Jim Barrass of
Noosa
art
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Jim Barrass began painting in the 1970's and studied art at the Southern Tablelands Institute of TAFE. He has exhibited his works in galleries in South eastern NSW and Queensland. During the early 1980's he also developed an interest in portraiture and accepted several commissions for oil-based portraits which are now held in private collections.
Over the years, he has explored a range of styles including abstracts and surrealism. Many of his works relate to elements of the landscape, favourite poems or to the stoies of people.
In 2002 he entered his portrait of 'Oz Ertok - Antarctic Expeditioner' in the Archibald Prize. In 2003 he received a commission to paint a scene of central Sydney, which was then entered in the Wynne Prize.
At present he is enjoying life at Noosa where he works from his studio and shows his work at the Eumundi Markets resulting in sales all over Australia and internationally. He is also kept busy with commissions for people wishing to have works on their walls that reflect their interests and lifestyle through abstract expression.
Commissions he has undertaken to date have been in keeping with his philosophy that artists should adapt to the wishes of the client. Consequently if someone likes a piece he is willing to use the original design and resize and/or recolour the work to suit the purchaser's environment. He has also created original pieces from concepts provided by clients.
His commission work has branched out from paintings on canvas to murals on walls and exterior surfaces. See the Mural gallery
Jim's approach to commissions is extremely flexible and advantageous to his clients. He likes to visit the site of the proposed painting, usually the client's home or office, and obtain a feel for the environment as well as the client's desires, intentions, and interests, with the objective of incorporating these aspects in the finished work.
Jim often uses the principles of Feng Shui in his commissions, relying on the advice of an expert in Feng Shui who has studied in China and provides consultancy advice to house builders/renovators and interior designers on the Sunshine Coast.
On completion of a commissioned work Jim will then install the finished artwork to assess its impact in the environment and to ensure that the client is delighted with it. Often he will insist on taking the work away for adjustments, seeking perfection, even if the client is happy with it. Then he likes his clients to live with the painting for a time in order to ensure that it works for them and their guests. Sometimes this will result in the need for minor alterations.
However, where distance is a factor, Jim has also worked from photographs of the proposed environment sent to him by clients. Then the finished work is securely packed and shipped. Deliveries are made worldwide.
Jim also passes on the knowledge he has gained by giving tuition in oil and acrylic painting techniques, through courses he has devised, to individuals and small groups of artists.