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:: Biography :: | Featured Works
Given that Todd rarely picked up an artist's brush until his early twenties, some would
say he came to the canvas late indeed. Yet in a sense, art was with him all along. One of
the strongest memories of his boyhood is times with his father, who was a professional
artist. 'What I remember best,' Todd says, 'is the smell of paint.' That, and the fact
that some of the only times his father was content was either in front of an easel or
showing off his work to his family.
Todd, whose paintings are now collected by people around the world, was reared in the
North of Brisbane, son of hardworking parents who passed on a strong commitment to
excellence and dedication to athletic competition. In fact, Todd did not direct his focus
to art until he was sidelined by a back injury. The life as he'd known it for so long
disappearing. With the encouragement of his wife Kim, he gave up Picture Framing and
launched a study of the great masters of traditional art, developing through this ongoing
study a solid definition of good art. Early on, for example, he was struck by how the
impressionists tended to sacrifice the drawing aspect of their art in order to get just
the right vibration of pigment, producing works with an uncanny degree of light and
atmosphere, paintings that fairly shimmered with colour.
At the same time he strove to figure out how best to incorporate those aspects of nature
that would make his painting stronger, without becoming a slave to the scene by trying to
put in everything, pushing beyond what a painting could bear. For guidance he turned to
the works of Monet, Sir Arthur Streeton and Richard Schmid, men who were extraordinarily
inventive when it came to selecting and arranging the most important elements of a scene.
'You have to make sacrifices, 'Todd explains. 'Maybe you're standing in a place where the
sky and the mountains are very dramatic, the trees have incredible colour and the water is
vibrant. You have to decide what you want your painting to be about, render that element
most important, and then paint everything else to support it.'
Todd's family is an important source of support. Kim, with a keen eye for the challenges
presented by colour and composition, is Todd's primary critic and a person whose opinions
he trusts. Ryan and Brooke, aged ten and eight respectively, continuously remind Todd that
painting is not the aim or focus of life, but instead painting contributes to the art of
living. Todd's work has been exhibited in many prestigious galleries and shows throughout
the country. He also has been the recipient of many honours throughout his art career.
Inevitably, Todd was immersed in the art world from childhood. He and his brother Colley
have both progressed swiftly in the professional ranks, with Todd also framing art works
since 1980.
Todd travelled extensively in Europe during 1985, sketching the landscape and visiting the
art galleries where the French Impressionists fascinated him.
He has studied under such notable tutors as Ken Wenzel, Dale Marsh, Kasey Sealy and Robert
Lovett. He also attended Robert Wilson's Summer Art School in Bathurst in 1995. He has
further developed his style by attending life-drawing classes with Peter Donnelly.
Todd thrives painting outdoors and has become well known for his landscapes and
beachscapes.
In May 1997, Todd was one of three guest artists at the Indooroopilly St. Peter's Lutheran
College Art Show. He sold seven paintings and gained one commission during the period of
the show, the greatest success of any of the artists and a phenomenal result for this up
and coming artist.
In 1998, Redcliffe City Council purchased one of Todd's paintings for their permanent
collection. In the same year, Todd made the final list of applicants for the McGregor
Summer School in the UK and he was also accepted for the Florence Academy of Art. At the
McGregor Summer School in Toowoomba, Todd studied under the guidance of tutor Gary
McNicol, spending a week drawing and painting figures and another week on landscapes.
He is married with a young family.
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