Close Out

3 Surfers on a large wave, about to be engulfed by a wave close out around them. I began surfing during the Xmas holiday after i finished primary school and began hanging with the older boys in my village who already were going to high school. Surfboards were beginning to decrease in size, they had 8ft boards which were a change from the large wooden Mals from a few years previous.
Someone had a board that had fallen off a car and snapped in two, so they used hessian and resin to seal the broken end and cut a plywood fin and stuck that on and i had a board to learn on. It was about 5ft, but it allowed me to learn to stand up. although these surfers in my painting are all wearing wet-suits, that was luxury we didn't have, another difference from now to then, we didn't have leg ropes. if you wiped out , it meant a long swim to shore.
I remember being on large waves when the closed out as this one is doing. If you didn't wipe-out, it meant a long bouncing ride to the shore in the large wall of white water.

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Geoff Hargraves Artist,
Sydney NSW, Australia

Printmaker
Painter
Currently painting in oils.
I prefer to paint on panels, as I dislike to movement that occurs when using canvas when the brush presses against the surface.
I make my own panels currently using ACM (Aluminium) and attach a mitred frame to the back to provide rigidity and an edge to the art piece.
The face surface is covered in Gesso in readiness for my painting.
My works are influenced by my past passions of surfing, yachting, and nature.
I spent the first 40 odd years in country NSW, and the next 20 odd in Sydney.
For most of my time in Sydney I have owned and enjoyed sailing on Sydney Harbour on one or the other of the two yachts that I have owned in that time.
I explored the harbour and have crewed on race yachts on the harbour and offshore, including several international races.
This experience shows in some of my subject matter and has resulted in commissions for yachts and boats.

Exhibitions
2025, ArtTraveller Exhibition, Audrey Fine Arts, Pyrmont.
2024-2025 Summer exhibition, The Gallery, Wooli
2024, Radiant Landscapes, The Watchhouse Balmain.
2024, The Other Art Fair, Sydney NSW
2024, “Celebrate Wooli”, solo exhibition, The Gallery, Wooli NSW.
2022, Art Reach exhibition, St. George Art Society (31 May- 23June) Parliament House NSW
2021, "Best Kept Secret", group exhibition. The Art Passage, Miranda NSW.
2021, “Wind and Water”, solo exhibition. The Art Passage, Miranda NSW.
2019, “Out and About”, group exhibition. Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
2019 Annual Highlights exhibition, Gauge Gallery, Glebe
2018, Favourites and Festive finale, Gauge Gallery, Glebe
2018, Happenstance, group exhibition, Gauge Gallery Glebe
2017, Imagine, group exhibition, Bankstown Arts Centre
2017, “If you like art”, group exhibition. Brookvale NSW 11-13 March

Selections
2022, St George art society, exhibition NSW Parliament house finalist
2022, Wooli art Prize, awarded “Highly Commended” judged painting section.
2021, Mission to Seafarers Art Prize, finalist
2019, Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Finalist
2019, Wooli art Prize, awarded “Highly Commended” judged painting section.

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