# Ralph Stanton Artist – Up Close & Personal - Link: https://www.jahroc.com.au/ralph-stanton-artist-up-close-personal - Published: 2017-11-30T18:32:23+08:00 - Author: JahRoc Galleries With a background in architecture/town planning Ralph Stanton found his way into visual arts later in life. Taking inspiration from the West Australian light and landscape and from Abstract Expressionism  – particularly the ideas of New York School painter Mark Rothko  – he creates striking paintings rich in colour and texture. As an artist he is interested in expressing an ‘inner light or emotional space’ through non-representational imagery. ## Enjoy getting to know Ralph Stanton … --- ### When did you first feel the desire to be artistic and realise you had talent? I have felt an artistic urge from an early age. I trained as an architect where I spent my first career in town planning and urban design, with some success. But I did not realise my talent for visual or three-dimensional art until later in life. ### Where did you learn your art? I undertook a diploma at Claremont School of Art in the 1990’s. ### What inspires you most? I was greatly influenced by Mark Rothko’s approach to the idea of “self-transcendent experience, revealed through art and, above all, colour – its inherent expressiveness.” I take this idea in a direction inspired by the light and colours of landscape ( especially Western Australian landscape) and/or by my own inner feeling. ### What message are you sending to the viewer of your art? Rothko’s aim was “to formulate a message transcending self – about the human condition generally.” For me, I’m not sure there is a “message” as such. (Or perhaps, in the words of Marshal McLuhan, “the medium _is_ the message”). Either way, I am happy if the viewer sees beauty in the work and responds with feeling and an emotional connection. ### Describe your studio My first real studio was at PSAS in Fremantle. In 2004 my wife Jo and I moved to a new award-winning terrace house – designed together with Nash & Ghersinich Architects in Northbridge, Perth. My studio occupies the ground floor and is light and airy, with full-height south-light windows; it opens onto a lovely walled garden which filters west light via a large light-well. Currently Jo and I are on extended sabbatical in Sydney, where I have a studio at Square 1 Studios, Alexandria – a group space with other artists working in all media and ranges of expression. It is stimulating to meet and talk with other artists having similar as well as diverse  interests. ### Describe a typical day In Perth, I was an afternoon painter. Mornings were engaged, in writing, piano or other activities, leaving afternoons open for painting – not unlike a university or art school timetable. This gave space to take my time, contemplate and proceed– sometimes slowly, sometimes quite fast. In Sydney, my day is more hectic and varied; Also piano and now choir, as well as family pursuits; and in the studio I am more focussed on the work in hand. It is quite a change, and an energetic boost. ### What mediums do you use and why? I am a fan of quick-drying acrylic, particularly the Australian-developed “Atelier” interactive paints, which allow a great deal of flexibility. I use proprietary “ flow,” “extender” or “clear” mediums for particular effects, often over a made-up hand-worked textural ground. ### What are you working on now? I am working on similar themes, and specifically working towards two exhibitions in 2018 – in Sydney and  in Margaret River. ### Where can you see yourself in 10 years time? More of the same Ralph Stanton – Artist Biography Before turning to art, I practised as an architect and town planner in Western Australia, heading my own firm until 1992. I attended Claremont School of Art, graduating in 1994. I was born in Melbourne in 1941. I qualified in architecture before living in London, undertaking post-graduate studies. I have travelled widely in Europe, India, Japan, the Middle East, North and South America. I have been married since 1965 and have two adult children. Since 2004 I have worked from a house and studio in Perth’s “Northbridge” area. I have exhibited regularly since 1996. I seek to evoke feeling, space and atmosphere, with no particular “story” or message. More a “landscape of the mind”, often strong in mood; contemplative pieces to be taken in at leisure, in different lights. I imagine it somewhat as music, speaking directly to the viewer, suggesting an often unnamed emotional state. I am interested in expressing something of an inner light or emotional space, not personal, but non-objective and universal. My work is non-representational. It is “abstract” but is not an abstraction of any prior image; it is an attempt to capture meaning and beauty within the framework of a canvas – a timeless moment of recognition reflecting emotion and the sublime, a sort of search for order within a generally chaotic world. I work with the interplay of surface and subsurface. I tend to work intuitively, with no initial plan other than a general approach and direction, allowing the work to evolve. I work with light, space and colour – and Perth and the West Coast generally, with its clear light and broad horizons has up until now been an absorbing source and inspiration. With a recent installation, I attempt to express these ideas in 3D. Inside a darkened space, the work takes the form of a large jet-black cube, seemingly floating on a plinth of immaterial LED light slowly ranging through a full spectrum of colour. The viewer is invited to sit and quietly contemplate, perhaps to reflect upon his or her own “inner light”  and to enjoy the