My preferred art medium is oil paint on canvas or board, and I work in a representational style. This includes portraits, landscapes, still lifes and interiors, as well as genre paintings. I’m particularly interested in painting people, often capturing them from life. Subjects sit for me in my studio over several sessions. I’m an active member of the WA Portrait Artists Association.
Art history inspires and excites me, and I admire many artists who have come before me. I’m also inspired by the beauty and dynamism of Fremantle Harbour and the Australian landscape. My paintings develop from drawings, or sometimes I paint directly onto the surface without preliminary sketches. I set up still lifes to work from life, using objects that inhabit their spaces.
My goal is to create realistic portrayals of subjects, using textural, linear and tonal marks to evoke a sense of gravitas. I’m also interested in developing abstract motifs through experimentation with mediums and surfaces.
Since moving back to Fremantle, I’ve been painting the harbour and its surroundings, including industrial landscapes, plant and equipment, ships, buildings, seascapes and local landscapes. I draw inspiration from my home and family life, exploring the environment around me and painting portraits of family and friends, parks and the natural environment, coastal landscapes and more.
I’m also interested in history and creating artworks that incorporate historical figures in unusual settings to challenge and question norms. In my painting practice, I interrogate abstract concepts and themes to keep my work relevant and current.
Contact Details
Phone: +61 414 102 658
Email: philbee@me.com
A small-scale painting depicting a ship at Victoria Quay, Fremantle Harbour.
Materials
Oil stick on wood panel, framed
Dimensions
220 x 270 mm
Price/ NFS
$950.00