SPACE 2 : RHYS PARKINSON

Exhibition dates. 18 Feb - 2 March 2025
Opening Reception : Wed 19 Feb 2025, 6:00 - 9:00 pm

A Melbourne based illustrator working mainly with graphite and coloured pencil, my work focuses on hyperrealism where the illustration, which is created from a photographic source, is drawn in a way that emphasizes photographic techniques such as lighting, focus, blur, etc.

My recent illustration series, titled ‘Dipped’ explores still life with a modern twist. Each piece of fruit or vegetable is photographed in a controlled environment where the lighting and angle is pre-determined, mimicking the control artist’s had over fruit and vegetable arrangements in traditional still life practice. The element of colour is used to create harmony as each fruit or vegetable is dipped in a complimentary opposite paint colour where possible. This harmony is contrasted against the incompatibility of the fruit or vegetable and paint itself, creating a strong graphic sense of unease. Working across both fine art and design, my work instinctively blends both throughout the stages of creation, from initial photography, composition, lighting, image preparation, through to the illustration itself.