Altered Vision

Ever since Josh Reid began painting, he has looked at things somewhat differently.

Ever since this artist began painting, he has looked at things differently. When he looks over a hill and sees an expanse of coloured flats in the distance, he thinks about how they would look in a painting … and how he would paint them.

Josh Reid was born in the small town of Narrogin, in Western Australia. He lived there until he graduated from high school. As a young man, he moved to Penrith in New South Wales and joined a Christian theatre company called Covenant Players – to spend the next five years being trained in the craft of acting and directing.

During that time he also travelled extensively. He spent around two years in India and the surrounding countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand).

While in India, Josh was given a small box of watercolours. He enjoyed painting flowers on whatever paper he could find. At that stage in his life he was not taking art very seriously and certainly didn’t consider himself to be an artist.

While working with Covenant Players he was trained by some very experienced stage actors and directors; and was privileged to see many beautiful and bewildering parts of the world.

Later Josh moved to Wollongong in New South Wales. After marrying, he struggled for some years – doing a variety of mundane, casual jobs. It was a difficult transition into the ‘real world’.

After working in a few call centres, Josh started his own theatre company in Wollongong. He operated this with his wife for a few years, and they produced many plays including ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and ‘The Screwtape Letters’. In the end it was not a profitable enterprise however … and Josh once again found himself working in call centres.

In 2002, frustrated with his mind-numbing work situation, Josh enrolled in a film making course at Fox Studios. It inspired him to make his first short film; followed in later years by several other short films including ‘Insight’ (2007) which has been shown in cinemas and on television around the world.

There is not much money in short films, so Josh bought a small business dealing in security cameras. His management role has freed up much of his time, allowing the pursuit of his passions including acting, film making, woodwork, gardening … and now art!

In 2008, his wife bought him a table easel, canvas, oils and brushes. Josh painted his first oil painting: Some red

lily-like flowers on a bright yellow background. The family loves this painting and they won’t allow Josh to sell it. It is currently hanging in his daughter’s room.

He based his next two paintings on some landscape photographs. From another image found on the Internet, he painted a high aerial landscape of Huskisson/jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales. He was starting to enjoy painting a great deal by this stage, and found that it was the only thing that really relaxed him.

Recently when Josh was at Sydney Galleries in Darling Harbour, he was quite taken aback by some large, bold paintings of Sydney Harbour. They were created by Sydney artist Nicole Southworth.

“When I saw them, I realised that this was the way I wanted to be able to paint,” said Josh.

He has since been able to get in contact with Nicole and she has been very helpful and encouraging. She has given Josh some amazing tips – such as painting the whole background a bright red or orange colour first, and then leaving little bits of the background colour showing through to the finished painting. Using this technique gives depth.

Josh Reid was also fortunate enough to meet David Hart (Pro Hart’s son) at an art exhibition in Sydney. David encouraged Josh to continue experimenting.

Jason Blaiklock was a child prodigy artist and had his own gallery in Sydney about 20 years ago. Jason has been a wonderful source of encouragement and support for Josh, too. He suggested that Josh should paint a selection of paintings and then simply host an opening night at his own house. The idea is to invite friends and relatives, as well as gallery owners. There are only minimal costs; and yet people can come and see the artworks and purchase them. If gallery owners come to the house opening, they may invite the artist to exhibit at other galleries.

When Josh took a trip to Canberra with his family and saw the later works of Frederick Mccubbin at the National Gallery of Australia, he was amazed at the work of this Australian Impressionist – particularly his mastery in the use of light. After seeing the exhibit, Josh bought a couple of Mccubbin’s books and prints which he now uses as a source of inspiration for his own paintings.

This developing artist finds that the more he paints, the more he is discovering his own unique style. Although he doesn’t feel like he has achieved it yet, Josh believes that his own style will become a mix between traditional impressionism and modern impasto. Josh loves painting on a very large stretched canvas.

In recent months Josh has been approached by several people wanting to purchase his paintings. One of the people was a Hollywood movie director, who the young artist met after acting in one of his films.

Josh Reid has been invited to be part of a Sydney exhibition in 2010 for Compassion Australia. He is also keen to enter the Gallipoli Art Prize; and hold his own exhibition at his home in Wollongong.

This talented man feels confident that each painting he completes is a little better than the last. He wants to continue to get better; and become more

alive, experimental and passionate in his painting style. He finds it hard to put a price on the finished works.

“I don’t want to overcharge, but I do (at the very least) want to cover my costs; and perhaps earn a little bit for the time put in, too,” he says.

Art has permanently altered Josh Reid’s vision. Ever since he has been painting, he has looked at things differently. When he looks over a hill and sees an expanse of coloured flats in the distance, he thinks about how they would look in a painting … and how he would paint them.

For the future, Josh wants to move away from business and concentrate full-time on his creative pursuits. He is currently working on a series of 20 large paintings of iconic places around the Wollongong area. He plans to hold an exhibition of the collection late in 2010.

More information about this artist can be found at his website: www.joshreid.net