Collaboration
Miles Finley (1912-2008) was a photographer and visual artist. He had a unique vision of the world. He was my grandfather, mentor and kindred spirit.
As a portrait artist, my style is quite different to that of my grandfather’s work, yet it is still complimentary.
As can be seen from the photograph, Miles created striking landscape scenes and incorporated indigenous Australians into his work. He favoured a palette based on ochres and often painted figures in silhouette. The piece that hangs alongside his is a triptych of Miles I painted, Photobooth (2014).
After Miles died in 2008, just two days before his 96th birthday, many of his paintings were taken and displayed by family members. But there were also some unfinished pieces, which were overlooked and Collaboration (1971-2017) was one such piece.
Influence
There is no date recorded of when Miles began Collaboration (1971-2017). Yet in 1971, he completed a copy of Picasso’s painting, La Danse (1925) and I estimate that Miles probably began this piece at a similar time.
My grandfather’s copy of La Danse (1925) had hung in my house for as long as I could remember and I had always thought it was an exact copy of an original. It was only when I researched it before painting Collaboration (1971-2017) that I realised Miles had interpreted Picasso’s work, rather than copying him.
As he was an expert in composition, Miles had changed certain proportions to lend greater depth to the piece. Much to my amusement, I noted that he had substantially increased the size of the subject’s bust.
When I examined the two paintings side by side, I saw immediately that the palette Miles had used was his own. I even preferred his colour choice to that of the original work. This palette is very similar to the original colours used in Collaboration (1971-2017).
Special experience
Bringing the work of my creative mentor to life was a very special experience. When I found Collaboration (1971-2017), it had been left to gather dust in a shed. One corner was damaged and needed to be repaired. The paint had become quite discoloured over time, so I needed to refresh the colours before I attempted completing it.
Collaboration (1971-2017) shows the beautiful simplicity of shape and its harmonious pairing with colour. Completing it taught me new skills that I will incorporate into future pieces. Collaborating from the grave was certainly unusual but it led to the completion of a painting after 46 years. The result is a completely original work of art that otherwise would have been lost to time.