THE ARTIST SERIES WITH TIM OWERS

Tim has such a mature understanding of light and colour for a young artist.  His work is majorly insired by the Australian environment, and has an incredible depth that inspires me to walk outside and look around just a little more often.  You'll have to stare at these images for a minute longer to notice the incredible detail in each one, and it will be absolutely worth your while to do just that.

Tell us a little bit about your life / work

I’ve been working as a freelance artist for the last few years under the name TOWERS, a moniker that developed quite naturally by people misreading the signature on my works (T.Owers). I’m besotted with the natural world and love attempting to depict my appreciation & response to it through art. I studied a Bachelor of Natural History Illustration at Newcastle University which very much nurtured that appreciation and helped me develop my artistic expression. I work in a wide range of mediums including oils, acrylic, watercolour & pastel. I live with my wife in a little house in a rural area of the Central Coast called Somersby, surrounded by beautiful bushland, birds & farm animals.

What inspired you to be an Artist?

I’d always had a love for drawing, beginning in my early years in my attempts at reproducing illustrations from Pokémon cards, or photos I found in encyclopedias, and developing into more of a passion throughout high school. But I think it was the encouragement of my parents, teachers & lecturers that lead me to consider being an artist as a full-time profession. The idea that I might have something unique or special to contribute to the incredible array of art in our world was invigorating and very motivating!

Is there an artist that you turn to for inspiration when you need it? 

I have a strong emphasis on colour in my work, so I tend to turn the Impressionists if I’m in a bit of a lull. Whenever I zoom in on those distinct brushstrokes, I shake my head in awe of their incredible grasp on colour. I also find myself repeatedly turning to the portrait artist Vincent Fantauzzo. I truly think he is our modern Rembrandt, using such dramatic lighting & contrast to make his pieces come to life!

What is your favourite colour?

Today, bluish grey. Tomorrow, probably greenish grey. I’m a sucker for all pastel shades.

Is there a symbol or subject that you find yourself using repeatedly in your work? Can you explain it to us?

I definitely seem to always come back to birds. Especially little birds that are easy to miss. I think I really enjoy putting the unassuming into the spotlight… a little bird, a tree, an alley way…

Happiest childhood memory?

Probably a family holiday to Tasmania. I would have only been 11, but the landscapes, wildlife and culture were enthralling.

Your greatest achievement? 

Within my art career, having a solo exhibition was really something special. 

Outside of my art career, finding someone who was willing to spend the rest of her life with me was quite an achievement!

Did it take long to truly develop your own style?

Well, there are definitely stylistic ‘signatures’ in my work that I’ve developed over the years, for instance I almost always refuse to use black in my works but opt instead for dark purples or blues. However my philosophy is that an artist’s style should never finish developing. I think an artist has enough trouble trying to resist societies expectations on what is considered a ‘good’ piece of art… the last thing they need is to be constricted by their own stylistic limitations. So in answer to the question, it has taken 25 years so far and I expect it will take many, many more years.

Find Tim online

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