Art
This artist feels that the hardest lesson she had to learn was to believe in herself … and once she did that, everything started to fall into place and her confidence grew.
Water Lily Magic
Instead of paper and paint, this artist uses fabric and threads … and she uses a sewing machine instead of a brush. The textures, colours and prints of fabrics thrown together with threads fascinate her, and often give inspiration for her designs.
Loading Wheat – 1920s
It is rare to see an artist displaying this level of skill and understanding in capturing the activity and atmosphere of bygone days from Australia’s agricultural history.
‘Jama' – King Cheetah
This exquisitely talented lady believes that every artist has failures … but it is important to remember that every success is better than the one before.
Blahuta's Ute
Early in the year we ran a feature about ‘Utes in the Paddock’ – a landmark project by several notable artists. In this article, one of those artists shares his story and some of his views … and describes the process of creating his own piece of an amazing collaborative work.
Artists' Easels
Many important tools are employed by artists in creating their paintings. Artists’ easels are now available in a host of styles and configurations to enhance the creative process. Some of your favourite art materials suppliers are more than pleased to highlight a selection of the many products being offered.
