Chair

After working on hard edge abstracts for the last few years, I wanted to challenge myself by returning to observational painting from real life. The reason I left it so long is that I suffer from essential tremor which means I shake so much that it’s extremely difficult to control paint application. Therefore my anxiety before attempting this was quite high.
I chose the simple subject of an old chair I’ve had for over 25 years that has spent way to many years out in the elements. It was first painted white, then bright red years later. It now reveals all it’s history showing red, creamy white and the original timber that has turned to a beautiful grey.
I set it up in my studio with a single light source to accentuate the form and shadows. I placed the chair all the way to the right half of the picture to give the composition some boldness and uncertainty, which is how I felt before attempting this artwork.
I have refrained from adding too much detail as I wanted to highlight the form and colour of the subject. The bold cadmium red stands out vibrantly against the neutral background.
The painting was a huge challenge and for most of the time I had to hold the brush with both my hands in an attempt to reduce my tremor.
I got there in the end and I’m extremely proud of my effort. Have to say I shed a little tear upon completion once I sat back and took it in. Painting is life for me and I’ll continue keep it going as long as I can.

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Brad Holland is an Australian artist living and working on Kaurna land near Port Adelaide, South Australia. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across Australia, and in 2021 he was awarded the inaugural Founders Award for Large Statement Artworks in the Bluethumb Art Prize.

Drawing on personal history and long-held visual interests, Holland’s paintings explore a language shaped by 1970s and 1980s computer graphics, sci-fi visual effects, optical illusions, pop culture, and imagined inner landscapes. These influences are informed by over twenty years of experience working as a visual merchandiser for leading department stores, where spatial composition, colour, and visual impact were central concerns.

Originally working as a figurative painter, Holland shifted toward masking tape and hard-edge techniques in response to living with essential tremor, a degenerative neurological condition affecting hand stability. This transition became a defining aspect of his practice, allowing precision, control, and clarity to emerge through structure.

Today, his work is characterised by pulsating rectangles, transparent planes, concentric forms, and graphic patterns. Subtle transitions of tone and colour create immersive, meditative spaces that invite sustained attention and quiet contemplation.