The Contemporary Art Society of Victoria Incorporated Collectors' Exhibition 2005 A selected exhibition of Australian Contemporary Art 6 - 21 February 2005 Steps Gallery, 62 Lygon Street, Carlton, Melbourne information from the artist....

D.M. ROSS

Cubist

I am a resident of Melbourne, Australia and have been painting on and off for more than 25 years. I have no formal art education or training and began painting as a method of releasing a creative urge.

My strong belief in the analytical style and beauty of Cubism has given me the desire to pursue this technique to the exclusion of all others.

I firmly believe there must be more to a Cubist painting than initially meets the eye. An inner calm and balance should be evident beyond the subject matter.

I am my own worst critic and will not release a picture to the world until I am sure that it's the way it should be.

I have some "pet" subjects that recur in my work (chairs, guitars, houses and trees) but I also enjoy totally abstract pieces. For me it is more to do with the colour and the shape rather than the subject.

I am finding that the older I get the less I want to paint "objects" and find myself heading in a more abstract direction.

It is extremely rare for me to make any preparatory sketches. I simply launch into a piece directly and see where It takes me.

I work exclusively in oil as I find the depth of colour far more attractive than other mediums. I am a great fan of the palette knife, and although I use brushes the majority of the time , some pieces are created wholly with a knife. I find the thick application of the paint and the ability to have a hard edge to lines very appealing.

My exhibition history has been limited, having my first solo show in Melbourne in 2002, although I have taken part in several group shows and have a solo show planned for mid 2005. I have a web site to display my work ( www.dmross.homestead.com) which has enabled me to sell internationally to collectors in Japan, USA , Europe and within Australia.