» Jump to Jeff Ferris's Gallery

"Jeff Ferris is a sharp-focus realist who uses mundane, suburban contrasts to create visual shock ..."  Ronald Millar, The Herald,1984

Jeff Ferris held his first solo exhibition at Nelson Galleries, Melbourne in 1976. Since then he has held solo exhibitions at Powell Street Gallery, Christine Abrahams Gallery and Holdsworth Gallery in Sydney.

In 2008, after not exhibiting for more than 20 years, he agreed to give us an exhibition at our Hampton gallery which included many of the works he had painted over the previous 2 decades.

This next exhibition comprises recent works that are inspired by the urban landscapes of the western suburbs, particularly around Williamstown and Altona where he lives.

Jeff Ferris  born 1946 - Williamstown

Exhibitions:

1976                         Nelson Galleries, Melbourne

1979                         Powell Street Galleries, South Yarra

1984                        Christine Abrahams Galleries, Richmond

1985                        Holdsworth Contemporary, Sydney

1988                         Mandorla Art Prize, Western Australia

1991                        Mandorla Art Prize, Western Australia

2008                        Bridget McDonnell Gallery, Hampton

Awards:

1979                         Australian Arts Council. use of Artists Studio “Barnacoyle House”

                         County Wicklow, Ireland

 

Collections:

National Bank of Australia

Footscray Institute of Technology Collection

Victoria University, Humanities Department, Melbourne

Art Bank, Government of Australia

Mornington Regional Gallery, Victoria

Italian Government, Rome, Italy

 

Literature:

Review– Herald, Melbourne Nov. 1979  (Alan McCulloch)

Review – Herald Melbourne  6.12.1984  (Ronald Millar)

Newspaper – Australian 24^th November 1985

Rydell Magazine, 1980

Australian Artists Vol. Max Germaine

Australian Artists and Galleries 1986 Edition. Vol. Alan McCulloch

1991 - Australian Arts Diary

1994 - Australian Arts Diary

State Library of Victoria, audio artists interview  1985-1986

 

Travel/Art Studies

1969-1972 Europe and Middle East

1979-1980 Painted Ireland and London. Travelled Holland and France

Artist Statement by Jeff Ferris

Basically I tend to paint urban landscapes.

I live in the western suburbs of Melbourne - Altona. I grew up in Williamstown also a western suburbs town but somewhat changed now (more coffee shops).  Most of my images and ideas come from what I see around me.  Petro chemical factories, industrial themes things I see as I drive around. Others I have no idea where they come from.  Probably from past experience.

At the same time I am trying to capture a particular ‘light' and a particular atmosphere - moment.  The light and the shadows of early mornings - especially winter, has always interested me. The late evening light is wonderful. The shadows are long and the light is sharp. This light is more intense than European light.  Some of my earlier works had softer less intense skies. I like dark bold skies. I use dark skies as a backdrop. The dark allows me to work on the light and to place light colours and shapes against a dark backdrop.

Over the years I've always tried to depict the suburban-ness of suburbia, within that urban landscape.

My images have had recurring themes; weatherboard houses, letter boxes, rubbish bins, bus shelters, palm trees etc.  A lot of times I will keep on working on a theme over many paintings, I'm never really happy with what I get.   I always hope the next work will be the one that really captures the light and mood that I'm after.

Craftsmanship and the skill in putting down an image is important to me.  I always try to finish the work with skill - like a craftsman.  To that end I've always admired the work of the Flemish artists of the 15^th century like Hans Memling, Hugo Van Der Goes. 

Before I do a painting I will gather information and work through a lot of minor and major sketches.  Finally I will work through a working sketch - and then do the final work.  Trying to get the light and the image you have in your head is a slow process for me.  Getting that image down as I saw it is always a battle for me.

I try to produce paintings that capture a viewer's attention and interest. I don't want viewers to walk past without noticing them.

I guess my works are a world I've created.  There is a lot of enjoyment in putting them together.  From an idea and a blank canvas to a finished painting is a joy.

Jeff Ferris

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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