What was your motivation to begin working on this exhibition? Is there an overarching theme for this exhibition?
If there is an overarching theme it might be that things aren’t always as they seem: that when someone is bad there is always someone worse, describing your poverty only serves to reveal your wealth and when you think you have the answer you probably haven’t understood the question.

What was your inspiration for the exhibition?
I am a news junky. Subject matter for the paintings comes primarily from news stories. These come from different sources, the paper and the radio mostly. I have a shocking memory, so painting has become a way of recording historical events be they personal, social or political.

Did you draw inspiration from any other artist’s work?
My points of reference have not changed much over the years, I love Willem DeKooning, Jackson Pollock, Karel Appel, Pablo Picasso, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Marc Rothko. I also love Hogarth, Bacon and Bosch. I suppose, over the year, I have looked more closely at history painting in general, from Delecroix’s ‘Liberty’ to Picasso’s ‘Guernica’.

What is your favourite environment to work in?
Quiet, private and as big as possible.

Have you changed the way you approached making your art working on this exhibition?
The main change would be the studio environment and the understanding of how that environment can impact upon the work. Some were painted in a huge warehouse space in Taylor Square, some in my friend’s studio in ultimo, some in my father-in-law’s garage and some in my studio at home. I have learned to embrace the environment and let it influence the work rather than trying to work against it.

Have you used any new techniques or materials for this exhibition?
I’ve been using more paint poles and rollers.

Why did you use the materials and techniques you did to capture your vision?
The act of painting involves making choices and troubleshooting, in this way it is analogous to life. The materials I use allow me to make decisions quickly…keep and adjust or scrub out and paint over. The work is produced as quickly as possible.

Do you feel as though this exhibition has marked a particular change or development in your career creatively?
There is an obvious leaning towards the abstract. I want my work to be less prescriptive, more open to interpretation.

What did you hope to express through the artworks?
I hope to have recorded my own emotional reaction to the world.

What reaction would do you hope to invoke in the audiences that come and see the exhibition?
I would hope the audience takes its time viewing the work. Some people think these paintings are completely abstract whereas I see them as being semi abstract. I’d like to think people will see the characters/faces/forms emerging from the chaos but this will only happen if people spend some time with the works. My depiction of a certain topic, combined with the viewer’s own baggage and take on the world could result in something unique, a narrative that extends beyond the picture plane. I would love to think, that from this point, some sort of common empathy might exist between myself, the art and the viewer.

Deborah Halpern discusses her prolific career and her most recent body of work. Her exhibition concludes 10th December 2011 at ARTHOUSE GALLERY.

'Hiatus III' watercolour & drawing on board - 140 x 120cm - $8,500

A collection of new work by Belinda Fox has recently arrived at Arthouse Gallery. Belinda had an outstanding exhibition earlier this year with us and after a few very productive months we are fortunate enough to have some of her most recent creations currently on display at the gallery. Please contact the gallery for further information.

'Finding My Way' Mixed media on paper - $17,900

'Hold' painting, drawing & flocking on paper - 150 x 120 cm - $8,900

'Hiatus III' watercolour & drawing on board - 140 x 120cm - $8,500

'Your Journey May Be Long' intaglio, chin colle with collage - 40 x 80 cm - $1,800

'August Bloom I & II (gold)' 2/15 etching, aquatint and screenprint on hand stain - 100 x 70 cm - $2,400 each

Dean Bowen 'Penguin' oil on linen - 122 x 153cm - $15,000

Arthouse Gallery is thrilled to announce that we now represent accomplished Melbourne based artist Dean Bowen. Dean has been exhibiting paintings, bronze sculpture and prints for over twenty years and his works are represented in major public and private collections. He has also held solo exhibitions in Australia, France, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. His bold and quirky creations are a exciting addition to the Arthouse family. A selection of Dean’s oil paintings are currently on display in the gallery.

Dean in his Melbourne studio

Dean Bowen 'Perfume' oil on linen - 53 x 45cm - $4,400

Studio Visit

Dean Bowen 'Black Toucan watching Ladybird' oil on linen - 45 x 53cm - $4,400

Studio Visit

'Owl of Protection' carved paper with pigment and shellac 160 x 108cm

After a busy few months in the studio, Joshua Yeldham has emerged with a series of limited editions prints ‘Owl of Protection’. Each print in the series has been uniquely hand carved into French paper and coloured with pigment and shellac. We are very fortunate to have an early edition hanging in the gallery as part of our current exhibition. Please contact the gallery for further information.

