Denis Brockie

Denis Brockie lives and paints on Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia. He is conducting his 4th solo exhibition on Stradbroke island in December 2010/January 2011. Born in New Zealand, he completed his art training at the Canterbury University School of Fine Arts, Christchurch. He moved to Stradbroke Island in 1988 and commenced his first Stradbroke paintings in 2000. He has completed three solo exhibitions (2005 & 2007 & 2009). This lens showcases his landscape and abstract paintings and highlights the phases of Denis' work. Be sure to check out the art available in his 4th Exhibition, "Swell".

View The Swell Exhibition Invitation Brochure (PDF)

ART PRIZES won by Denis Brockie

• 2006 - Winner of the d'Arcy Doyle Landscape Prize - $5,000
• 2009 - Winner of the d'Arcy Doyle Landscape Prize - $6,000

Backwash 900mmX1800mm by Denis Brockie

The Big Dune 760mmX1020mm by Denis Brockie

Wave in the Gorge 1800mmX1200mm by Denis Brockie

by Denis Brockie

Wet Season - Heavy Swell 1000mmX1000mm by Denis Brockie

The Explorer 1015mmX1015mm by Denis Brockie

Voyage 1015mmX1015mm by Denis Brockie

Red Rock II 1000mmX1000mm by Denis Brockie

Here is a photo I took when I was walking with Denis along the walking path at Point Lookout. The view to the beach and ocean is stunning. Many people come here to watch the whales on their migration north and south.

Denis Brockie at Point Lookout

• Born, Kurow, New Zealand (1947)
• Art training at Canterbury University School of Fine Arts, Christchurch (1966-69)
• Traveled to USA, UK and Europe (1970-72)
• Settled in Australia (1973)
• Commenced professional signwriting (1980)
• Moved to Stradbroke Island (1988)
• Commenced first "Straddie Paintings" (2000)
• First solo exhibition (2005)
• Winner of d'Arcy Doyle Landscape Prize (2006)
• Second solo exhibition (2007)
• Invited contribution to the Waitaki Boy's High School, 125 th Jubilee Exhibition, New Zealand (2008)
• Finalist, Tattersall's Art Prize for Landscape, 2008
• Third solo exhibition, Stradbroke Island Beach Hotel, Stradbroke Island, January 11-14 2009
• Winner of d'Arcy Doyle Landscape Prize (2009)
• Fourth Solo Exhibition - Stradbroke Island - 2010/2011

When we look at the beach we bring with us interests, memories and habits that influence what we see. For visitors, the coast is a pleasant vacation spot; for locals it is the backdrop to daily life. For those who make their living from the sea, the foreshore is a place of work; to others it is a diverse ecosystem in need of protection. Many such ideas may come to mind while viewing Denis Brockie's extraordinary paintings of North Stradbroke Island.

However, rather than confirming our fixed ways of seeing the beach, Brockie puts us in the position of seeing it for the first time. Through an intimate knowledge of the natural environment, evident in the sensitive recording of the changing effects of tides and weather, Brockie strips away the layers of routine thinking that cloud our perception. With his vibrantly coloured paintings he creates a vision of "Straddie" that is fresh and invigorating as the sting of spray off a cresting wave...

Brockie asks us to put aside our preconceived ideas for a while and appreciate the beauty of the unique foreshore on its own terms. For a landscape painter there can be no greater achievement than this - to make us pause and think about the way we experience nature.

Dr. Anthony White

Lecturer, School of Art History

The University of Melbourne

Jumpinpin (Looking East)- 60 X 90 Landscape by Denis Brockie (2004)

Jumpinpin depicts the southern-most tip of the island, a favourite destination for day-trippers, nature-lovers and fishermen alike. But what do we see in this picture? Little more than a broad, open expanse of cloud-strewn sky. A vast horizontal plain of golden sand and ripples of water running towards the shore. Instead of telling us what to see, Brockie's patient and skilful rendition of natural detail requires us to open our eyes - to the infinite variety of shifting clouds, to the ever-changing shapes of waves and the myriad of sights and sounds of Jumpinpin at a particular time of day.

As with all of the artist's work, this picture is an invitation to view Stradbroke in a new and different light.

Dr. Anthony White

Lecturer, School of Art History

The University of Melbourne

Eliza & the Locals - 90 X 150 Abstract by Denis Brockie (2003)

This represents the earliest work of Denis Brockie and includes his early abstract paintings.

The attractions of Stradborke Island were so great that Denis never returned to live on the mainland.

CLICK HERE to view a slideshow of Denis Brockie's paintings 2002/2003

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