Artist Profile

Completely self-taught, I have been drawing since I was old enough to grip a pencil. I have always enjoyed drawing, painting & creating.  My older sister was quite an artist when I was young and that really helped fuel my competitive drive.  It was always a case of me trying to better her.  Although I drew many subjects, the vast majority were pictures of race cars, race cars and more race cars. As with a lot of young boys I was interested in automobiles from an early age. My uncle raced sprint cars and my first visit to the racetrack occurred at age 4 in Calgary, Alberta. The memory is still vivid & the sites, sounds & smells from that first experience are still with me today. I was hooked and became obsessed with all forms of racing.  Most Sunday afternoons were spent in front of the TV watching NASCAR on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. If racing wasn’t on - the TV went off. That was over 30 years ago.

I sold my first piece at age 8 to a fellow classmate who needed an illustration of a dinosaur for a school project. I think I charged him 25 cents. Growing up poor, we did not have many luxuries, but we always had pencils and paper and many a night were spent sitting at the kitchen table “refining” my abilities. Although my interest was there and some degree of talent was apparent, I lacked patience during the early years and quantity - not quality was the result.  This changed as I grew older.  Throughout my teen years and into early adulthood I did quite a bit of freelance artwork for yearbook covers, designing company logos and private commissions. Subjects included fantasy, sci-fi, pets, portraits, nudes & just about every other subject under the sun. I have worked as a touch-up/enhancement artist on photographs, and as a production artist in a silk screening shop. I also have several years experience as a professional picture framer. 

 I am comfortable using many mediums but at this time prefer working almost exclusively in Pencil and/or Acrylic paint. I find them both very versatile in their own unique ways and both are quite forgiving if you happen to make a boo-boo. (Not that I ever do…no, really!)  Subject matter is easy. If it moves - I’ll draw it. I’m not a big fan of still life and I find painting landscapes painfully boring. I personally believe that the ultimate test for any artist who wants to challenge their ability is the human face. There is no harder subject.  There are so many factors with regards to every facial feature and if the finished work does not accurately reflect and look like the subject…you lose.  No hiding behind a tree or bowl of fruit here. (or a grain elevator for that matter...)

I was born, raised & continue to reside in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. My lovely wife Linda & I have been married for 10 years and we have one daughter, Jeanine, who is the light of my life.

I truly believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right and I try to ensure this philosophy is reflected in my artwork. I spend many hours on each piece striving for perfection in not only the accuracy with regards to the likeness I am portraying, but also capturing the spirit of the subject as well.

2007 marks the 4th anniversary of my business, Austin Images.

Peace.

All Images © Dave Austin (Austin Images) 2006