Many of Narrabri artist Graeme Compton’s legion of fans were on hand for the recent opening of his first solo exhibition on the long weekend.
The exhibition, Elephantasia, hung at the Narrabri Craft Shop Gallery, was a big success.
Twenty-three works by the artist were available for sale and all quickly wore a red dot – sold.
The sales were one measure of the success of the exhibition – but the enjoyment of the works by the guests who admired their intricacy and creativity, was another.
The 30 ‘elephant-themed’ works were the result of a five-year project by the artist – a mammoth task.
It has been a busy five years.
“I worked out that I had completed about 200 other pieces during the same period,” Mr Compton told The Courier.
Visitors to the exhibition, which ran over the long weekend from Friday’s launch until Monday, came from Narrabri and the district, Sydney and Newcastle.
Former Narrabri residents home for the weekend were among the audience.
Elephantasia featured the artist’s humorous, thoughtful and whimsical take on elephants as subjects.
The audience ranged from the simply admiring to the sophisticated – one of the elements in a painting was a tongue in cheek borrowing of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘mirror writing’, noted and appreciated by quite a few viewers.
The exhibition further underlined Graeme Compton’s status as an accomplished artist, now with about three decades of painting across various media behind him.
Guests were welcomed by gallery co-ordinator Janice Smith who introduced Mr Compton and Donna Compton and the shire council’s cultural facilities manager Scott Pollock who officially opened the Elephantasia exhibition.
The artist’s creative and technical talents were referenced by Mr Pollock.
He noted that Mr Compton’s work is featured in an international compendium of artists ‘50 Masters of Realistic Imagery’ – ‘who’s who in visual art.’
Responding, Mr Compton joked that for once he ‘could enjoy talking about the elephant in the room.’
The gallery of ‘elephant art’ pieces has now been dispersed to new owners’ homes to live on for many years.
What’s the next project?
“I’m looking at dragons as subject material,” Mr Compton revealed.
Read more stories like this:
- Jumbo sized task a labour of love for artist Graeme
- Local artist’s exhibition ‘Elephantasia’ opening soon
- Creative open day to welcome interested locals
