Artist’s Statement
Bruce is an emotive artist searching for light and storyline, a Toowoomba based creative, focusing traditional semi realism, leaning to impressionism in watercolour. Bruce derives from every conceivable influence and real-world experience, shaping & determining his ideas and perspectives. Bruce’s paintings reveal Australia & the stories within. He engages in workshops & teaching. “Teaching makes me a better artist.” Paint what you see but importantly paint what you feel with mood, atmosphere & the pursuit of light. I have learnt from some of the best in the world in watercolour and it takes a while to appreciate what is important. Reject paintings that do not meet high standards of pursuit.” Says Bruce.
For Bruce, subjects can be anywhere in or outside the box, take any form or shape as long as they are linked with a sense of light & reveal underlying stories transcending the postcard. We are prisoners of time & for years his work was bound to the studio working off hastily taken photographs. Today, his preferred process is work from life, looking for light & storyline, returning to fine polish in the studio, before calling the work at an end.
Self-taught, Bruce will forever be indebted to his early days with world renowned Australian based artists Robert Wade OAM, Robert Lovett, Greg Allen, David Taylor, Herman Pekel, Joseph Zbukvic & forays with My direction now is that of storyteller with mood, atmosphere & the pursuit of light. Traditional Realism bordering on Impressionism in Watercolour. Never paint where you have not been & never paint what you cannot feel. The more of my heart & emotion is in a painting, the closer I get to my goal. “Art talks to those who listen”, & I want the viewer to listen to my story so I must ensure it is unique to me & that the story is worth listening to.”Biography
Picked up a brush in 2002 & wandered in the dark until fortune knocked. “A workshop with wonderful artist Robert Wade opened my eyes to what is possible.”
Largely self-taught & indebted to early days & professional workshops with renowned Australian based artists Robert Wade, Robert Lovett, Greg Allen, David Taylor, Alvaro Castagnet, Herman Pekel & Joseph Zbukvic leading me to a more professional direction of what I am now. A very rich heritage to widen one's horizon.
Completed Certificate 3 in Visual Art (CQU) 2022.
Bruce has both practical & formal qualifications. Having learnt from some of the best in the world in watercolour; an emotive artist searching for mood, atmosphere, storyline & the pursuit of light focusing traditional semi realism juxtaposing impressionism in watercolour.
He paints what he sees but more importantly paints what he feels.
A CQU graduate, past McGregor & AOTB tutor, prize-winning artist, exhibitor & sought after for commissions & workshops. Member of TAS, WSQ & WSV.
Grand Champion of Paintings Toowoomba Royal Show 2022 & 2023.
Bruce exhibits 3 times a year. He conducts structured watercolour classes & travel workshops within Queensland. His sales include England, United States, New Zealand & Australia. He has a website & a social media footprint.
Influences
Robert Wade, Robert Lovett, Greg Allen, David Taylor, Alvaro Castagnet, Herman Pekel , Joseph Zbukvic & Thomas Schaller leading me to a more professional direction of what I am now. A very rich heritage.
Awards
Awards – Recent major winning posts only shown. A further list of awards & placings is available upon request
.• 2024 – Winner Watercolour Section Foothills Art Show
• 2023 - Grand Champion Paintings Toowoomba Royal Show
2022 – Grand Champion Paintings Toowoomba Royal Show
• 2021 - Finalist Australian Watercolour Muster
• 2020 - Finalist Australian Watercolour Muster
• 2020 - Finalist CQU Australian Art Awards
• 2020 – All shows curtailed due to Covid 19
• 2019 – Toowoomba Royal Show – 1st prize Landscapes/Seascapes Any Medium
• 2018 – Toowoomba Royal Show – 1st prize Watercolour
• 2016 - Finalist Stanthorpe Art Prize
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
• 2008 – Gold Coast 30 pieces “Land and Sea” Lovett Gallery & Framing
• 2009 – Gold Coast 72 pieces “An Exhibition .. Bruce Griffiths” Watling Gallery
• 2010 – Yamba 12 pieces (Jt) “Watercolours” Old Church Yamba Gallery
• 2014 – Gold Coast 60 pieces “Near and Far” Watling Gallery
• 2015 – Toowoomba 36 pieces “Art Exhibition” Fiore Gallery
• 2015 – Gold Coast 54 pieces “Art Exhibition” Watling Art Services
• 2016 – Gold Coast 20 pieces (Jt) “After Grafton” Robina Art Gallery
• 2016 - Crow’s Nest 40 pieces “The Contest & The Field” Crows Nest Regional Art Gallery
• 2017 - Gold Coast 30 pieces “Wet & Sometimes Wild” One Arts Gold Coast
• 2019 – Toowoomba 33 pieces “Continuing The Journey” Rosalie House & Cellar Door
• ## Nb: All art activities 2020 moved to 2021 due to Covid 19
• 2021 – Toowoomba 12 pieces “Artistic Vision” Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery
• 2021 – Toowoomba 26 pieces “Watercolour Take 2” Toowoomba Art Society
• 2021 – Toowoomba 15 pieces “A Show of Watercolour” Toowoomba Repertory Theatre
• 2022 – Laidley 24 pieces “Bruce Griffiths Watercolours” Laidley Community Centre Café
• 2022 – Toowoomba 16 pieces “Watercolour Journeys” Toowoomba Reparatory Theatre
• 2022 – Toowoomba 26 pieces “Watercolour Visions” Toowoomba Art Society
• 2023 - Gold Coast 32 pieces “GC Visions” One Arts Gold Coast
• 2024 – Toowoomba 18 pieces “Watercolour Visions” Toowoomba Reparatory Theatre
Website
Showing all 4 artworks