Life drawings among favourites for art student

Enthusiastic emerging visual artist Matthew Grant has selected a landscape and two life drawings for Charles Darwin University’s In light of Everything student exhibition at Araluen Gallery tonight.

The three charcoal illustrations were chosen from a collection of works that Mr Grant had created during his Certificate IV in Visual Arts classes at Alice Springs campus this year.

“I’ve smashed out about 50 pieces in art class this year, including the landscape, which I did on day one,” he said.

“But my favourites are the life drawings of a pregnant model. I hadn’t drawn a nude before, so it was quite fascinating to experiment with technique and capture the various poses.”

Mr Grant has become immersed in art since finishing Year 12 last year. He paints each day from the confines of his granny-flat studio in Alice Springs, works in a picture framing shop and studies visual art.

“It’s been constantly mind blowing, learning something new every time I go to class,” he said.

“We have a lot of fun, the vibes are good and it’s been great to focus on art.”

Mr Grant said the highlight this year was winning the Centralian Advocate Art Award encouragement prize, his first award.

He is one of about 100 visual arts students who will have at least one piece on display during the three-day exhibition, which will include sculptures, drawings, paintings, prints and ceramics.

In light of everything will formally open at Witchetty’s in the Araluen Art Precinct today at 6pm. It will then be open from 10am – 4pm until December 8.