Number nine ute ready for paddock

by Karen Tooth Condobolin Argus

Dubbo based Artist Peter Mortimore is the common thread with the newest 'Utes in the Paddock' contributing artists - Belinda Williams and Greg Brennan. Greg has known Peter for a while and has also received awards in his 'Mortimore Art Prize'- a competition designed for traditional artists now in its third year.

"Peter said it would be up my alley," Greg said. So by word of mouth Peter talked to Graham Pickles (owner of Burrawang West Resort and home to the 'Utes in the Paddock' exhibition) and it went from there. "I'm only too glad to be part of this experience," he said.

This is not the first time Greg has been a part of the Condobolin art scene. "I was associated with the Condobolin Arts Society in the late 1970's as a judge and have also run the odd workshops over the years," he said.

Greg lives in Narromine and has been an artist for quite some time: "I've been painting all my life though it has stopped and started with work commitments. I won a scholarship to do a Commercial Art course in 1959 and studied for two years. Then I got caught up with work and have been involved in the bulldozer and construction industry. I've been painting as a hobby since the 1960's, though I've often thought about doing it full time."

Bringing art to the people is also a passion for Greg who runs weekend workshops at the Western College of Advanced Education, and art demonstrations at exhibitions and shopping malls - the latter Greg is pleased to have stopped. "I felt my work was being pressurized and it became stereotyped." Greg is really enjoying what he is doing now and being able to take the time to do it.

The ute he is painting is called "Golden valley wealth gained from rural enterprise" and is a traditionally styled montage of the income facets from rural industry including shearing, wheat and cotton cropping, sheep grazing, and irrigation - all leading into human hands.