Feb 2009

Irrepressible Queensland artist Donald James Waters brings a scintillating collection of paintings to LK Galleries in Subiaco for his 2009 exhibition.  The title, “Toe in the Waters”, gives an unambiguous invitation to a humourous and energetic show.

“This exhibition”, says Waters, “is comparable to placing your toe in the Indian Ocean, it’s there; it’s exciting and it’s all in front of you. I have learnt to become excited by the unknown and this spurs me on to accept, listen, feel and dive into the depths of spontaneity.

“My works are grounded in my love of life and the innocence of children, all enhanced with colour and humour.

“For me, painting is the most effective way I know to celebrate the positive side of life and to reveal the exciting depths of life’s uncharted waters.”

The past decade has seen Donald James Waters notch up a string of successful solo exhibitions around Australia and in the UK, support significant charity exhibitions, enjoy the honour of having work selected for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Brisbane in 2001, and acquired for the collection of Queen Elizabeth II.

Donald’s legendary drawing and technical skills are the armoury that enable him to create his vigorous, dynamic compositions that celebrate the joy of being alive. Colour is another vital component through which he realises the up-beat energy so characteristic of his paintings.

Waters maintains a dynamic balance between the appearance of the figure or place, as the viewer may recall it, and the relative degree of distortion and fore-shortening that transform the subjects into a representation of remembered emotions rather than simply appearance.

Whilst wholly individual, Donald James Waters is a product of his times, acknowledging influences from an eclectic selection of artists, film-makers, advertisers and video game authors. These range from the Old Masters, early 20th century Fauvists and Futurists, through to Japanese cartoons and Hollywood blockbusters.

Donald James offers us every-day life in the ‘lucky country’ and invites us to enjoy the exhilaration and the fun as he places his “Toe in the Waters”.

Born Sydney, Australia

Studied with Australian Artist Francis Lymburner

Entered Hawksbury Agricultural College

Compare of Property & Finance Show –WBQ8 TV

First Solo Exhibition-Alcheringa Gallery, Maryborough Qld

First Artist-Quest Community Newspapers-Brisbane Qld

Artist-Sun Newspapers-Gold Coast,Qld

Lest We Forget Collection(Legacy War Series) toured Australia &

New Zealand

First living Artist to Exhibit in Parliament House,Canberra

First Artist to exhibit in Brisbane Convention Centre

Painting assignment to Indonesia

Commission to paint labels for collector’s bottle of Beenleigh Rum & Gallery 8 Wine

Paintings included in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth LL Art Collection

Novotel Twin Waters-paintings for Queen’s reception and accommodation areas

Stockport Art Gallery-jumped five-year waiting list to exhibit in municipal gallery Greater Manchester, UK

The Works

Don has crossed many milestones and achieved success of which he is proud. His works find themselves “Homes” in every corner of the globe which are created in a frenzy of excitement, which is contagious. The number of exhibitions and collections are a testament to his work.