Oil Painting
Hamish Fleming
Grunge aesthetics and classical realism can be presumed to be immiscible, however; it is in the works of Adelaide-based painter H. Fleming, that this unlikely blend emerges.
Artist Profile
H. Fleming is a contemporary realist painter currently based in Adelaide (Kaurna Country), South Australia. Fleming is a self-taught artist, working closely both with and against the long-standing traditions of realism. He works solely from life, without the use of any reference photos, to convey the subtler elements of the human experience through frequently mundane subject matter. Fleming’s practice draws upon many influences, ranging from the classical masters and post-modernism, to gothic and dirty realism literature.
Grunge aesthetics and classical realism can be presumed to be immiscible, however an in his paintings an unlikely blend emerges. A gritty take on traditional painting, Fleming’s work possesses a palpable atmosphere with a refreshing bluntness that is both abrasive and comforting.
Artist Interview
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I work rather traditionally in oil. I make a large amount of my paints from raw materials, milling down raw pigment and oil from scratch, taking the materials in their raw state and using them to their full potential based of their inherent qualities.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
There will at first be a sight that appears to me, or even a mental notion. My snap response to this catalyst is what generates the basis of my work, I stay as true to this response as possible. The work comes from there conceptually, and then may be drafted, studies prepared or painted immediately depending on the nature of the subject.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
I work solely from life, without the use of any reference images. My studio is generally a mess that gets cleaned up between batches of paintings, ready for me to wreck it again with the next group.
Career Highlights
- Category Winner Young Artist – Adelaide Parklands Art prize 2023
- Finalist in Emerging Category – Center for Creative Health Art Prize
- Curator – A Resting State at The Mill Adelaide June 2024
