Artist profile
Nick
Barlow
Nick barlow is an emerging artist based in Mulubinba (Newcastle) Australia. Working mainly as a painter, Barlow aims to examine the the ways in which we as humans navigate the everyday, from moments of intimacy to the mundane and strange moments that go unquestioned.
While studying a Bachelor of Fine Art at the University of Newcastle, Barlow fell in love with painting and drawing, focusing largely on realism. Since graduating in 2017 with honours, he has continued to pursue this interest through an ongoing studio practice in Newcastle, exploring and experimenting further with realism and how it can portray the uncanny, mundane and intimate of everyday life.
Career Highlights
- Winning the Little Things Art Prize in 2022
- Finalist in the Brenda Clouten Art Prize in 2018
What medium do you work with, and why have you chosen them?
I largely work with oil paint, having fallen in live with the medium during my studies at University. Sides the loaded history behind realism and oil painting I love the tactile-ness and ability to express flesh and colour and light.
How does your artwork get from initial concept to exhibition stage?
At the moment I largely work from photos and sometimes sketches. Generally I will start with loose sketches in a sketchbook or with a photo that has been taken in a moment throughout my daily life and then sketches made from this to see if further compositional ideas or elements can come through. Other times I might find enough satisfaction with the photo itself and behind working straight from that, making changes within the painting through out the building process as I tend to work in layers.
Can you tell us a little more about your creative working environment/studio?
For the past six years I’ve been lucky enough to share a space with some of Newcastles many talented and hardworking artists out of a little leaky shed in Newcastle.
