Interview
Swapnil Nevgi
Swapnil is an established artist living in Brisbane, Australia, originally from the coastal town of Goa, India. He moved to Brisbane in 2001 to pursue further studies in advertising, design, and IT, and has worked in the corporate world for 10+ years. He quit full-time employment in 2017 to pursue his passion for art.
Intrigued by nature, Swapnil enjoys capturing wildlife and landscapes on canvas and on his camera. He spends a lot of time in nature to experience the moment's mood, which he then translates into works of art. He predominantly works with oil colors and creates his artwork with realistic, intricate details to bring the story of nature to life as he experiences it.
Swapnil has been a finalist at several art prizes and has won awards at the local art show. His original artworks and limited edition prints can be found in local and international private collections.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Art and creativity have been my passion since childhood, and I participated in and won several local and national art competitions as a kid in India. Gradually, I lost touch with art as education took greater priority, which was followed by 10+ years of work in the corporate world.
Fast forward to the 2014 Christmas holidays, when I decided to paint a frangipani flower just for fun. However, before I knew it, I was creating one painting after another. I had found happiness again! It made me rethink my life's purpose, and finally, I decided to quit my full-time job in 2017. You can say that's how I started my journey in the art world.”
What inspires you?
“Life around me inspires me. So far, I have only scratched the surface with focusing on birds and wildlife. Ever-changing landscapes, trees, flowers, animals, humans, and more rewrite their stories with every new dawn, creating moments that I love to observe and capture. You can expect a variety of lively art from me in the coming years!”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
"I pursue themes that bring peace and happiness to mind and soul. In the rat race of the corporate materialistic world, we have lost the essence of life. My art will always capture the little moments that everyone walks past every day, missing the healing happiness they hold.”
How would you describe your work?
“I am heavily influenced by the realistic work of the great masters from the past centuries. I find great pleasure in rendering my work realistically and true to life. I learn with every painting, and my style is ever-evolving.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I love how Rembrandt played around with light and shadow. I hope to learn from his work and use that knowledge to improve my own work. The beautiful art of Greg Postle & William T. Cooper also influences my work.”
What is your creative process like?
“I start by brainstorming over the subject and idea, then sketching down my thoughts. After that, I spend a lot of time in the bush with my camera, trying to find the correct reference for the subject. I try to always photograph my references, unless the subject is geographically out of reach. I photograph references at different locations at different times of day, then digitally put them together to see what the final layout should look like.
Once I’m happy with the layout, I go prepare the canvas, and then begin drawing and coloring it. My paintings keep evolving as I paint them. The light, background, and landscape are usually straight out of my mind and change often as I paint. I start by filling in my painting with rough blocks of color then add multiple layers of colors, gradually progressing into finer brush strokes until I achieve the realistic look I want. It can take several months to finish a painting.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Firstly, art is the heart of life. It is everywhere, whether natural or manufactured. Life would be grey, dull, soundless, and shapeless without art. It brings us happiness and sparks our curiosity. The artist's role is to simplify this complex role of art in the form of paintings, words, music, and many more. This way, even someone who doesn’t see or feel art in its raw form can enjoy it too.”
“The hidden message of my work is simple: slow down and look around, feel it, absorb it, and be happier.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My work is often on display in local art galleries. However, due to the nature of my work style, which requires a lengthy amount of time for each piece, I’ve never really managed to amass enough original paintings at once to have an exhibition. Still, I’ve been part of several group exhibitions, and have intentions to hold a solo exhibition soon.
My most noteworthy group shows are the Brisbane Rotary Art Spectacular, organized by the Rotary Club of Brisbane, and Natures Beauty by Aspire Gallery, Brisbane, QLD.”
