ARTIST | style

LEFT Evan works directly on the canvas without any preparatory drawing, painting in a single session until the work is completed. BELOW The subtle use of just two or three colours suggests a nostalgic atmosphere, encouraging contemplation in the viewer. OppOsiTE pagE Evan in his studio.

Evan Woodruffe
Artist EvAn WoodruffEs pAintings suggEst nArrAtivEs for obsErvErs to discovEr
Words Bridget Ellis-Pegler Photography Caroline Ducobu

Its a DIsMaL Day when I venture out to visit painter Evan Woodruffe in his studio at the city end of Mt Eden. Even the Sky Tower is swathed in grumpy charcoal clouds. A warm greeting from the artist, and I am inside and in another world. Its light, bright, shambolic and cheerful. Music plays. The high ceiling of the warehouse makes it welcoming and spacious, and artists paraphernalia everywhere adds vibrant flashes of colour and texture. Evan shares this space with a staggering 13 other artists. I cant think of anything worse, but he laughs and assures me the opposite is true. It creates energy. You see what everyone else is up to and it inspires you to keep going. Evan comes from an exceptionally artistic family. He grew up in a world where his parents idea of entertaining the kids was to cover the table with newspaper, set out the painting gear and let them rip. Entering his studio, I gasp in awe. I find his paintings mesmerisingly beautiful and thought-provoking. What I like with visual art, painting, is to leave it very open. I want people to bring their own ideas to it. Its a suggested narrative rather than a defined narrative. I can hardly tear my eyes from those images, and I am equally fascinated by Evan. His gentleness and creativity belie an impressively businesslike core. Evan explains he approached a career in art by working in the family art supplies business, while developing his skill and technique. I understood that, like learning an instrument, it was going to take 10 years before I started becoming proficient in this as a language, so it did enable me to think, well, how am I going to plan out to that 10-year point? I say its rare to hear artists talk of 10-year plans, and he laughs, saying hes its apparently because hes a Capricorn. Nature, nurture, astrology, whatever, Im inspired.

WhAt i likE With visuAl Art, pAinting, is to lEAvE it vEry opEn. i WAnt pEoplE to bring thEir oWn idEAs to it. its A suggEstEd nArrAtivE, rAthEr thAn A dEfinEd nArrAtivE EvAn WoodruffE
homestyle | Oct/Nov 12 |

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| Oct/Nov 12 | homestyle

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