2nd Place Winning Entry, 2024 Animals Competition
Garry Fleming, In Your Hands, oil
Garry Fleming
Australian wildlife artist, Garry Fleming, grew up in the suburbs of Sydney, not far from the Georges River. "One of my favorite activities was fishing with my grandfather," Fleming says. "He would share stories with me, telling me about his past. That's when I first developed a real appreciation of storytelling and the natural world.
"I've always had an affinity with birds and animals," he says, "and when I realized at an early age that I could draw, observing and drawing the creatures that lived along the riverbank became a prime interest in my life."
For five years as a young adult, he worked as an illustrator, but at the age of 21, the self-taught artist struck out on his own and began writing and illustrating children's books. His love for art and storytelling became the impetus for his budding full-time career.
Garry Fleming, Bengal Repose, oil
As he developed his artistic style, he perfected his technique by studying the art of George McLean, Robert Bateman, and Carl Brenders.
Fleming's wildlife paintings, rendered in photorealism, evoke an emotional response. "I strive to convey a perceivable thought process in my subjects," he says. "What is the animal thinking? Look in its eyes, what do you see? What is its message?"
Garry Fleming, Mr. Gang Gang, oil
Fleming is a signature member of the Artists for Conservation Foundation (AFC) and has garnered numerous awards, including two medal of excellence awards from AFC as well as having his work, In Your Hands, chosen for the cover of the 2023 AFC Annual Exhibit Book.
Dedicated to conservation, Fleming says, "I love nature and all its wild places. I find painting to be the self-expression of the beauty that surrounds us every day. I try to capture this beauty as a reminder of moments that were very special to me."
