Geoffrey Carran\u2019s curiosity for nature and its majestic unpredictability influences almost all aspects of his life.<\/p>\n
Born in Gore, New Zealand, the Jan Juc artist can recall only fond memories of his youth.<\/p>\n
If he wasn\u2019t at his desk drawing birds, he could be seen tramping or out in the garden thoughtfully tending to his parents\u2019 impressive display of plants.<\/p>\n
For Geoffrey, exploring every unusual detail of the environment with inquisitiveness enables him to accurately replicate the natural world\u2019s most beautiful assets, brush in hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt (art) was inextricably linked to who I was. I explore the world visually and for as long as I can remember I\u2019ve been drawing the environment around me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\u201cBirds is one of them. I\u2019m fascinated by everything, but I grew up with the mythology of New Zealand being an animal-less island, like traditionally before colonisation it was just birds \u2013 there was no animals. Birds and reptiles, that was it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I loved that idea that there was this little tucked away island and (that) the birds would fulfil every ecological aspect that an animal normally would.\u201d<\/p>\n
Departing from the mountainous landscape of his birthplace to Victoria\u2019s capital in pursuit of a sustainable career ignited a wave of cultural shock, however it eventually steered him to the Surf Coast, the region he\u2019s now proud to call home.<\/p>\n
Geoffrey, who studied a masters in fine art after starting a landscaping business in Melbourne, spent three years working at RMIT University as a lecturer.<\/p>\n
The institution also happens to be where he met wife and fellow artist, Rowena Martinich.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved parts of it. I always thought I wanted an academic job, and the reality of academia is far, far from the imagination of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was preventing me from doing my own arts practice, so I just went after that \u2013 I just went all in. I finished at RMIT in 2011 and I\u2019ve been a full-time practicing artist since then.<\/p>\n
\u201cI totally forgot that I used to draw birds when art school got into conceptual art and laying in heavy narratives to my work. After working at RMIT, I got sick of that side of art and I just started painting these (birds) and everything sort of just fell into place.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found a subject matter I could really sink my teeth into, technically as well as there is a broader story to tell by painting birds because they\u2019re a conduit between us and the natural world.\u201d<\/p>\n
And so, birds returned to the forefront of Geoffrey\u2019s boundless imagination.<\/p>\n
The artist says each bird has a distinct personality, quirks he strives to represent through his works.<\/p>\n
The biggest challenge in painting a species with wings is analysing their unique features before take-off.<\/p>\n
In Geoffrey\u2019s words, \u201cbirds never sit still\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what I try to capture in my paintings \u2013 that moment when they\u2019ve just popped in, they\u2019re looking at you for a split second before taking off again,\u201d says Geoffrey.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve all got their own (personality), when you look for it. I started with the obvious ones like cockatoos, rainbow lorikeets \u2013 the loudest, most flamboyant ones, but I really have a love of the smaller varieties now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having dabbled in portrait painting, Geoffrey\u2019s innate capacity to incorporate texture, colour and linework brings about a lifelike quality to his craft. Geoffrey says the key to any portrait is the eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t get the eyes right, the whole piece will just look flat,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
While his love for his artistry is fiercely undeniable, Geoffrey is also an avid surfer. Paddling out at some of Torquay\u2019s most iconic beaches during his time spent living and working in Melbourne allowed him to escape the confines of the concrete jungle.<\/p>\n
He officially moved to Jan Juc in 2012 and has since established himself as a prolific name in the local art space.<\/p>\n
Geoffrey, who is this year\u2019s Surf Coast Arts Trail (Saturday August 10 and Sunday August 11) billboard artist, says he is constantly inspired by the region\u2019s creative community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Arts Trail is always fun, it\u2019s really good for the Surf Coast. It\u2019s good to foster a more balanced community and having an active arts participation does that,\u201d says Geoffrey.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s pretty amazing being able to live down here and use this as a base to send my work out of. I couldn\u2019t think of a better spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geoffrey is currently working on several commission pieces while preparing for Sydney\u2019s Wild Thing exhibition.<\/p>\n
Geoffrey and Rowena most recently completed a range of artworks for the Mantra Hotel in Epping, Melbourne.<\/p>\n
Their studio is located at 55 B Ashmore Road, Torquay.<\/p>\n
For more information on Geoffrey, head to geoffreycarran.com.au.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Geoffrey Carran\u2019s curiosity for nature and its majestic unpredictability influences almost all aspects of his life. Born in Gore, New Zealand, the Jan Juc artist can recall only fond memories of his youth. If he wasn\u2019t at his desk drawing birds, he could be seen tramping or out in the garden thoughtfully tending to his […]<\/p>\n