Artist of the day: Artist of the Day, October 4, 2021: Charles Blackman, an Australian painter (#1382)

Charles Blackman (1928-2019) was born in Sydney. He left school at thirteen and worked with the Sydney Sun, while attending night classes in drawing and design at the East Sydney Technical College from 1942-45. He is a successful Australian contemporary artist represented in most states and provincial galleries.

  He has in many ways been an influence to many young as well as some established artists. His work has been extremely popular and has a strong broad appeal, his symbolic style of including children, flowers, gardens, cats, dreams all reflect emotions and compassion.  

Charles Blackman has an amazing 3613 recorded works sold since the 70s to and including 2004, in 2005 year to date July, his recorded sales is 112 works, these figures are excluding all gallery and exhibition sales nationally. The figures show a solid popularity and there has been an increase in demand for his work in 2005.  

Charles Blackman has brought much joy to Australians with his diverse range of subjects and mediums, some of the most popular being - Charles Blackman Alice series, School Girl series started in the 50s, Orpheus Suite - of which the 1998-2000 release of 12 Collagraph images, a limited edition of 70 sets has this month sold out completely with a current RRP of $66,000 a set.  

Barbara Patterson a poet and who became Blackman's wife in the 50s, suffered with poor eye sight, Charles Blackman in some cases portrayed in his work this affliction by darkening the eyes.  

Blackman moved to Melbourne in 1950 and became a member of the Antipodeans in 1959. He created haunting images of grave women and girls, detached from their surroundings, absorbed in daydreams or games and oblivious to reality.  

Charles Blackman ALICE popularly known as "The Golden Alice" is a portrait of Carroll's heroine image. This 'princess' is conceived as a child-goddess with the potentiality and mystery of a Goldilocks, a Leda, a Europa or a Beauty, with their bestial counterparts in fairy-tale and myth - bears, swan, bull and beast. Carroll's originality was to make this beast a benign rabbit, which Alice releases from its bestial form and then masculinises.  

In this centrepiece of the Alice series, Blackman gestates his own identification with the fertile Rabbit through the prescient objects - the pink teacup and the white tablecloth with pink reflection - of the restaurant where he cooked at night. The image of this rose-handled, cheeky cup - an echo of Alice's shining complexion - hovers above the peak as the white tablecloth encroaches into her domain. The open profile of the blue chair, on her other side, forms a cradle for her dissolving body image with its crude arm.

There have been many illustrations of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland since it was first published in 1865, at the last count there where over a hundred. Blackman has not illustrated Alice; he has in his own way discovered her.

Blackman discovered Alice when he was quite grown up and the impact of his discovery coincided perfectly with his readiness as an artist. It was a magical experience for Charles Blackman, for Alice lives in a world where anything can happen. She brought him freedom that naturally took him close to the essence of the story.

Charles Blackman is a great Romantic artist, a painter of dreams and emotions. Charles Blackman's ‘Alice' paintings made in the early 1950's where among his first important works.

About The Blackman, Art Series Hotels
The Blackman Hotel: Dedicated to the very lovable Australian artist, the boutique hotel draws inspiration from his studio. With bright, playful Blackman works complementing the contemporary design and incredible views of green parkland and the city of Melbourne, The Blackman Hotel is the perfect place for contemplation, creation and inspired thinking!

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