Peter Griffen Australian Abstract Artist

Investigation, Influences and Distractions.

The art of Peter Griffen is influenced as much by the classical painting of the Renaissance as by the serendipity of abstract expressionism.
Indigenous art from different parts of the world (in particular Australia) and its relationship to the natural landscape influence his work also, producing powerful abstract images that speak from the past.

Featured Workshop.
ITALY ARTIST RETREATS - 16th to 26th September 2008 with Peter Griffen

Villa Madonna, Cottanello, Italy

Abstracting in the Italian Landscape
In September 2008 join Peter Griffen, known as one of Australia’s leading abstract painters, on an artistic adventure at Villa Madonna, Cottanello, Italy.

Peter invites you to join him in the studio at Villa Madonna for ten days of free thinking, experimental, abstract painting and semi-abstract still life and en plein air painting. Many techniques using acrylic paint are demonstrated with a particular emphasis on composition, line and strong colour.

The villa overlooks the medieval walled hill town of Cottanello founded in 570 A.D. In this north eastern region of Sabina, on the Umbrian border, you find yourself in a corner of Italy as yet unspoiled by the advance of commercial tourism.
- click here to find out more ->

Upcoming Exhibition.

Gadfly Gallery, Perth, WA, 23rd of May to 18th of June 2008
"....I like to think that my invented images, largely based on experiences in the Australian landscape, contain subconcious messages, perhaps current or from the past. I work with this in mind, sometimes intuitively employing symbols, strange shapes and accidental colour combinations."

Articles.

Biographical Notes by Earl de Blonville.
Canberra Times, Monday, Nov 1, 2004 by Sasha Grishin, PhD, Art Historian, Australian National University and art critic for the Canberra Times.

Workshops.

Studio workshop, Leichhardt 17th - 18th Nov 07 and 23rd - 24th Feb 08
A weekend of free thinking, experimental, abstract and semi abstract painting. All materials are supplied including morning tea and gourmet lunch.
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Mitchell School of Art, Bathurst 13-19 Jan 08
Abstraction, Still Life and the Figure with the focus on free expression and individuality.
For details please contact Carissa Michel on (02) 6338 4120.

Freedom in Abstraction
Byron Bay, 1-3 March 08
Brisbane, 7-8 June 08
Please call Ruth on 02 6687 1256 or 0411 30 6660 for details.
info@artworkshopsaustralia.com.au
www.artworkshopsaustralia.com.au

Abstraction and Still Life, Willunga, SA, 11-13 April 08
Please call Roe on 08 8556 7351 for details.

Abstracting in the Italian Landscape, Italy, 16-26 Sep 08
Peter invites you to join him in the studio at Villa Madonna for ten days of free thinking, experimental, abstract painting and semi-abstract still life and en plein air painting.
- click here to find out more ->

Art Gallery Society of NSW, 2-4 May 08 and 5-7 Sep
Please call 08 02 9225 1878 for details, or visit www.artgallerysociety.org.au

About.

Peter Griffen, born in Adelaide in 1948, and now working as a full time artist in Sydney, first exhibited in 1972 and has since had over fifty solo showings throughout Australia, five in London, four in Paris, two in St.Tropez, one in Lyon and one in New Zealand.

Griffen is represented by a galleries throughout Australia and in Copenhagen and by agents in UK and France. His work has been exhibited in art fairs in Europe, UK, Canada and Asia. He exhibits widely in group exhibitions, has been commissioned several times and his work has been acquired for private, public and corporate collections in Australia and overseas.

photo by Earl de Blonville

Peter Griffen works and lives in his studio and also enjoys working en plein air in various parts of the world, especially in the outback of Australia.