Robert Dickerson
Encyclopedia
Robert Dickerson is an Australia
n figurative painter
and former member of the Antipodeans group of artists. Dickerson is one of Australia's most recognised figurative artists and one of a generation of influential artists who include Ray Crooke
, Charles Blackman
, Laurence Hope
, Margaret Olley
and Inge King
.
and executed in a range of materials including paint, pastels, charcoals and other graphic media.
The inspiration for his art comes from everyday life and he draws on the themes of loneliness, vulnerability and isolation. Lone characters with long noses and whimsical, often averted eyes feature heavily of his work. He says it is "the same style I've always used," and does not intend to change it.
In November 1955, art patron John Reed
published an article in Ern Malley's Journal (Vol 2) which described Dickerson's work as containing "a new sense of beauty, a new truth". But his break as a professional artist came in 1954 when the National Gallery of Victoria
purchased his work Man Asleep On The Steps. In 1959 he joined Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd
and John Molvig, to form the Antipodeans – a group of figurative artists making a statement opposing abstractionism in their day. According to the former deputy director of the National Gallery of Victoria, Frances Lindsay, members of this group continue to be 'productive and innovative after many decades of practice.
. By the time he was 14 he was working in a factory while he trained as a boxer. He toured for four years with the Jimmy Sharman Boxing Troupe
. "Boxing was purely about money. I was earning 16 shillings ($A1.60) working a 44-hour week and could make two to five pounds ($A4 to $A10) if I won a fight. Minutes in the ring seemed like years, but you cope with what you have to and we needed the money – badly."
Dickerson took up drawing at the age of five, mainly aeroplanes and warships. Later the people in streetscapes became his subject matter. He joined the RAAF as a guard and continued to sketch in his spare time. Inspired by Somerset Maugham
's novel The Moon and Sixpence
he spent the time painting island children using tent canvas and camouflage paint.
Back in Australia he resumed a life of poverty. By the age of 30, he was married with three small children. He shovelled coal to provide for the family, painting at weekends. Later the family lived in a caravan. He continued to find time to paint and, by the end of the 1950s, his work was being noticed.
He turned professional at 35 when he won 100 pounds ($200) in the 1957 Australian Women's Weekly
fridge decorating competition. A small fortune then, the prize allowed him to buy more art materials and extend his techniques. Until then he had used whatever materials were available.
In the mid-1960s Dickerson remarried, had two more children and, despite a drinking problem, continued to paint. The marriage lasted eight years, with three more years fighting for custody of their children. He moved to Brisbane, showing at Johnsone Gallery, travelled, exhibited – at times in London, returned to Sydney and finally settled at Nowra.
Today Dickerson works from his studio in Nowra, New South Wales
. He paints full-time, breeds race horses, and lives with his third wife Jennifer, who is also his business manager. His passion for breeding and racing horses was recognised when he was appointed artist-in-residence at Moonee Valley Race Club for the 2001–02 season. He has several children and stepchildren, 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n figurative painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and former member of the Antipodeans group of artists. Dickerson is one of Australia's most recognised figurative artists and one of a generation of influential artists who include Ray Crooke
Ray Crooke
Ray Crooke , is an Australian artist born in Melbourne. He won the Archibald Prize in 1969 with a portrait of George Johnston.His painting The Offering is in the Vatican Museum collection. Many of his works are in Australian galleries. He is known for serene views of Islander people and ocean...
, Charles Blackman
Charles Blackman
Charles Blackman is one of the best known Australian artists still living today, especially for the famous Schoolgirl and Alice in Wonderland series of the 1950s...
, Laurence Hope
Laurence Hope (artist)
Laurence Hope is an Australian artist from Sydney who is best known for his Lover, Dreamers and Isolates paintings.-Early years:...
, Margaret Olley
Margaret Olley
Margaret Hannah Olley AC was an Australian painter. She was the subject of more than 90 solo exhibitions.Margaret Olley was born in Lismore, New South Wales. She attended Somerville House in Brisbane during her high school years...
and Inge King
Inge King
Inge King is a prominent Australian sculptor, who has many significant public, commercial, and private sculpture commissions to her credit....
.
