Up and coming Sydney-based artist Sam Holt is having an exclusive one night only pop up show and you’re invited.
Using a palette reflective to his environment, Sam captures mood and feeling in one seriously solid collection of abstract paintings. Deep ocean blues, bright sunny yellows and fresh leaf greens showcase Sam’s innate talent for creating a connection with his audience through layered compositions of textured brushwork, drips and lines.
After spending the summer travelling around Europe and the States, Sam’s future works will capture a sense of travel and discovery through the unique landscapes he encountered. Sam’s show is for one night only, but all works are available to view now online and at the gallery by appointment.
Where:
2 Danks Street, Waterloo
+61 2 9698 8443
When:
Wednesday, January 16th
6:30pm – 8:30pm
For more information, visit the Facebook event.
We caught up with Sam at his Balmain studio to explore his influences and style.
TIL: Who are your biggest influences?
Sam: Anything that captures my attention literally influences my art, from peeling walls, to textured surfaces to the colours and ideas that are everywhere. But specifically in terms of artists there are obviously a lot, but my favourites are Cy Twombly and Aida Tomescu. The way they can create mood and use space, colour and texture on the canvas to bring life is amazing. I saw a few Twomblys overseas and managed to catch a couple of retrospective shows, but seeing them in the flesh – I stood there totally captivated by his line work, and story telling adds so much depth you just become immersed in the picture.
TIL: Your paintings have a sense of the seasons in them. Are you influenced by seasonal colours?
Sam: My paintings are often solely just abstract representations of my mood at the time. So in a way they are seasonal but not in a spring, summer sense. I’m concerned with how the colours interrelate with each other to form a mood, feeling or season if you like. I guess often my palette will give a notion of particular sense of seasonality, but it is definitely not a predetermined notion or thought of a particular season but more a reflective time or memory which I think painting is really strong at evoking.
TIL: Do you work on one painting at a time, or do you have several works in progress at any given time?
Sam: Due to the large amount of layers in my work and the general dynamics of oil painting you will usually find me working on 2-3 paintings at least at a time. I think it’s important in allowing me time and space with the work, giving me space and perspective. Often I think by working on numerous canvases, the colours and gestural qualities seem to crossover more and from a visual sense, embodies the work as a whole.
TIL: Is there any place in the world that you feel best inspires your work?
Sam: Not really, it’s wherever I am – my general surroundings at the time is what I paint. I’m inspired by my experiences and try to translate those memories onto the canvas.
TIL: You’ve lived in Sydney your whole life. How has this influenced your work?
Sam: My work like most artists is pretty personal to me rather than being representations of a particular place. But I guess since I live in Sydney then the general landscape and vibe of the city seeps into my work. Also in terms of colour and texture I think my painting may absorb the lighting and general tones and textures of my surroundings.
TIL: What’s next?
Sam: Well I got really inspired on my recent travels to the States and Europe where I engrossed myself in a lot of art. Also taking a lot of pictures of the diverse landscapes of those regions and the related stories that unfolded there. So the new work will be about capturing that sense of travel and discovery and will reflect tonally the unique landscapes I encountered but still remain strongly abstract.
