For me art is discovery. On my journey of discovery I have moved through styles from Realism to Abstract Expressionism and have been influenced by Post-Minimalism and Non-Objective concepts, and many artists. Now my work is a fusion of these processes and concepts.
My art practice began in the late 1980s. During my science degree I needed to develop drawing skills as a way to describe microscopic organisms. Learning drawing gave me ‘a new way of seeing’ – a way to discover with an excitement similar to what the marine and natural environment gave me.
Over the years I have continued developing my skills in art by experimenting with drawing, painting, printing, photography and digital collage.
On this journey of discovery I have experimented with styles from Realism to Abstract Expressionism and been attracted to a wide variety of artists. But it is the Abstract that appeals to me the most – I see abstract everywhere, from cities to remote outback, in nature and urban areas. Elements of chance are throughout nature and by embracing chance in my work I feel it pulls me closer to nature.
I began my working life in Adelaide with a Printing Apprenticeship. Then in 1982 I enrolled as a mature age student, completing an Agricultural Science Degree. Strangely enough, this was the trigger for my insatiable need to explore art.
My first exhibition was in 1988, when I showed a group of ‘semi-abstract’ coastal photographs. Since then I have shown work in solo and group exhibitions, all the time developing skills and trying to understand the ambiguous abstract throughout my environment.
In 1991 I moved to Queensland with my young family, starting a new life in an exciting new environment.
During the early 2000’s I completed a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management. Then working as a Bush Regenerator I became a team leader and gained skills in plant identification. Over this time I continued making art with a growing influence from the amazing things I was seeing throughout my working day in this natural environment.
In 2016 I moved to Sydney to study Post Graduate Art at UNSW. Here I had a studio in an art precinct and was painting full-time. Along with my study this was an intense focus on my art practice. Over this time I was producing lots of work and refining my style; while still variable there was a shift toward post minimalism.
Brenton Schwab 