Helen McCullagh
Nick Dridan
Nick Dridan approaches painting first and foremost in a purely aesthetic sense, concerned with the various design elements of a subject- line, shape, tone, colour etc, and how these can be arranged on the picture plane. More often then not, this way of working carries a painting to finish.
The other less obvious path the work can take is that of open ended narratives. Stories that perhaps can’t be directly read, or meaning which is hinted at where there may be none. This reflects his continuing interest in the need for humans to create narratives to make sense of a world we can’t understand.
Dridan’s subject matter is sourced from his immediate surroundings, on a farm in Central Victoria. Having grown up there, both memory and direct observation have a role to play in his working method.
Dridan has been a finalist in several prizes including the A.M.E Bale traveling prize and the Len Fox Painting Prize.
Oil on Linen Panel 27 x 34 cm $800
Oil on Panel 20 x 25 cm $650
Nick Dridan
b. 1988
Exhibitions
2018: Exhibiting Artist at Lucy McEachern Studio Gallery for Golden Plains Art Trail.
Pyrenees Unearthed Art Show, Winner of Acquisitive Prize, Avoca.
2017: “Landscape into Art”, Group Show, Possum Gulley Gallery, Adelaide Lead.
“Half the Story”, Solo show, Boom Gallery, Geelong.
Artist in residence at Federation University, Ballarat.
Surfcoast Arts Trail, Exhibiting artist at Harley Manifold Studio.
St Patricks College Flanagan Art Prize, Finalist, Ballarat.
Golden Plains Arts Trail, Exhibiting artist at Lucy Mceachern Studio Gallery.
Wyndham Art Prize, Finalist, Wyndham Cultural Centre, Werribee.
“Whispers”, group show with Shaun Tan and Harley Manifold, The Lost Ones Gallery, Ballarat.
2016: A.M.E Bale artist travel award, Finalist, works on paper and works in oil/acrylic
“The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse”, Joint show with Harley Manifold, Central Goldfields
Gallery, Maryborough.
Avoca Art Show, Winner, Best in Show.
St Patrick’s College Flanagan Art Prize, Finalist.
M Collection Award, Finalist, Gallery Smith, North Melbourne.
2015: Golden Plains Art trail, participating artist.
A.M.E Bale artist travel award, Finalist, works on paper.
2014: “Paddock Dwellers”, Recent works, Possum Gulley Art Gallery, Maryborough.
Gallery on Sturt, Ballarat, Recent works.
Small Treasures, Big Ideas, Group Show, Maryborough Art Gallery
2013: Castlemaine Art Gallery, Len Fox Painting Award, Finalist.
Chapman and Bailey Art Award, Chapman and Bailey, Melbourne.
Senses Gallery Amphitheatre, Recent works.
2012: St Patricks College Flanagan Art Prize, Finalist.
2010: Chapman and Bailey Art Award, Chapman and Bailey, Brisbane.
EYE: Arts Academy Graduating Students, Mining Exchange, Ballarat.
Awards and Prizes
2018: Acquisitive Prize, Pyrenees Unearthed Art show.
2017: Best Watercolour, Pyrenees Unearthed Art show.
2016: Best in show, Pyrenees Unearthed Art show.
2013: Best landscape, Donald Art Show.
2009: Best Artist under 21, Pyrenees Art Exhibition and Sale.
Adrienne Guy award, for academic achievement, University of Ballarat Arts Academy.
Education
2010: Bachelor of Visual Arts (Fine Arts) Honours, Arts Academy, University of Ballarat.
2009: Bachelor of Visual Arts (Fine Arts), Arts Academy, University of Ballarat.a
