VALE JAMIN SWANEVELD

 VALE JAMIN SWANEVELD

Artist extraordinaire, extraordinary human.

Photo credit: ASHLEIGH WEBB

The world lost a special soul when Jamin Swaneveld was tragically killed when he was involved in an accident on his beloved motorcycle near Emerald on March 6th. He was only 45 years old. A devoted husband and father he is survived by his wife  Marcie and his two children Willow and Banjo. 

Jamin was a creative giant in the area.  A talented artist who drew and sculpted, this combined with his builder's background created amazing fantasy and whimsical pieces. He went on to become one of the most respected tattoo artists in Australia.

 A man who touched people not only with his talent but with his genuine good nature and personality.

I first met Jamin when I first moved into the area nearly two decades ago. He had just opened up a space next to a Nursery called WillowWoods in Belgrave to showcase his art. It was a magical place. A hexagonal cabin surrounded by fantasy-themed gardens with a bridge crossing to a little nook over the creek. Inside where sculptured models of wizards, dragons with other items like birdhouses books with ornates covers and random items like swords, helmets and shields, and smaller pieces like mushrooms and candles. I would pop in a just chat about anything, he had that charismatic personality and being a natural storyteller, he could hold an audience for ages. 

Sadly, WillowWoods didn’t pan out as planned and Jamin took a leap into the great unknown and decided to start up his own tattoo parlour Last Frontier in Upwey. A passion that combined his natural talent in drawing, patience and his natural rapport with people. Within a decade he had become one of the most respected skin artists in the country. He had built a unique shop, a cabinet of curiosities that was a million miles removed from the type of establishment often associated with the industry. With this success came the ability to travel and research the art he so much loved. His unique style and willingness to work with customers made him hugely popular. During COVID, unable to work from the shop, he decided to move the business to his home in Cockatoo where he rebuilt the shop's fantasy interior in a separate studio. This was all to be ready to roll out early this year but sadly this will no longer take place. Besides being an artist and builder Jamin had a passion for cars and motorcycles. He had two projects an old 1952 Ford pickup and a steampunk themed Harley motorbike that was showcased in national magazines. 

The world has lost a wonderfully creative talent and a true gentleman, a man whose passing has affected many in the community as they realise how much a change he made in their lives and I cannot begin to understand the loss his family is suffering. But if you reap what you sow in this life Jamin is currently walking through a field of gold. 

Rest In Peace great man. I'll see ya when I'm looking at ya.

OTHER ARTICLES THAT JAMIN APPEARED IN THAT WERE PUBLISHED IN THE PAST.

Willowwoods  -Where I fist met Jamin and how he inspired me to start creating again

Jamin the Artist An early article of his move to Last Frontier

Last Frontier  A review of Last Frontier.

My Hobbit Hole  That time Jamin gave me his unfinished Hobbit house from Willow Woods.

d'Arcy Doyle Aussie Everyman Painter

 

d'Arcy Doyle Aussie Everyman Painter

I was watching a documentary recently on the great American commercial painter Norman Rockwell. A genius at portraying everyday people in common everyday scenes, sometimes with a touch of humour but always with sense of warmth and affection. His portraits of American scenes and situations have become the standard of what people perceive as “everyday” American life from the 1930s to 60s. This whole episode got me remising about my formative years mainly the mid 1970s and 1980s and the artist d’Arcy W Doyle and his works had a similar effect the Rockwell had on his country and why Doyle rates as one of my favourite local artists.

It is no surprise that Doyle’s work would leave an impression on those from that era as Doyle was a canny businessman and like Ken Done who followed him marketed his work into countless prints and advertising paraphernalia such as biscuit tins, dinner trays and calendars. At one time it was estimated that one in ten Australian homes had one of his works in some form or another. This was fortunate for me because at the time growing up surrounded by these images though I had no real interest in art or illustration at that time, the familiarity of it left its mark on my memory. When I was a young lad my brothers and I were often packed up during school holidays and sent by bus up to Yea, the township where my mum’s family originated and many still lived along with our countless cousins. It wasn’t until later that looking closer at some of these d’Arcy Doyle pictures and his depiction of country life that I started to experience a major feeling of déjà vu. Though Doyle based many of these paintings around his own home in South East Queensland, they echoed my summers in Yea. The wide dusty dirt roads, playing cricket in the late afternoon early evening in baggy shorts and shoeless. A mixed group of both boys and girls of varying ages with nary a parent to be seen. Even the houses resembled my Aunty and Uncles. Some sitting high with trestles and other close to the street behind unkempt hedges. It was like a snapshot was taken of our time on those holidays away from home while mum and dad worked.

d’Arcy Doyle was more than a capturer of streetscapes. His deep infinity with the bush produced many landscapes, once again predominantly Queensland and his portrait of Sir Donald Bradman is considered a classic. He also became renowned as a mural painter working receiving commissions to do similar types of work in many Sydney RSLs. An organisation close to his heart as he served in the Australian Navy for seven years including a stint in Korea. Doyle died of bone cancer, something he battled for over a decade, in 2001 but his legacy continues with the d’Arcy Doyle Art Awards now in their 16^th year contributing to the success of artists from across the country. The main landscape category boasts a $10,000 first prize with further categories in Portraiture and Still Life. .The awards and exhibition showcase the best of Australian art from professionals and up and coming emerging artists with The d’Arcy Doyle Schools Challenge section dedicated to children attending junior, middle and high schools.

So, while Doyle’s prints and ephemera are not as prevalent as they once were, he still has a big stake in the future of other artists and he has left his mark on my memories even though it was only three or four works it’s probably influenced me more than most artists in my life.

Originally printed in the BBCN Issue 297 March 2021 edition