Local artist profile: Darren Crothers

THIS week we chat with painter Darren Crothers, who says he was inspired by several teachers at Bendigo TAFE to pursue his now successful career in fine art.

What initially motivated you to become a painter?

It wasn’t a straight road for me to become a painter.

I had tried my hand at a few different careers looking for that one vocation that would inspire me.

I ended up going to TAFE in Bendigo and did the Art and Design course to get together a good portfolio to get into Industrial Design, but by that time some of the teachers at TAFE had inspired in me a love of fine art.

I was exposed to the history of art, which was really exciting.

Learning about the great masters and studying their works, I thought this is something I could spend my life doing.

How would you describe your style?

I believe I can be described as a representational artist (someone who produces artworks that attempt to clearly depict real objects) who seeks to create masterful drawings and paintings – not that I have achieved such lofty goals, but it is that constant striving to be better at all elements of creating which makes painting so exciting.

The Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney provided foundational training for me in drawing, painting, anatomy, composition and so much more.

Ashton’s is Australia’s oldest figurative art school.

Which other artists inspire you and why?

So many artists inspire me.

Historically, academic painters like John Singer Sargent, Anders Zorn and Joaquin Sorrola.

Their use of buttery (a smooth, rich texture in a painting or drawing) and bold strokes inspires me – the way they mix and ply sparkling color that shimmers on the canvas and of course their bold design strategies.

Current artists like Peter Brown and Rob Pointon, both British plein air painters, enthuse my love of painting central Victoria.

I enjoy painting around the streets of Bendigo (and) engaging with the community. What are some highlights or fond memories you have from your career so far?

Winning the Alice Bale $40,000 Travelling Scholarship, which allowed me to travel through Europe studying art at the major Art museums, and in 2007 being a finalist in the Archibald Portrait Prize.

How has your career been affected by COVID?

I guess you could say that COVID did affect my career indirectly.

Everything in the arts just stopped – the classes that I was teaching, exhibitions to show and sell my work.

So I used this unusual (time) to study online with some American artists who I respect deeply for the depth of their work.

One of the artists was the figurative artist Steve Huston.

How can people check out your work online?

Anyone who is curious about my work can check me out on Instagram @darrencrothers

Do you have any exhibitions coming up? Is there anything in particular you’re working on now?

There are always exhibitions to be involved with, the Daylesford Rotary Art Show this week, and later in November, Art Beyond The Divide in Seymour.

What would you say to young regional aspiring painters who are thinking of making a go of the creative life?

Find yourself a mentor whose work you admire.

If they run classes, study with them.

If they don’t, see if they will give you the opportunity to meet up to discuss your work.

Practicing artists have insights and knowledge about the arts industry that is grounded in reality.