NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
Banksia Serrata
30 pages of writing and illustrations discussing the Banksia, its life cycle and main pollinators including bees, small mammals and birds. Illustrations are watercolours and line drawings. Original artwork on the cover.
NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
Ostracon
10 page concertina artist's book. A cat called 'Nedjem' is on a quest to find his friend, the mouse 'Panya'. The book draws on archaeological material and Ancient Egypt. Pencil, watercolour drawings on Arches paper. Includes handmade papyrus, hemp. One drawing reproduces a satirical image found in Thebes in ancient Egypt, showing a feline funerary priest approaching a mouse with offerings. Includes notes by the artist on a separate sheet with the heading "Cat waiting on a mouse". Another sheet includes notes describes different aspects of the artist's book.
NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
Observations
Artist's book with 20 pages of writing and original drawings, with a string bookmark and string binding that ties around the book. Short statements and lines of text with themes of extinction, regeneration, looking toward the light, the unseen and dreams. The artist's sketches are in pen, ink, pencil. Some pages have paper overlays or paper flaps that fold back. The images include people and animals in the bush, kangaroos, tortoise, ant, Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo, plants, birds, emu and a person in bed on the back endpaper. Original artwork on cover.
Banksia Unseen. Pen and ink on paper 76 x 56 cm
2 - 25 August. 10 am - 5pm,Tues - Sun
Finalist in the 2024 Environmental Art & Design Prize showcasing innovative and thought-provoking works that explore the theme of the environment.
How often we look. However, do we really see ? The Banksia takes our eye and there we ponder ….All the time we are not noticing the two Bronzewing pigeons…..
The Weekend Australian Janurary 19 2024.
Objects in the Macquarie University History Museum have inspired an artistic response to their depiction of myths and fables. By Christopher Allen
“Shirvington is more poetic and whimsical, Wilson more documentary and political, and yet what they have in common is their imaginative transformation of the material that they have borrowed or taken as their starting point.
Thus Shirvington has drawn primarily on the archaeological material in the museum, intrigued by glimpses of ancient Sumerian or Egyptian belief and magical practices. There are samples of papyrus that he has reproduced, and drawings inspired by the countless enigmatic objects found in archaeological digs. One ink drawing reproduces a satirical image from ancient Egypt showing a feline attendant waiting on its master who is a mouse. Shirvington’s facility for witty and charming drawings brings many such vignettes to life.”
Christopher Allen
ARTIFACTUAL FICTIONS - Unseen Dialogue.
Working towards an exhibition, Macquarie University library with Hadyn Wilson. 18th October 2023 - 31March 2024.
Fackelmann’s washday
It is believed Anton Fackelman, conservator of papyri in Vienna used to wash pieces of mummy cartonnage to remove the glue.
Papyrus
Note that in all cases where a source of the material is given, it is said to be either “mummy cartonnage” or the remains of a book binding. Now, in one way this is not so surprising. In the biography of Anton Fackelmann written by his son, there is a lengthy description of the repurposed washing machine basin that the elder Fackelmann used to extract papyrus from mummy cartonnage (“Fackelmanns mysteriöse Papyrus- oder Mumien waschmaschine,” 153). But the variety of literary material that Fackelmann claims to have recovered by this method is a bit surprising. Just how much cartonnage had to be sent to the washing machine to recover this number of literary pieces?
ARTIFACTUAL FICTIONS - Unseen Dialogue.
Working towards an exhibition, Macquarie University library with Hadyn Wilson. 18th October 2023
The project will draw on the Factual and Fictional journey from ancient times to now, often esoteric as the Delphic oracle itself……..
Stories will evolve from the fables of “Aesop.” Historians argue whether he was fact or fiction - the story of Aesop’s life was one of the most popular stories in ancient times. Couple this with the Egyptian shards ( Ostraca ) found with the pharaoh’s tomb illustrated with satirical images, opens the door to Unseen Dialogue.
Macquarie University Art Gallery.
Vibrations in Australian Drawing
The meditative effects of drawing for Patrick Shirvington demonstrate how a pencil can “ be directedby the unconscious to where it makes the next mark ". Once the pencil makes contact with the paper, an exploratory union begins.
DRAWING GROUND
TtD Thinking through Drawing 2023 Symposium, London/New York.Friday September 29th - Sunday October 1st 2023
Invited as guest presenter.
