The work of David Lake is highly distinguishable with its curves, colours, quirkiness, and movie-like qualities. It is almost like you could step into his paintings, not quite, but almost. They feel like a moment in time has been captured.
The Examiner touched base with Lake after catching up with him last year to discuss his career in art. This time, the attention was turned towards his solo exhibition being held at Gallery Pejean later this month.
Each exhibition Lake creates is often the work of several years, as he works on a number of paintings at once.
"Because I don't sort of say, there's an exhibition I have to do a lot of work, I wait until something appeals to me and I start painting," he said. "I have no idea where that's going to end up."
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Lake said At Easel, his upcoming exhibition, does not have a particular theme, but the work is in his classic style and techniques.
"Most of my paintings have roads in them ... I find roads really interesting. It's a mark made by man kind on the environment. I love the symmetry," he said.
"The roads, the sweeping curves, and the symmetry, and balance, and harmony I find interesting."
Lake said his style developed constantly as he learnt more, however, it was always recognisable as his.
"Something appeals to me, which is usually a flash of light. I'll take some snaps, I'll do some sketches, and that develops into a drawn composition. You couldn't just go and photograph it, it wouldn't represent it," he said.
"All of the paintings develop like that. They are an aspect that I suddenly see and I may do a sketch, take some snaps, and then gradually draw it, even if it's a rough composition.
"And then I start painting, and when I start painting, it often changes dramatically. It evolves on the canvas. Certainly I see, you can call them errors, and then I develop them from that and it gets more interesting."
Lake's favourite piece to appear in the upcoming exhibition depicts the location of Stanely, over Greenhills Road.
However, if that piece is not to your liking there are 16 other paintings within the exhibit - of which only five are small, with the rest fairly large. All of the work is for sale.
"Ordinary Joe's and Jill's like them, and I find that really important. It appeals to people who are not academically in art," Lake said.
"Beauty is not [the paintings], it's what comes from the viewer."
Lake said he called the exhibition At Easel because it was what came of being in the studio.
"Being in here and working on the canvas is a process of falling into silence, and that's the way I judge the success of the work."
At Easel will be held from May 24-June 19 at Gallery Pejean.
The work can also be viewed online at gallerypejean.com.au.
Dana Anderson
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
On a Friday night you may see me at the theatre, a festival, an exhibition, or in the corner of one of my favourite establishments reading a novel. So, it makes sense I am the arts and what's on reporter for The Examiner. To contact me about a story please send an email to dana.anderson@examiner.com.au