experience. ### Collections Public * King Edward Memorial Hospital * Claremont Medical Centre * Maurice Zeffert Memorial Home ### Collections Private Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide, London, Zurich, San Francisco, New York, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, Nelson NZ ### Professional Associations * Member Artists Foundation of Western Australia Royal Australian Institute of Architects * Fellow Planning Institute of Australia ### Professional Qualifications * Diploma of Art & Design (Fine Art) Claremont School of Art (WA) 1994 * Diploma of Town Planning (University of London) 1969 * Bachelor of Architecture (University of Melbourne) 1964 ### Exhibitions * 1993 – Claremont School of Art * 1994 – Albany Art Prize Exhibition * 1994 – Allegretta Studios Gallery * 1995 – Allegretta Studios Gallery * 1996 – Moores Building Gallery * 1996 – Inside Out Design (solo) * 1997 – PS Studios Gallery * 1997 – Moores Building Gallery * 1997 – Salec Minc Exhibition * 1998 – Old Mill Gallery, York (solo) * 1998 – Gadfly Gallery (solo) * 1999 – Festival of Perth Art Fair * 1999 – Salec Minc Exhibition * 1999 – Gadfly Gallery (solo) * 2000 – Vzualvibes Online Gallery * 2001 – Gadfly Gallery * 2001 – Festival of Perth (Gadfly Gallery) * 2001 – Salec Minc Exhibition * 2001 – Hale School Exhibition * 2002 – Gadfly Gallery (with Geoff Wake) * 2002 – Hale School Exhibition * 2003 – Gadfly Gallery (with Geoff Wake) * 2003 – Hale School Exhibition * 2004 – Gadfly Gallery (with Geoff Wake) * 2004 – Hale School Exhibition * 2005 – Several commercial exhibitions * 2006 – Gadfly Gallery (with Chubby Button) * 2006 – Minawarra Exhibition * 2006 – Elements Gallery “4 Painters” (with Geoff Wake, Helen Forbes and Jules Sher) * 2006 – “Artitude” Exhibition at PCEC * 2006 – Cossack Awards (Shire of Roebourne) * 2006 – Hale School Exhibition * 2006 – Mahoneys Gallery “4 Painters” (with Geoff Wake, Helen Forbes and Jules Sher) * 2007 – Elements Gallery “4 Painters” (with Geoff Wake, Helen Forbes and Jules Sher)2007 – Hale School Exhibition * 2007 – “Artitude” Exhibition, Burswood * 2009 – Gadfly Gallery Exhibition * 2010 – Several local government and community exhibitions. * 2014 – “Dark Light” installation using LED light forms- at PSAS Fremantle, (with Geoff   Wake, Tom Muller and Horst Kornberger) * 2016 – “3degrees@139” private exhibition in Birchgrove,  NSW * 2016 –  Harrop & Co Nedlands WA * 2016 – Kerrie Lowe Gallery, Newtown Sydney NSW * 2017 – Square One Studios group exhibition * 2017 – “Chaos or Control” at Stella Downer Fine Art with Sq1 Studios ### Awards * New Residence and Studio at 28 Church Street Perth: – In collaboration with Nash& Ghersenich Architects– * RAIA Residential Award Commendation 2005 * Town of Vincent – Residential Design Award 2005 --- ## Recently Sold Artworks --- ![Ralph Stanton Dawn Brilliance Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/06/Ralph-Stanton-Dawn-Brilliance-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Dawn Brilliant 100cm x 100cmacrylic on canvas ![Ralph Stanton Harbour Sand Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2018/06/Ralph-Stanton-Harbour-Sand-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Harbour Sand 76cm x 76cmacrylic on canvas ![Ralph Stanton Western Gold Complete Triptych Paintingjpg](https://www.jahroc.com. au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ralph-Stanton-Western-Gold-complete-Triptych-Paintingjpg- 1024x279.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Western Gold 390cm x 100cmacrylic on canvas ![Run On Blue 1100x1200 72dpi](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/ 10/Run-on-Blue-1100x1200-72dpi.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Run on Blue 120cm x 110cmacrylic on canvasSOLD ![Ralph Stanton Horizon Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/ 06/Ralph-Stanton-Horizon-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Horizon 111cm x 120cmacrylic on canvasSOLD ![Ralph Stanton Symphony In Red Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2016/06/Ralph-Stanton-Symphony-in-Red-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Symphony in Red 100cm x 110cmacrylic on canvasSOLD ![Rs53 Ralph Stanton Sand Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2018/06/RS53-Ralph-Stanton-Sand-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Sand 120cm x 110cmacrylic on canvasSOLD ![Ralph Stanton Forest Night Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2018/06/Ralph-Stanton-Forest-Night-Painting.jpg) Ralph Stanton – Forest Night 110cm x 120cmacrylic on canvas ![Ralph Stanton](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ralph-Stanton. jpg) Ralph Stanton – Vermillion Run 1cm x 122cmacrylic on canvasSOLD --- ## Ralph Stanton Image Gallery --- * ![Ralph Stanton Studio Image 1 1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/11/Ralph-Stanton-Studio-Image-1-1.jpg) * ![Ralph Stanton Red Yello Blue Green Ii 95x77cm](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp- content/uploads/2014/10/Ralph-Stanton-Red-Yello-Blue-Green-II-95x77cm.jpg) * ![Ralph Stanton Studio Image 2 1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/11/Ralph-Stanton-Studio-Image-2-1.jpg) * ![Ralph Stanton Dune Ii Painting](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2018/06/Ralph-Stanton-Dune-II-Painting.jpg) * ![Ralph Stanton Studio Image 3 1](https://www.jahroc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/ 2017/11/Ralph-Stanton-Studio-Image-3-1-1024x683.jpg) --- ### JahRoc Galleries currently have no Ralph Stanton Paintings For Sale. #### 󠀁[Enquire about Ralph Stanton artworks here.](https://www.jahroc.com.au/contact-us)󠁿