Dialogue through Movement
Patrick Shirvington, AUSTRALIA
Online Presentation
The practice of drawing has proven to be a way of knowing the world. We tend to look at the object, however, do we see the subject? The project works with drawing, but not in the usual way of developing precision and draftsman-ship, but rather as a tool for phenomenology. This paper presentation will look at the process of drawing as a practice that enhances cognition by observing the marks made by the movements.
We walk upon the UNSEEN - Finalist
2023 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize, from Friday 4 August to Sunday 27 August.
NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
Telluric
Signed and dated by artist.
Telluric (of the earth) is a one-off concertina book with 18 paper pages of writing and original ink drawings. It discusses the things unseen in the landscape with a variety of species hidden within the pages.Images of the artist's sketches include bronzewing pigeon, emus,stick insects and an acacia tree.
NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
From dream to reality: the making of a children's book
One-off concertina artists' book on the process of creating the children's book 'Three Dancing Frogs', including the 'dream', story concept, mind mapping, final text, mind mapping, character creation. Illustrations includes watercolours and line drawings. Includes original artwork taped into and copy of final cover pasted into artists' book.
NSW Library Artist Book Permanent Collection
The Return
One sheet, in the form of a semi-rolled aged scroll, contains the heading 'Extinction', drawings of the rat, and handwritten text describing the habitat and behaviour of the Greater Stick-nest rat taken from Charles Sturt's expedition notes of 1884 [sic.].
The second sheet in the form of two book pages, attached to a backing board, contains the heading 'The Return', drawings of the rat, and a short poem.
STURT WINTER SCHOOL 2023 Monday 3 to Friday 7 July
Develop your unique style of drawing and mark making techniques interpreting natural objects.
‘Telluric’ 2023 Northern Beaches Library Artists’ Book Award Exhibition
Thursday 2nd March - Sunday 16th April 2023. Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
Tibooburra Emu Watercolour, earth on paper
2022 Finalist Korean Australian Arts Foundation
The Return
Artspace Mackay’s 2022, biennial event, the Libris Awards, brings together works by leading and emerging artist book makers from across the country.
January 2021 - Can You find 12 Busy Bees ?
Released in Chinese
WEST DARLING ARTIST RESIDENCY 2021/22
I’ll be travelling out to Sturt National Park to observe the release of seven locally extinct species including this Stick Nest Rat. The project will bring awareness to our natural world through multi-media works.
Kirkus Reviews
Shirvington’s allusive paintings extend the mood. At first, all readers will see is the snail’s spiral, but then the body appears, and finally the snail’s sparkly trails. It’s sometimes a challenge to pick out the snail among the lines and swirls. Readers will also find other Australian forest-dwellers, including a blue-tongued lizard, a large dragonfly, and even a brush turkey. The artist’s use of light and dark is intriguing; it seems to suggest that this journey extends over several days and nights. Curiously, but quite beautifully, the snail stands out most noticeably in what the text calls “the low light” of “the dark night.”
EDGE 2021: Art Camp on the GreenWay
16 April to 9 May 2021
Woven Narratives
Woven Narratives utilises The Lomandra (used by Gadigal Wangal people) as a woven metaphor sharing the common thread of all existence as we look at the earth as one - intertwining all consciousness, past and present, realising a pull in one direction destabilises the whole. In this instance the artist has included the hemp cord to signify the golden thread running through all of us, for without it there is no connection or full cognitive awareness.
Three Dancing Frogs
November 2020
Get lost in a mesmerising bushland performance.
This dramatic ballet is sure to be met with thunderous applause.
Finalist 2020 Paddington Art Prize,
Gundabooka Acrylic, earth pigment, charcoal on canvas 1950 x 1500cm
2020 Adelaide Perry Drawing Award,Finalist.
29th February - 27th March Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 4.00 pm Saturday - 11.00 am - 4.00 pm
Morning Bronzewing.
Pen and ink on paper. 55 x 75 cm
12 Daniel Street Botany
(Corner of Daniel & Daphne Street
Entrance on Daphne Street)
1st June 2019
Can You find 12 Busy Bees ?
Following on from the award-winning Can You Find Me?, Can You Find 12 Busy Bees? brings children closer to nature and the environment. In this elegant picture book children will enjoy learning to count with the gorgeous flora and fauna on every page.
