{ "componentChunkName": "component---src-templates-artist-js", "path": "/ian-mastin", "result": {"pageContext":{"slug":"ian-mastin","artist":{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","website":null,"title":"Ian Mastin","artistStatement":"What I impart in my paintings is a reflection of a very personal journey. I gain my inspiration from many sources, without being beholden to any particular style or perceived past ‘Golden Age’. While my works recognise the influence of the Dutch and Flemish Masters of the 17th Century, I wholeheartedly embrace the fascination and challenge of the Still Life whilst in no way feeling bound by tradition or convention. \n\nI am instinctively drawn to the effects of chiaroscuro upon the eye and mind, and I’m fascinated how the juxtaposition of seemingly random shapes, textures, colour and tone have the capacity to arrest and delight the viewer in ways which are difficult to define. I particularly enjoy working with items of simple utilitarian use – the detritus of life from earlier generations. An old, much loved and worn book or bowl can bring as much joy for me to paint as the most complex composition.","biography":"“It was in the 1980s while living in Brisbane, that I first began to sketch in pencil and graphite. It was purely recreational and my way of winding down after a long day. As I'd only get the opportunity of a few hours each week, large works would take me the best part of a year to complete.”\n\nIt wasn't until he was living in Edinburgh, Scotland (1990s) that Ian first picked up a paintbrush. By now, aged 40, Ian's wife presented him with a set of watercolours for Christmas. Ian's early works were mainly watercolour and the subject matter varied, but it was his discovery of still life in the traditional style that gave him the direction he had been seeking and the passion to pursue his artistic goal of excellence in this genre. \n\n“I was fortunate that when I first started to paint full-time, it was only a couple of years before I discovered the genre of work that inspired me utterly - Still Life in the traditional form. My first encounter with it was an exhibition in an Edinburgh gallery. Up to that time I'd only been working in watercolours, and I was utterly transfixed by this new style. I sensed instant resonance and knew I'd found my new direction. Admittedly, my first efforts were not what you see today https://www.ianmastin.com/early-works however I saw enough of a spark to give me the encouragement and motivation to continue. I began to see real improvement fairly quickly and within a few weeks I was submitting pieces to Edinburgh galleries which were accepted - and sold.”\n\nIan's work is clearly influenced by Dutch and Flemish Masters of the 17th Century, although the timeless quality of his work is neither bound by tradition nor convention. He remains resolutely unmoved by popular trends and says: \n\n“If crafted well, the simplest of subjects have the potential to arrest and delight. I’m particularly attracted to the old, worn and often imperfect or repaired items. For me, the wear, tear and scars of old hand-crafted items reveal a fascinating unspoken background story, real or imagined, and it is this aspect that inspires me the most. It’s the same with selecting fruit. Whenever I'm looking for organic items to paint, I much prefer roadside stalls or farmer’s markets to supermarkets because the first things that attract me to a piece of fruit or veg are any misshapen, gnarled imperfections or over ripeness. To me, this symbolises life, which is just as precious in our struggles and imperfections as in our pomp and ease.’\n\nIn his 30-year painting career, Ian has never undergone any formal training - he is entirely self-taught. His detailed, painstakingly crafted paintings are the result of keen observation, countless hours honing his skills and perfecting technique, together with the application of much discipline and dedication. Perhaps not surprisingly, Ian's artwork has built an enthusiastic following across the UK, Europe, the US and Australia. It is regularly featured in international Art Fairs, including London, New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Singapore. His paintings can be found in many private collections all around the world. \n\nIn 2001, Ian and his wife left the UK and returned to Queensland where he continues his love affair with art in an idyllic little community on the East coast called Woodgate Beach.","additionalDocuments":[],"images":[{"id":"8973","img":"\"MASTIN","small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/MASTIN_Olives-Pour-Toi_LR.jpg","filename":"MASTIN_Olives-Pour-Toi_LR.jpg","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/MASTIN_Olives-Pour-Toi_LR.jpg"},{"id":"8982","img":"\"MASTIN","small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/MASTIN_Shot-Glass-with-Apple_LR.jpg","filename":"MASTIN_Shot-Glass-with-Apple_LR.jpg","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/MASTIN_Shot-Glass-with-Apple_LR.jpg"}],"artistCv":[{"id":"8989","filename":"IanMASTIN_CV_FrancesKeevil_2023.pdf","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/cv/IanMASTIN_CV_FrancesKeevil_2023.pdf"}],"showcaseArtworks":[{"id":"4503","slug":"all-spice","title":"All Spice","materials":"oil on board \n25 x 30 cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4502","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/All-Spice-oil-on-board-25x30cm-Art.JPG","filename":"All-Spice-oil-on-board-25x30cm-Art.JPG","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/All-Spice-oil-on-board-25x30cm-Art.JPG","img":"\"All"}]},{"id":"4506","slug":"blueberries-and-cherries","title":"Blueberries and Cherries","materials":"oil on board \n30x30cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4505","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/Blueberries-and-Cherries-oil-on-board-30x30cm-Art.JPG","filename":"Blueberries-and-Cherries-oil-on-board-30x30cm-Art.JPG","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Blueberries-and-Cherries-oil-on-board-30x30cm-Art.JPG","img":"\"Blueberries"}]},{"id":"4509","slug":"chillis-with-rosemary","title":"Chillis with Rosemary","materials":"oil on board \n36 x 38 cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4508","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/Chillis-with-Rosemary-oil-on-board-36x38cm-Art.JPG","filename":"Chillis-with-Rosemary-oil-on-board-36x38cm-Art.JPG","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Chillis-with-Rosemary-oil-on-board-36x38cm-Art.JPG","img":"\"Chillis"}]},{"id":"4512","slug":"midwinter","title":"Midwinter","materials":"oil on board \n36 x 30 cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4511","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/Midwinter-oil-on-board-36x30cm-Art.jpg","filename":"Midwinter-oil-on-board-36x30cm-Art.jpg","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Midwinter-oil-on-board-36x30cm-Art.jpg","img":"\"Midwinter"}]},{"id":"4515","slug":"old-measuring-pot-with-grapes","title":"Old Measuring Pot with Grapes","materials":"oil on board \n30 x 36 cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4514","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/Old-Measuring-Pot-with-Grapes-oil-on-board-30x36cm-Art.JPG","filename":"Old-Measuring-Pot-with-Grapes-oil-on-board-30x36cm-Art.JPG","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Old-Measuring-Pot-with-Grapes-oil-on-board-30x36cm-Art.JPG","img":"\"Old"}]},{"id":"4518","slug":"pomegranates","title":"Pomegranates","materials":"oil on board \n23 x 30 cm","sold":[],"artist":[{"id":"4482","slug":"ian-mastin","title":"Ian Mastin","artworks":[]}],"imageThumbnail":[],"images":[{"id":"4517","url":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/Pomegranates-oil-on-board-23x30cm-Art.JPG","filename":"Pomegranates-oil-on-board-23x30cm-Art.JPG","slug":null,"small":"https://franceskeevil.frb.io/artworks/_800xAUTO_crop_center-center_none/Pomegranates-oil-on-board-23x30cm-Art.JPG","img":"\"Pomegranates"}]}],"artworks":[]}}}, "staticQueryHashes": ["3649515864","583493733","63159454"]}