THIS week we chat with watercolour painter Neil Gude, whose initial interest in art gave way to a career in medical science, before fully recommitting to the brushes upon retirement in 2012.<\/p>\n
What initially motivated you to become a painter?<\/strong><\/p>\n At school I was excited by both art and science, however, when it came time to choose, I elected to build a career in medical science.<\/p>\n My interest in art remained but was placed on the back burner, which involved doing the occasional drawing, mostly on holidays, and less often an art class.<\/p>\n The excitement of scientific discovery sustained me until my mid-fifties, when an interest in art resurfaced and started to redirect my focus.<\/p>\n An aspect of this renewed interest involved a greater appreciation of the work of the renowned artist Nornie Gude, who was a first cousin of my father.<\/p>\n Her art influenced my early art choices to a large extent, and, as her preferred medium was watercolour, I also adopted that as my main painting medium.<\/p>\n How would you describe your style?<\/strong><\/p>\n My artistic focus is both people and places.<\/p>\n Landscape works are often done on location either locally or during trips away.<\/p>\n I love the spontaneity and portability of watercolour and I seek to create works which reflect what is unique about the places I visit.<\/p>\n Recent trips include Japan, Portugal, Morocco and Thailand.<\/p>\n My figurative work is mostly undertaken in the studio with a model or photographic reference, and the aim is to create a story within the image that reveals something about the individual.<\/p>\n Both my landscape and figurative work tend towards impressions of the subject rather than strict realism.<\/p>\n My desire to understand the fundamentals of working with watercolour drove me to seek out different watercolour teachers.<\/p>\n Australia is blessed with many accomplished watercolourists, and in those early days I absorbed as much as I could.<\/p>\n I was very fortunate to discover Ev Hales, who is an exceptional artist and an inspiring art teacher.<\/p>\n Over many years she has been my main art mentor and a friend.<\/p>\n Which other artists inspire you?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are so many artists both present and from the past that inspire me.<\/p>\n One such artist I often return to is John Singer Sargent.<\/p>\n The freshness and beauty of his watercolours continue to amaze me, and his drawings and portraits in oil are exceptionally beautiful.<\/p>\n