Sidney Nolan

Sidney Nolan, The Trial, 1947: enamel on composition board; 90.7 x 121.2cm

Sidney Nolan uses various materials and methods to produce his work, which include paintings and prints. Most of his paintings contain 'earthy' colours and it is evident that he is highly influenced by the Australian outback. In this piece The Trial, Nolan uses enamel paint of composition board to depict the trial of Ned Kelly, the widely known Australian figure. His use of heavy brush strokes and warm colours creates a landscape-like atmosphere which is juxtaposed by the loosely painted dark figures. This adds a sense of uncertainty and fear, which is enhanced in the portrayal of Ned Kelly's eyes which are shown to be frightened of what he is facing.


Patricia Piccinini

Patricia Piccinini's Nest

Piccinini uses a wide variety of materials to produce her almost life like material objects such as the two scooters in Nest. The materials she has used to create this work may have been plastic or metal, which has then been painted to reflect the objects in which she is displaying. Piccinini would have taken note of how the certain found objects looked, in this case a scooter. She then would have drawn a transformation of these found objects into a detailed lifelike picture which is evident in many of her drawings. After having a 2d image to model off, she may then start to shape the materials and then finally paint them with the soft reflective finishes which are seen by her audience and which allow her to create a sense of life.