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A contemporary realist landscape painter, Philip's works are characterised by his assured technique, meticulous attention to detail and choice of subject matter. Through his paintings, Philip celebrates the ordinary, using the landscape and simple everyday subjects as metaphors for our place in the world. Philip's paintings create a sense of intimacy with the viewer - one can readily imagine oneself in the scene, and it is this ability to enter into Philip's paintings that is so often commented on by viewers. To be engrossed by the sense of being there evokes a feeling of timelessness and tranquility, of the world standing still. Philip's paintings are generally devoid of people, but have a reference to man, often reflecting on our intervention with the landscape and the precariousness of those endeavours. Another continuing theme in Philip's work is his choice of simple everyday subjects. His works capture the inherent beauty in our everyday environment and reflect an almost spiritual quality in the shape and form of the landscape. "I try to capture the effects of man's subjugation of the land, and the constant struggle to tame the chaos of nature. I hope that people viewing my work can relate to my vision, and gain a new appreciation of their surroundings." Not content to replicate the majestic and obvious, he prefers to celebrate the ordinary by focusing on the variations and subtleties in his subjects, allowing the viewer to become lost in the often overlooked complexities of a familiar object or scene. His abandoned buildings and rusty machinery stand as monuments to previous generations who tamed and nurtured the land. They are relics that are constant reminders of our own recent history. Although Philip's landscapes are very real, there is a manipulation of the elements within the paintings. "I am always interested in the way we try to shape the landscape to suit our own needs, and in a way I'm doing just that with my paintings - using buildings and landforms as references to create a new perfected landscape .In my work I want to capture a sense of place, but it is not any specific place - viewers can recognize elements of a scene, but cannot pinpoint the exact location. In creating this altered landscape the abstract structures are fundamental to it's success, and I pay particular attention to the composition and form." The fully rendered realism of Philip's work allows him to emphasis the particular and the unique in nature. "I want to pay homage to the complexities of nature and the differences and distinctions between things, and realism allows me to do this." Philip works in oils from his studio at Whangarei Heads, and is largely self-taught. Important influences have been Andrew Wyeth, Mark Cross, Tomas Sanchez and Jeffrey Smart. His awards include The Montana Wines Art Award (1980, 1981) and the BRL Art Award (1987). His work has been included in the 2007 publication "New Zealand: A Painted Country", the 2006 publication “New Zealand’s Favourite Artists” and the 2005 publication “Wrinkly Tin: A History of Corrugated Iron in New Zealand". His works can be found in collections both here in New Zealand and around the world. "When I'm working on a picture I'm always thinking about what I'm going to paint the next day, next week, next month. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head, I'll never run out of them. People often comment that I must have incredible patience, but it's not patience, it's a determination and commitment to fully realise my ideas and to faithfully depict the beauty that nature creates, whether it be a pure landscape or an object shaped by the elements and time. I enjoy the challenge of exploring new ways to portray a subject within the realist genre and despite the frustration and occasional monotony I can't imagine not painting - the excitement, the challenge, and the uncertainty that comes with every painting is what drives me and will drive me as long as I am able to hold a brush." Awards: Exhibitions: Represented by:
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© Copyright Philip Kilmore 2001-2010 All Rights Reserved |