The 18th century was just one of the inspirations for John Stevens as he prepares to open his latest art exhibit this Friday.
“I’ve been reading many books about the 18th century, and I sort of got influenced by all of it. From there, it all actually just took off,’’ he said.
“The next thing was the beach tour ones, and then it all sort of progressed as I went along.
“I sort of leap from one thing to another, and it’s never cohesive.
“It’s always because I think I’ve got a low threshold for boredom, I think.”
The artwork isn’t just about one time in history, but rather the spectrum of emotions people have shared throughout generations.
“These are all these emotions that we feel every day. It’s like the piece with the men pushing the heart up their hill,” Stevens said.
“If anyone’s gotten a broken heart, that’s what it’s all about. How you feel redundant and all the rest of it. There’s a lot of myself in all these works.”
The exhibition features 39 pieces, with one already sold.
Stevens said although he’s generally shy, he likes the chance to share his work with people.
The pieces use various methods and techniques, some using layers of real newspaper in the background and others painted.
“I’ve got a stack of sketchbooks from way back then, so I tend to actually put all my energy into it,’’ he said.
“So I’ll do a rough sketch, and then I’ll actually think about it and then add to it.
“Then I think, well, that’s the final image. Then it becomes what you see on the wall.
“I do love to use a lot of different techniques. I’ll use real fabrics or things like that, and then I’ll use coloured pencils at the top just to give a little bit of detail.
“Even just using old newspapers … I had a stack of them and I just thought I’ll glue them down and use a bit.”
Stevens said as he grows as a person, so does the art he produces.
“Nothing relates to the last show because I don’t have a formula. It’s always like I’m at a different length of my timeline and it always changes,” he said.
“What I thought about last year doesn’t always reflect what I think about now. I’m always in flux, which is a good thing.
“It’s like a new year’s resolution. I feel like that’s the old me, and now it’s time for the new me.”
The exhibition opens at 6pm this Friday at the Customs House Gallery, 2 Leslie St, Echuca.
The artworks will be on show at the gallery until February 4.