Colour is uppermost in the mind when you view Craig Gough’s latest exhibition, which is on show at Cascade Art. The exhibition was officially opened by Linden New Art Director and CEO Dr Vincent Alessi last Saturday. It runs until Sunday 28 April.
Dr Alessi spoke of how colour is at the core of Craig’s works, and compared the intensity and purity of his palette with those of Van Gogh and Kandinsky. Praise indeed! But bang on the money, really. Craig’s use of colour in his paintings is nothing short of extraordinary. Whether it’s moody blues and greens or vibrant yellows and reds, his canvases glow as if lit from behind, like a stained glass window with the sun shining through.
With over 50 solo exhibitions under his belt, Craig began painting full-time in 1994 after retiring from a long career as an art teacher and academic. His work is represented in private, public and corporate collections in Australia and overseas.
The current exhibition at Cascade Art is of works that Craig painted between 2006 and 2023. For inspiration, he draws on his garden and the surrounding landscape on his country property at Walmer. He shares that property with his partner Wendy Stavrianos, who is also a well-known artist. Theirs is an enduring personal and professional relationship that has, over the years, seen them create groundbreaking art. With their work ever-creative and ever-evolving, this charismatic couple’s contribution to the world of Australian art is a significant one.
At the grand old age of 85 plus, Craig is still creating art in his own fresh and distinctive style. For him, painting is a full-time job – he still goes into his studio every day. “There might be some days I don’t work,” he said, “and those are days when I might just stand and look, when I’m simply there to reconnect.”
He may now be one of Australian art’s elder statesmen, but you get the feeling when looking at Craig’s paintings that he hasn’t yet got to the end of his artistic journey. He is still creating outstanding work. And maybe the best is yet to come.
Here’s a show you really cannot miss. It’s that good.
If you’d like to meet Craig, he’s giving an artist’s floor talk at 2pm on Saturday 14 April at Cascade Art. All are welcome.
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 5 April 2024.