Professional artist
Dickerson is a self-taught artist who refused to go to art school. His art has been described as angular and high contrast chiaroscuroChiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro in art is "an Italian term which literally means 'light-dark'. In paintings the description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects depicted"....
and executed in a range of materials including paint, pastels, charcoals and other graphic media.
The inspiration for his art comes from everyday life and he draws on the themes of loneliness, vulnerability and isolation. Lone characters with long noses and whimsical, often averted eyes feature heavily of his work. He says it is "the same style I've always used," and does not intend to change it.
In November 1955, art patron John Reed
John Reed
-Arts, letters, and entertainment:* John Reed , New York novelist and author* John Reed , actor and singer with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company* John Reed , Australian critic and art patron...
published an article in Ern Malley's Journal (Vol 2) which described Dickerson's work as containing "a new sense of beauty, a new truth". But his break as a professional artist came in 1954 when the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
purchased his work Man Asleep On The Steps. In 1959 he joined Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd
Arthur Boyd
Arthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd, AC, OBE was one of the leading Australian painters of the late 20th Century. A member of the prominent Boyd artistic dynasty in Australia, his relatives included painters, sculptors, architects or other arts professionals. His sister Mary Boyd married John Perceval,...
and John Molvig, to form the Antipodeans – a group of figurative artists making a statement opposing abstractionism in their day. According to the former deputy director of the National Gallery of Victoria, Frances Lindsay, members of this group continue to be 'productive and innovative after many decades of practice.
Early life
Robert Dickerson was born in 1924 and grew up in Sydney during the 1930s Depression eraGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. By the time he was 14 he was working in a factory while he trained as a boxer. He toured for four years with the Jimmy Sharman Boxing Troupe
Jimmy Sharman
James Sharman senior and junior were father and son Australian boxing troupe impresarios....
. "Boxing was purely about money. I was earning 16 shillings ($A1.60) working a 44-hour week and could make two to five pounds ($A4 to $A10) if I won a fight. Minutes in the ring seemed like years, but you cope with what you have to and we needed the money – badly."
Dickerson took up drawing at the age of five, mainly aeroplanes and warships. Later the people in streetscapes became his subject matter. He joined the RAAF as a guard and continued to sketch in his spare time. Inspired by Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
's novel The Moon and Sixpence
The Moon and Sixpence
The Moon and Sixpence is a novel by W. Somerset Maugham, told in episodic form by the first-person narrator as a series of glimpses into the mind and soul of the central character, Charles Strickland, a middle-aged English stockbroker who abandons his wife and children abruptly to pursue his desire...
he spent the time painting island children using tent canvas and camouflage paint.
Back in Australia he resumed a life of poverty. By the age of 30, he was married with three small children. He shovelled coal to provide for the family, painting at weekends. Later the family lived in a caravan. He continued to find time to paint and, by the end of the 1950s, his work was being noticed.
He turned professional at 35 when he won 100 pounds ($200) in the 1957 Australian Women's Weekly
Australian Women's Weekly
The Australian Women's Weekly is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by ACP Magazines, a division of PBL Media based in Sydney. Audited circulation in 2009 exceeded 500,000 copies monthly, making it the largest magazine in Australia.-History:...
fridge decorating competition. A small fortune then, the prize allowed him to buy more art materials and extend his techniques. Until then he had used whatever materials were available.
In the mid-1960s Dickerson remarried, had two more children and, despite a drinking problem, continued to paint. The marriage lasted eight years, with three more years fighting for custody of their children. He moved to Brisbane, showing at Johnsone Gallery, travelled, exhibited – at times in London, returned to Sydney and finally settled at Nowra.
Today Dickerson works from his studio in Nowra, New South Wales
Nowra, New South Wales
Nowra is a city in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Located SSW and approximately by road south of the state capital of Sydney, it has an estimated population together with its twin-town of Bomaderry of 34,479. It is also the seat and commercial centre of the City of Shoalhaven...
. He paints full-time, breeds race horses, and lives with his third wife Jennifer, who is also his business manager. His passion for breeding and racing horses was recognised when he was appointed artist-in-residence at Moonee Valley Race Club for the 2001–02 season. He has several children and stepchildren, 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.