Dave Sparkes’ upcoming exhibition, Illumination, will be showing at Byron Bay’s Lone Goat Gallery from February 3rd to February 15th, 2017. His first solo show, the exhibition will feature works created by Dave over the last 18 months, with a focus on his glowingly impressionistic landscapes and seascapes of the East Coast. Approximately 50 framed and mounted paintings will be exhibited, highlighting Dave’s fascination for sunlight and shadow, mist and atmosphere, and the whimsical realism of his watercolour vision. All works will be for sale.
Dave is intrigued by sunlight, shadow, and reflections, often painting from the “contra jour” (into the light) viewpoint and strives to create an atmospheric mood in his paintings. His painting is a hybrid of impressionism and realism. True reality on two-dimensional paper is impossible, but his attempts at nevertheless trying to achieve that reality – through reconciling the world at large with his impression of realism – is the essence of his art. This altered reality defines his style, and dwelling in that mysterious zone is one of the reasons he paints, rather than just taking photos of a scene.
In “Illumination” he evokes a sense of whimsical, almost melancholy realism, an alternate or parallel world, suggesting a time before man’s interference with the landscape. As an accomplished daydreamer, he often paints places as they once were, just humming along in their heartbreakingly pristine state.
Dave has been painting watercolours for several years, concentrating mainly on plein air landscapes and seascapes. He won the Naturalist Division of The Pacific Palms Art Festival in 2012 and achieved a Highly Commended in 2013.
He has had several works published in Tracks and White Horses magazines, both having additionally published articles on his watercolour art. Tracks also recently featured his work in their “Two Hands” section, a monthly feature on emerging artists.
Dave has painted commissions for many clients and is currently working on material for his upcoming exhibition, “Illumination,” as well as several commission pieces.
Dave Sparkes has been involved in various creative pursuits for many years. He has been senior writer/photographer with the iconic surfing magazine, Tracks, for over 20 years. He has had thousands of images and over 2oo feature articles published and has interviewed many surfing luminaries such as Tom Curren, Occy, Sunny Garcia, Dave Rastovich and Mick Fanning. His photographs have adorned the covers of magazines in many countries, including the US, Australia, France, New Zealand, England and Spain, and most notably he photographed the cover of the 2005 US Surfer Magazine Photo Annual. His book of words and photographs, “The Wave: Tales From the Impact Zone,” was published to rave reviews in Australia and New Zealand by Hachette Publishing in 2011.
Dave grew up in Bondi Beach and now lives in Byron Bay with his soul mate Tracey Turner. In between walking the dog and exploring the hinterland for natural swimming holes, he surfs, paints takes photographs and writes.
Watercolours by Dave Sparkes
Lone Goat Gallery, 28 Lawson St, Byron Bay,
February 3rd – February 15th
Opening night Feb 3 from 6 – 8pm
Web: www.sparkesphoto.com
