DRAGONS & Other Beasties was the mystical theme for Narrabri artist Graeme Compton’s latest exhibition staged at the Narrabri Art & Craft Gallery with the opening night held on Friday, August 16.
Gallery coordinator Janice Smith was delighted with Friday evening’s attendance. “A large crowd attended the opening.
“The Dragons just came alive in the ambience of the evening light, and everyone seemed to be enchanted by the beautiful artwork.
“Speeches from Graeme and an official opening by mayor Darrell Tiemens gave a magical air to the event, with the mayor having researched all about dragons.”
Mr Compton will be attending the gallery this week as artist in residence, offering visitors an opportunity to have a chat about his work.
A visual artist who enjoys exploring psyche, symbolism, compassion, communication and comedy, Mr Compton depicts his ideas in the form of elephants, dragons, birds and other creatures, with his work ranging from fine art, realism and surrealism, to fantasy art, illustrations and cartoons.
He has won a number of art prizes and, since 2013, has illustrated 20 books for various authors, including Pat Clarke, Cassidy Jackson-Carroll, Gaille Walton and Glenda Lay.
“So many wonderful people attended the opening night for DRAGONS & Other Beasties,” said Graeme.
“We had some brilliant conversations, delving into the realms fantastic,” he said.
“I found myself answering a great many questions, including: ‘Where does it all come from? You must have a lot happening inside your head!’
“My favourite question was ‘Do you plan the picture? Or does it just happen?’.
“It has been an enormous journey to reach this stage.
“I have to thank our indomitable Art & Craft Society for helping to make the night a success, along with our excellent mayor Darrell Tiemens for his fabulous opening speech.
“I would also like to thank our local businesses who set the pictures up splendidly, provided scrumptious nibblies, and decorated the venue with floral accents.
“And I must acknowledge my beautiful wife Donna for her constant support and encouragement, and the audience for their interest and sense of wonder.
“Thanks, also, to the twenty or so kids – large and small – who attended the Colour Your Dragon event on Verandah Saturday.
“We had fun, and your colouring was gorgeous!
“With regards to my work, some of the pictures just come to me – usually at 10 o’clock at night – and others take years of scribbling and evolving until I find the design.
“Then I transfer the linework and begin to fill in the details.
“The details are spontaneous, but I do have certain motifs that I work into each design.”
