Fascinated by sunlight, shadow and reflections, often painting from the ‘contra jour’ (into the light) viewpoint, Byron Bay artist Dave Sparkes strives to create an atmospheric mood in his paintings through the shadow-play of tree trunks and surrounding flora. In ‘Luminosity’ Sparkes evokes a sense of whimsical, almost melancholy realism, an alternate world suggesting a time before human interference with the landscape; places along the East Coast of New South Wales untouched – ‘just humming along in their heartbreakingly pristine state.’
Dave Sparkes, Evans Head Trail, 2018, watercolour, 60 x 90cm. Courtesy the artist and Grafton Regional Gallery, New South Wales
Grafton Regional Gallery
Until 21 October, 2018
New South Wales