March 2019
Can You find Me ? …Released in China
The Koala and the Cockatoo
Illustrator : Patrick Shirvington
Age 6 - 8 years
A heartwarming tale of friendship told against the stunning backdrop of the Australian outback and bush.Follow Chook, the Cockatoo, and Fluff, the Koala as they look for Fluff ’s family, and discover the beauties of the Australian landscape along with them.Release date : 1st March 2019
Bronzewing unseen
Finalist 2019 Adelaide Perry Drawing Award
Pen and ink on paper 66 x 50 cm
Last light Gundabooka
Finalist.2018 Paddington Art Prize
watercolour / mixed media on paper 55 x 76 cm
Gundabooka landscape
Finalist.2018 NSW Parliament plein air exhibition
Watercolour on paper 50 x 50 cm
Little Spiral - Now available in bookshops. He may be small but he loves exploring. Join Little Spiral on his journey through the rainforest. Stay safe, Little Spiral.
Due for UK release in Oct 2019
Can You Find Me? selected as a Notable Book for 2018 by the CBCA,and shortlisted in the crichton award for illustration...Shortlisted for 2018 Wilderness Society of Australia,Environment Award
The Sturt Winter School 2018
is from Monday 9 - Friday 13 July, offering 16 Adult Courses.
COURSE TUTOR COST + material LEVEL
01 Drawn to nature Pat Shirvington $710 + TBA All
Can You find Me ?
This beautiful picture book explores how Aussie animals use camouflage to hide and survive in the Australian bush. Mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians and fish are all represented – some large, some small. Each double page spread focuses on a particular animal.
This book has everything you need to captivate children 3-6 at story time: repeating phrases, gorgeous watercolour illustrations of a range of Aussie animals in scenic spreads, and the fun of searching for each animal as it blends in with its habitat. To assist children unfamiliar with some of the animals, there’s a guide each animal’s appearance at the back.
The text on each page follows a 5-line formula, and soon becomes like a familiar friend. The first three lines state what the animal is, its habitat, and how the animal resembles its habitat. The last two lines are always the same:
That is why I am hard to see.
Can you find me?
The repetition encourages new and reluctant readers, and reinforces the theme of animal camouflage.
I was captivated by this book from the moment I saw its beautiful cover. Even the end pages are striking, with branches of native plant species set against a white background.
Recommended for pre-schoolers, and as a junior science resource.
Reviewed by Julie Murphy
CAN YOU find ME ? Released September 2017
Can You Find Me?
By: Gordon Winch, Patrick Shirvington (Illustrator)
Search for an echidna, a powerful owl, a frog and many more animals hidden on every page. Pat Shirvingtons striking illustrations hide each one of the animals just enough for the guessing to begin.
http://sydneyscb.org/events/creative-conservation-and-conservation-cafe-double-feature-drawn-from/
Patrick Shirvington
September 3 2016
CHARACTER OF THE BUSH
Through environmental education, art could be used as a conduit to the fundamental experience of nature. I feel that the art of drawing has the power to connect directly, enhancing complete immersion in nature. With a piece of paper and pencil students work directly in the landscape, identifying plants and creating characters and stories. I begin by telling an ecological story utilising the different characters I have created. The student’s then engage with the bushland discovering their own imaginative characters, by identifying traits within their chosen plant. The student becomes more connected and has fun creating their stories. By exposing students to nature in this way doesn’t over-burden them with science and negativity but introduces the journey of wonder and beauty, initiating their veneration of the environment. To experience nature in this way will stimulate a new consciousness, inviting the imagination to connect the natural world as an extension of the human being.
PHENOMENOLOGY – Drawn from
The practice of drawing has proven to be a way of knowing the world. This paper will endeavour to enhance cognition through the practice of drawing with the purpose of reconnecting to the world around us. We tend to look at the object, however, do we see the subject ? The project will work with drawing, but not in the usual way of developing precision and draftsman-ship, but rather as a tool for phenomenology.
file:///C:/Users/Pat/Documents/PATRICK+SHIRVINGTON_PHENOMENOLOGY_DRAWN+FROM_DIB2015.pdf
Nexus - Biophilia
A discussion with Phil Shirvington
Little Spiral
In a pearl-like egg, hidden in the rainforest, Little Spiral grows.
2021 Korean-Australia Arts Foundation KAAF ART PRIZE Finalist
Moonlit Gundabooka. Watercolour/Oxides 70 x 84 cm