LEONARD METCALF – site

"Creating artworks by producing unique photographs enables me to express my belief that wildness is an intimate friend. As a conservationist I believe that mother nature is the creative and controlling primary force in the universe. While creating my art in magical locations I am reminded of the interconnectedness of our world. Society is dependent on the natural environment for peace and well-being. It is my goal to communicate this belief so that we can build stronger / healthier communities with a greater understanding and sense of connection with our fragile ecosystem. Among the aspirations and motivations for my art work is a strong drive to save this beautiful planet for our children. The word photography means ‘drawing with light’ (from the Greek), this is exactly what I strive for when attempting to achieve a unique vision in my search for significant form. My exploration of form has grown from the pallet of landscape photography, and now includes intimate landscapes, human forms and creations. My earliest artworks were drawings and paintings of natural objects and the Australian landscape. The rendering of light and form with the pencil and paintbrush have evolved to the use of lens, camera and film. I prefer to use intuitive photographic methods over highly technical or scientific approaches. I find myself using all manor of cameras to capture the natural forms as my primary subject matter. Doing so allows me to keep in touch with my feelings and my relationship with nature. I consciously choose rag paper as the medium for my prints, as a natural medium; a traditional renewable resource. I work with pigment inks on paper as I know that the artwork will remain stable to ensure its longevity. It will always be magical to touch and beautiful to behold. Paper enables me to stay in touch with drawing and printmaking skills which were the foundations of my experience in art. I believe art on paper also evokes the connection to the plant the paper originated from, and represents the interconnections within the ecosystem. Currently the direction of my work strives to move away from the current ‘landscape photographer’ status quo, in an attempt to discover a Modern Australian Landscape Style. One where the artwork is timeless, unique and the photographs illustrate the spiritual within nature. My subject matter has expanded to include interpretations of the human figure and the viewer will begin to see the figure being included in my landscape photography as I experiment with our interrelationships with the earth. (Len)”

Image: Minni Ha Ha Creek, Katoomba by Leonard Metcalf

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