Clayton Utz “Launch” Art Award

Finalist in Clayton Utz “Launch” Art Award. The award offers a $10,000 winner’s prize and exhibition space for the finalists and is awarded to Queensland-based artists or artists with a strong connection to Queensland.

'Mrs William' acrylic on canvas 190 x 110 cm

This painting was also used on promotional material by musician and actor Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy) on a recent spoken word tour.

Queensland Regional Art Awards

Damien has been selected in the touring exhibition of the prestigious Queensland Regional Art Awards. As a finalist his work will tour five venues through out Queensland and be exhibited at the Queensland state library.

This annual art prize offers emerging artists the opportunity to expose and promote their work to a wide audience. It brings together visual artists from all around Queensland in a celebration of regional and remote art makers. This exhibition will show at the State Library of Queensland and will tour throughout regional Queensland.

'what does influence mean?' mixed media on canvas 60 x 60 cm

The Kenilworth Art Prize

Damien has been shortlisted in The Kenilworth Art Prize. This annual prize was created in 2006 as a national acquisitive prize to give recognition and financial support to artists who have demonstrated outstanding artistic achievement and are committed to ongoing creative development. Work is exhibited at Kenilworth Hall during the Arts Festival.

Beanstalk Blues

We would also like to congratulate Damien on being awarded the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). The $13,000 grant was for a concept development project which will be exhibited with Arthouse Gallery in 2012.

Damien has also been invited to be on the international advisory board for the 2012 Charlatan Ink Prize.

'Old and New' mixed media assemblage 120 x 120cm

'Oxygen' mixed media assemblage 86 x 93cm

'Fun and Games' mixed media assemblage 53 x 60cm

Congratulations to Craig Bennett for being selected to showcase three works including ‘Old and New’, ‘Oxygen’ and ‘Fun and Games’ in the In Situ Mosman Festival of Sculpture & Installation.

In Situ is a collaborative sculpture exhibition running from Saturday 22nd October — Friday 11th November 2011, featuring traditional sculptural works and contemporary installations or 3D works that respond to place, in venues located along the Military Road corridor from Spit Junction to Mosman Junction.

Prizes will be awarded in each of the following two categories:

Sculpture – $3,000
This prize is for a stand-alone object that is recognisable to the general public as a work of sculpture. Works submitted in this category do not need to demonstrate any linkages with its site or surrounding environment.

Installation (may include sculpture or other 3D work) – $3,000
This prize will be awarded to a work that has been created or modified in response to the environment it is situated in. Installation may include group of sculptural objects, site specific work or other 3D work.

'Resorption' oil on polyester canvas 135 x 120cm

Congratulations to Hobie Porter for being selected as a finalist in the Countryscapes Art Prize for 2011 for his painting ‘Resorption’ from his most recent exhibition Full Circle.

Now in its ninth year, Countryscapes showcases the wealth of artistic talent across country and coastal New South Wales while contributing to the visual arts industry.

It is Australia’s richest annual landscape art prize with the winner receiving $35,000, attracting entries from previous Archibald and Blake Prize winners to first time entrants.

‘Resorption’ can be viewed at the Finalist Exhibition at Bathurst Regional Gallery from the 24th November 2011 to 15th January 2012.

'Artefacts and Relics of the Land' 98 x 107cm acrylic on linen

Arthouse Gallery would like to congratulate gallery artist Kate Dorrough on her selection as a national finalist in this years Paddington Art Prize for her beautiful painting ‘Artefacts and Relics of the Land’ (pictured above).

Awarded annually, the Paddington Art Prize will be held at the Menzies Art Brands Gallery, 12 Todman Ave, Kensington. Wednesday, 5th Oct 2011, 6-8pm.

'Field' 25.5 x 30.5 oil on linen

Arthouse Gallery would like to congratulate gallery artist Susan Baird on her selection as a national finalist in this years Paddington Art Prize for her beautiful painting ‘Field’ (pictured above).

Awarded annually, the Paddington Art Prize will be held at the Menzies Art Brands Gallery, 12 Todman Ave, Kensington. Wednesday, 5th Oct 2011, 6-8pm.