Interview
Donald H Green
Donald H Green, has built an international art design conceptualization, DHGstudio. For sixty years, he built his career from patronage and commissions for a broad range of art and design that encompasses: conceptual design for structure. His work ranges from topographical drawings and interior design consultations, to design supervision for architectural projects as well as the decorative and applied arts. He was born in Australia in 1939 and educated at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. After graduating in 1960, he worked for a period in advertising before setting up as an independent artist and illustrator. He is an important member of the Australian art community and a rare example of prolific creative achievement.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“In retrospect, I now appreciate that the foundation of my art and design career began with the early-teen interests of drawing, making models of buildings, creating elaborate miniature landscapes, Meccano structures and furniture as well as designing sets for my miniature theatre. The many teenage awards I received for art competitions, gave further confidence to my family to allow me to follow my artistic instinct to pursue four years of traditional art study. Though I did not choose painting, instead the more practical direction of graphic design and illustration. Therefore, I was able to get immediate employment as a junior advertising art director for a few years then in my early 20’s I travelled in Europe. Based in Greece for four years, I received Australian patronage which allowed me to begin the cycle of producing artwork and selling via an Australian art gallery. Also following my interests in architecture and history, I began consulting on restoration of the unique Greek medieval village houses, which proved to be helpful for the award- winning boutique hotel I designed there much later. A Manhattan interior design project took me to the USA for another four years of diverse art and design experience: study on scholarship at The Arts Students League, commissions for illusionary and atmospheric murals. set- designer for two seasons at Provincetown Summer Stock Theatre as well as several Off-Broadway productions. (later for the Victorian State Opera in Australia). But Greece was my second home and my close association led to a long involvement designing several Boutique hotels there -- an important step to later becoming a conceptual artist for big budget mixed-developments in Dubai. I continued to have patronage from Collectors and Entrepreneurs for projects in Australia and overseas, thus creating a life that has evolved from my very early instinctive interests. Though, educated as an artist I have managed to successfully combine artwork with architectural projects throughout my career, resulting in a different type of artistry from the norm.”
What inspires you?
“From an early age, I was inspired by the colour and energy found in our Australian landscape which triggered an immediate desire to capture its particular mood, texture, colour and drama of light, prompting me to either dash off an ink and watercolour drawing on the spot, or express its visual impact at home later. This aspect of drawing on location in various parts of the world, i.e. topographical drawings, has been an ongoing vital part of my output. Over the years, it has been an important source of inspiration offering contrasting cultures and new subject-matter throughout my career from commissioned or self-funded research projects in Turkey, Greece, Italy, Indonesia, London and Australian Outback. For another fundamental direction of inspiration, I owe a huge debt of gratitude when at the age of ten I was introduced to a friend the same age whose father had a well-respected architectural practice which gave me entre into the professional world of design and structure. We made architectural models and frequently accompanied his father while visiting projects under construction and at age 11 was given my first commission for ink and wash drawings of building sites. That early interest in structure evolved to consultation and conceptual design for bespoke architectural projects in The UAE, Italy, Australia. Turkey and Greece.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Nature, landscape, historical sites, antiquities, animals and birds, therefore if there is a theme in my artwork, it is simply: the celebration of the astonishing complexity found in the natural world, and its joy and fragility. Topographical drawing trips, are an ideal way for me to be physically immersed in that particular atmosphere - though it can be very challenging trying to absorb, analyse and interpret new subjects on location while surrounded by local activity.”
“The celebration of the astonishing complexity found in the natural world, and its joy and fragility.”
How would you describe your work?
“In one word: versatile. Without any particular strategy, I have been fortunate to have had patronage from a very early beginning and due to my basic interest in traditional drawing combined with a passion for architecture, nature and history I have worked on a large range of projects in a dozen countries. Therefore, my work ranges from artwork to hang on a wall, to illusionary/atmospheric or decorative murals for walls and ceilings, folding screens, decorative mirrors, decorative grills and screens, topographical research drawings, and free-standing panels. For luxury architectural projects and their garden setting, I create bespoke artwork to enrich a concept, as well as designs for furniture, light-fittings, rugs and wallpaper. Utilizing a broad range of mediums and materials in collaboration with specialists who may be ceramicists, or glass technicians, or traditional artisans who beat or forge metals, carve wood, marble and stone as well as contemporary laser-cut methods and LED technology, working from my master artwork concept. An exhibition showing this spectrum of art and design is being planned at the Australian High Commission in Delhi, India, to access the market there.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Apart from the numerous anonymous artists from ancient times found in Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Peru, there are many Chinese and Japanese masters who inspired my early interest in folding screens and creation of the five screens commissioned for the window display of Tiffany & Co NYC in 1972. In the European Renaissance: Duer and Holbein were Master draughtsmen and Palladio, who collaborated with whimsical muralist Veronese. I admire the highly detailed Dutch realists and Rembrandt. I admire the Arts and Craft movement and I have borrowed multi-faceted William Morris’ reference to houses he conceived and designed as: “A Total Work of Art” being harmonious in overall design and decoration. I consider the Rockefeller Center buildings in NYC as being innovative masterpieces of art deco design and decoration on a grand scale. For me, Frank Lloyd Wright’s creative and artistic structural genius is truly inspirational.”
What is your creative process like?
“The large 'Glentromie Farm' landscape painting is indicative of a commissioned artwork. It aimed to encapsulate the clients’ passion for their property and beloved dogs together with wild and domesticated birds and animals which all evoke a unique atmosphere. Typically it is a collaborative process. I enjoy discussing and researching and gathering the subject matter with the client then it is my job to design and unite everything together – in this instance by the distinctive twisty native tree motif , also my client’s favourite tree, My mural projects have all been a collaborative process which may have a personal aim such as the 'Tuscany Pavilion' for a bed room and adjoining rooms for a very ill client who loved Italy but also wanted a restful, predominantly green environment. Hence the concept of the room being inside a pavilion in an illusionary romantic Italian garden setting. My challenge therefore is to satisfy a client’s basic needs yet still allow me the independent painterly-illusionary expression to achieve it.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Unlike previous centuries when art served a religious cult or was used to tell a story to the uneducated population, or in more recent times for propaganda, I do not see it serving much beyond embellishing a space by adding design impact or an illusion of space with a particular atmosphere, therefore simply for enjoyment.”
Website: dhgstudio.com
Instagram: @dhg.studio
