Landscape artist, Roger Callen, has had a lifelong interest in drawing and landscapes, which first led to a career in earth sciences.
Roger, 80, has always and still closely considers the contrast between the way humanity views the world and the way nature works.
“We live in a world of our own construction, imposing that on the natural world in ways that the natural world would never express it,” he says.
Describing himself as a nature lover and “greenie”, Roger’s art reflects those interests. He particularly has a love of textures and colours in rocks and plants, and of fossils and minerals.
‘The World is a Strange Place’ is the title of his exhibition, consisting mainly of his abstract works, opening on January 27 at the Pomona Railway Station Gallery.
The Beerwah-based artist’s work ranges from realist to expressionism and abstract. He uses mainly watercolour and oil paints on a variety of surfaces, mainly paper and canvas, and often includes collage and sculptural elements.
Born in Scotland in 1943, Roger lived on the chalk downs of Kent UK as a boy and moved to Adelaide with his parents in 1954. He now lives with his wife Rosa at Beerwah.
Roger’s professional art practice began in 2010 with art courses by Megan Shelton, Sonja Georgeson, and others on the Sunshine Coast. There was a strong family interest in art, with both a brother and daughter being professional artist.
Also a published poet, the Pomona exhibition will be Roger’s 15th (mainly in SEQ). He was a finalist in the Brisbane Contemporary Art Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019, Sunshine Coast Council’s Local Artist Local Content Prize, and Corangamarah Art Prize (Victoria) and is represented in private collections.
The volunteer-run Pomona Railway Station Gallery is at 10 Station St, Pomona. Opening hours are 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday; 10am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday.
