Embedded Files
Buildings essential to our lives 1900-1960
by David Lever
In the absence of a time machine and colour photos, I paint the past to see what it might have looked like in colour. Careful study of old advertising signs and my memory of the colour of buildings in the 1940/50's, hopefully provide some degree of accuracy.
In this series I have not painted major public buildings, but the lesser buildings and businesses that are essential to our daily lives and social interactions.
Dioramas - Small Sculptures in Wood,Copper and Lino
by David Lever
These small sculpture are an extension of the subject matter of the paintings I exhibited at Macquarie University in November 2013. In a number of the works I have included the same figures I used in the paintings. Other figures are contemporary with the period covered by the paintings, i.e. 1900/1950.
To further the idea of the works being an extension of the paintings I have used reclaimed materials of the period. Much of the wood is from old terrace buildings of the inner suburbs of Sydney. I have rubbed back the surfaces to expose the various levels of paint used over the past 120 years. Similarly, the patinated copper is from an old laundry boiler. The brass plate was formerly kick plates from the doors of 1930's hotel bars. The lino ranges in age from 1890 to 1950.
I've split the dioramas into four galleries:
1. view History in Small Sculptures here
Eternity - A Tribute to Arthur Stace
by David Lever
I first became aware of the chalked word Eternity on the footpaths of Sydney in 1960. I did not know why it was written or who was its author. Nevertheless, its existence and mystery fascinated me and was a continuing and consistent presence in the face of rapid change that is always taking place in society. Eternity was always there until the time of Arthur Stace's death in 1967. I was inspired by dedication to a single and pure endeavor - to remind society of the inevitability of Eternity. These paintings were inspired by a man who was prepared to walk to the beat of a different drum.
Aspects Of A Perceived Australian Culture
by David Lever
My original intention in painting this series was to make a representation of Australian culture. I soon found that Australia does not seem to possess a culture in the traditional European or even American sense. Australia simply has not had enough time (225 years) to establish unique,world recognized architecture, music, food, dance etc. If I am correct in stating that Australia has not yet established its own culture the question then arises, what exists before a culture develops? Perhaps it is the unique way of life that these paintings attempt to represent and that way of life is the foundation upon which a culture will develop.
Doll Portraits
by David Lever
In painting these doll portraits my intention was to make subtle changes to their facial expressions in an attempt to provide added personality and so stimulate the viewers imagination in regard to the dolls role in the doll world. The dolls I have used range from the late 19th century to the 1960's. The very well dressed dolls are Italian Lenci dolls.
Paintings of vintage toys
by David Lever
As a child I owned a small collection of toy cars of a similar vintage to those in these paintings. For every child there were always the dream cars that someone else possessed and would not swap. In painting this group of cars it was my intention to rectify those distant unfulfilled collectors dreams.
Still Lifes
by David Lever
These still life works are painted on vintage linoleum dating from ca 1900 to 1950. I used the linoleum in the paintings to represent wall decoration or wall paper.
The pottery in the paintings is highly collectible and is either Australian or English. The Martin Brothers pottery was made near London between 1880 to 1900.The English Clarice Cliff pottery and the Australian pottery was made during the 1930's.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse