Graeme W. Balchin

www.graemebalchin.com

Artist Statement

We live in a time where technology has advanced to the point we no longer need a camera to make a great image. For the commercial world, technology is the future, for it has embraced the new mediums with open arms.With this in mind, I am constantly amazed with the amount of artists who still use traditional mediums and methods simply because they wish too. I am one of those people, who has a compelling desire that borders on an insane obsession, to paint and draw. Painting has been and still is a successful way of recording history, but I feel it is also an integral part of human endeavor; the need to achieve excellence in creation. 
 

Education

Studied at Paddington Art School 1986, Pennant Hills Life Drawing 1987, Sydney Art Station 1988, Julian Ashtons Art School Sydney p/t (drawing, painting,etching), Studied Etching at Duck Print, Professional Trade - Signwriter. 
 

Business Acumen

On completion of trade qualifications, I established and ran my own successful signwriting business Vital Signs which operated until 2000.We produced work for Village Road Show, Hoyts, Greater Union, Home Pics Video,Top Video and many RSL, Leagues and Bowling Clubs.In 2000 we sold the business and my invention of a Aluminum flexible signface. I later started p/t Teaching at Newcastle Tafe in 2003 and finished in 2004 to pursue a career in Fine Art.  

Exhibitions 

2000 Three Way Exh2000 Three Way Exhibition Tap Gallery Sydney
2001 Tuggerah Lakes – Fab Fakes Winner
2002 Tuggerah Lakes – Fab Fakes People’s Choice Winner
2002 Invited Exhibitions Flesh Exhibition - Gosford Regional Gallery
2003 Solo Exhibition Cross Section Exhibition - Grand Gallery CC
2003 Invited Exhibitions Oh My God - Grand Gallery CC, Rude Nude - Brokenback Gallery Hunter Valley, The Grand Under a Grand - Grand Gallery CC
2003 Open Exhibitions Banool Conservation Prize, Australian Watercolour Inst. Exhibition - Gosford Regional Gallery, Gosford Art Prize - Gosford Regional Gallery
2004 Invited Exhibitions Ferous Non-Ferous Exhibition - Grand Gallery CC, Rude Nude 2 - Grand Gallery, Suburbia Exhibition - Grand Gallery CC, Northern Exposure - Cpt Cook Gallery Paddington,Birth of Zooid - Grand Gallery CC, City Slickers Not Exhibition - Sydney Metro Gallery, Cross Section Exhibition - Erina Art Space - Gosford City Council, Open Christmas Exhibition - Cpt Cook Gallery Paddington
2004 Open Exhibitions Gosford Art Prize - Gosford Regional Gallery, Who's Who - (Archibald combined show) - Gosford Regional Gallery
2005 Invited Exhibitions Art Is Alive - Grand Gallery CC and Sydney Metro Gallery, Mardi Gras Exhibition - Cpt Cook Gallery Paddington, Rude Nude 3 - Grand Gallery CC, Zooid Exhibition - Sydney Metro Gallery and Cpt Cook Gallery Paddington, Very Bloody Expensive Exhibition - Grand Gallery CC, Open Christmas Exhibition - Paddington and Grand Gallery CC
2006 Invited Exhibitions Glamoroma Exhibition - Cpt Cook Gallery Paddington,  Rude Nude 4 - Grand Gallery CC
2006 Solo Exhibition  The Entree Series - Palm House Gallery Royal  Botanic Gardens Sydney.
2004/05/06/07/08/09 Gosford Art Prize - Finalist 
2007  Doug Moran National Portrait Prize - Finalist  
2007  Hunters Hill Art Prize (Selected)
Graeme kindly donated a painting in support of Nepal Art Aid Auction held on Sat 24th Feb 2007 @ the 460 Gallery,Green Point, Gosford. *Note Auction raised approx $30,000
2008 Solo Exhibition 'Aboreal' - Who Art Thou Gallery 
2010 Invited Exhibition  Grand opening of Beinart Gallery 696 Ink – Brunswick Vic., 
Collections  Numerous Artworks in both Private Australian Collections &  Private Collections in America and England.

Media and Publicity
2003 The Herald 19th June
2004 The Daily Telegraph 1st April

2005 The Daily Telegraph 2nd June
2005 The Daily Telegraph 13th April
2005 Star FM Radio Interview
2005 ABC Radio Interview
2005 Central Coast Express Advocate
2005 Sunrise Channel 7, Sydney - Archibald Coverage
2005 Financial Review - Archibald Coverage
2005 NBN TV Newcastle - Archibald Coverage
2005 ABC TV Document - Loaded Brush
2005 NBN TV Newcastle - Rude Nude Coverage for Ovarian Cancer Foundation
2005 Star FM Radio CC - Interview  Wedding Promotion  25th Aug
2005 Star FM Radio CC - Interview Body Painting Promotion  27th Aug
2005 Star FM Radio CC - Interview Body Painting Promotion 1st Sept

2006 ABC Radio - Smart Arts Live Interview
2006 ABC Radio - Smart Arts Live Interview for Entree Series 23rd June
2006 Express Advocate - Article Branching Out 23rd June
2006 Seniors Newspaper- Artist & Craftsman Editorial

2007 Express Advocate- Art Culture  21st Feb
2007 Express Advocate Doug Moran Prize Finalist  23rd Feb
2007 ABC Smart Arts- Live Interview, Moran Finalist  23rd Feb
2007 ABC Smart Arts - Live Interviews, The Portrait Prize, April & May
2007 NBN News Coverage The Portrait Prize  May
2007 Express Advocate The Portrait Prize 2nd May 
2008 Express Advocate Nude Olympis
2008 Freerider The 5oth Issue  FMX Parents Graeme Balchin
2008   Runner Up- Rotary Umina Portrait Prize
2008   Fathers Day Exhibition Winner
2009 ABC Radio Live Interview  14th Aug.
2009 Winner – Rotary Umina Portrait Prize
2009 Express Advocate Interview - Rotary Umina Portrait Prize
2009 Winner – Gosford Art  Prize – People’s choice