ARTIST

THE CHAOS AND CALM

TODD WHISSON’S FAVOURITE painting is “the next one”.

He told me that with a smirk as we sat in his Griffi n-based studio surrounded by his paintings, an eclectic mix of landscapes that are much more than just stunning scenes. They are stories, a meaningful juxtaposition of chaos and calm, tension and beauty. They each have a personality of their own and it’s hard not to be captivated by the push and pull from the moment you glance at them.

Todd’s journey into the world of art began many years ago and as far as he’s concerned, will never end.

“My father was a professional artist most of his life, my mum paints, brothers and sisters all had a go, one of my brothers is the other professional full-time artist in the family, so it was in the blood I suppose,” he says.

“I started out in impressionism because that’s what Dad worked in, and then what started as a hobby turned into what I like to call a 20-year apprenticeship. It’s a long, hard gig becoming an artist and making a living from it, so for me, I did some painting while working in picture framing, something I’ve done for about 40 years now, and then studied so I could keep learning and keep getting better.”

In 2011, Todd began his formal education in contemporary art through TAFE Queensland and was awarded for his fi rst- and second-year series Hidden Secrets and Scar Tissue while completing his diploma of visual arts. He continued studying and in 2015, completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts through QCA (Griffi th University), achieving academic excellence along the way and earning himself a place showcasing his work as a representative of QCA graduates in painting.

“It is funny how my artistic journey changed after studying too,” Todd says. “I realised that impressionism didn’t give me enough. I wanted more, and that ended up being contemporary art. So that’s what I did next.

“I guess I am an impressionist, oil and acrylic painter that converted to incorporate environmental issues into my work. I look for subjects and elements that will support my own journey and passions these days and I enjoy getting to tell an intellectual story through my work, rather than just paint a pretty picture.

“In particular, I like to paint about colonisation and how the white man affects the country, both the people and the land. So much is happening in the world right now and it’s not in a great place, nor is the environment globally. It’s been damaged and that’s become an important aspect for me in contemporary painting; to follow history, philosophy and feelings. Those aspects are important to convey and connect with in my work, and I have found that if the issue is global, people can relate and connect to the work better too.

“I’m fi nding myself more and more drawn to things that have happened – so if a landscape was once lush, now the trees are all knocked down, and that’s the juxtaposition I capture.

“Contemporary art has really allowed me to be different, to be myself and do something that hasn’t been done,” he adds. “I get to paint the beauty of nature and add elements to tell the story of what’s going on underneath – the opposite of the still, the serenity that begs the question of what else is there. I

want to spark an inquisitive feeling because the painting then has a voice forever. I haven’t told you everything in the picture. It’s a tension. I want people to feel and think.”

Looking around his art studio, it become clears that while this message is conveyed in his works, something else is prevalent too – water.

“I am drawn to water, but I only found this out a few years ago,” Todd laughs. “I was looking for patterns and noticed that no matter what the landscape, there was water. I realised water is the element that allows me to connect to the scene.”

Todd’s uninhibited yet connected work has, according to him, emerged from his passion for plein air and alla prima painting.

“I love painting out in fresh air. In life, my senses are stimulated by being there more so than they could ever be through a photo. You paint differently too, I believe. The light is moving, the elements around you are changing so you have to work with nature to capture what’s going on before it changes into a different picture. You also see the real colour and tones, the true energy in the scene and then the work becomes about the emotion that’s created by the thing you are experiencing and how that affects you. The fi nal piece is how you portray that.”

Todd’s wife Julianne describes him as someone with a connection to earth and Mother Nature. It’s as though he has a special energy around him, a power that comes out when he is in nature. She says he has an innate ability to capture the essence of it, almost as though he has swept it up and breathed it in.

“I fell in love with Julianne 12 years ago and she has been an inspiration ever since,” Todd says. “She also brought a whole mix of skills to the table. She loves art and has taken to helping me run this business like a duck to water.”

“I am always learning and always trying to be better. That is something Julianne has shown me too.

“It’s a psychologically challenging profession sometimes,” Todd adds. “I might wake up in the morning and really not feel like painting, but I go out to the studio, and something

“I love painting out in fresh air. In life, my senses are stimulated by being there more so than they could ever be through a photo ”

will grab my attention and that’s the spark that sets off for the day. Just doing something in the world is all it takes really. Let the world speak to you.

“I am personally very hard on myself too sometimes, which is both good and crippling. Each painting is a different journey and no matter how well you painted yesterday it doesn’t mean you will paint that good the next day.

“You just keep trying to paint a better picture each time. It’s endless learning; you have to keep reading and researching to see what you don’t know and then add that to your paintings.

“Everyone has creativity and it depends what medium you use to express it. Find what you love and run with it. For me, perhaps the best advice I got was to just keep painting.”

Another love of Todd’s is the Sunshine Coast. “I have a great connection to the place. I enjoy painting nostalgia and iconic landmarks on the Sunshine Coast, and I think I have about 200 paintings of my kids on beaches there too. Coolum would be my favourite place to paint and draw inspiration from.”

Todd supports Bloomhill and has helped the cancer charity raise about $35,000 over the years. He also has 19 of his works in the specialist centre of the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.