Bringing The Past To Life - Darwin WW2 by Jillian Crider

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Jillian Crider
80 artworks

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Semaphore, South Australia, Australia

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Artwork Description

Watercolour on canvas, stretched and ready to hang.

Signed on the front.

I decided to bring my uncle’s tiny black and white photo to life.
As a lone survivor, I am a keeper of family stories.
This is but one fragment.
A tiny photo can so easily be discarded/dismissed.
This is from my uncle’s photo from wartime Darwin. So easily lost. Buried in the annals of time.
As a child I was told that an uncle lived out WW2 in the ‘safety’ of Darwin – it was only later that I learnt that the bombing and attacks on the Northern Territory were hidden from the rest of Australia.
This was but one of his old photos that tell a story - two of his mates, Enjoying their first and last (only) issue / ration of 2 bottles of beer per man! And one can only imagine why this happened only one time!
To me, these men were real. So I bought these men back to life, in colour - rather a challenge, but then, I thrive on challenges.

Relying on my drawing skills to reproduce, from ‘not the clearest of photos’ and also decided to keep the background true to the photo – truly transporting these men into ‘today’, leaving the past behind.

My uncle was a noted AFL footballer (Wally Williamson – West Torrens / Hawthorn), I like to think he’d enjoy my rendition. Something I know he never would have imagined.
This artwork artwork explores my own personal heritage, as I was adopted from birth. My drive to be an artist from my earliest age was a mystery to all around, and most firmly discouraged. But understandable decades later when discovering I was adopted, and the families I evolved from.
A further personal choice is / was to use my favourite medium of watercolour, and press forward into the future by using it in an experimental / non-traditional manner – on canvas with hand-applied watercolour ground - which I've also used for texture to the surface, sometimes combining experimentally with the painting itself.

Ready-to-hang – wire on back. All care is taken to represent my artwork, due to monitors, colour, and also size in hanging suggestion, can vary.

Signed on front, and rear, with COA provided. Protective artwork sealer with UV protection used on surface. Available internationally. 24x36" Framing inquiries welcome.

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Medium

Professional artists quality WATERCOLOUR paints, on watercolour ground on canvas.

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Stretched and ready to hang

This artwork is currently stretched and ready to hang.

People & Portrait Art

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