Harding’s oil paintings are created with a glorious impasto technique, he uses gouache to capture the lifesize portraits of many a famous sitter and he is renowned for his magnificent ink drawings.

He has had over 30 (often sell-out) solo shows, major survey shows of his work have been held at the S H Ervin Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery and his work is in the collections of many public institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery, and in private and corporate collections around the world.

One of the major impacts on his work was coming to Australia after spending the first 8 years of his life in England and, in particular, his observation of the different light and how its glare created contrasts which were so different to the muted tones of England.  It was his time in the bush and the beaches as a child which caused him later to move further from the English influence to make Australia the subject of his work.

In this episode we talk about his influences, painting from memory, the strengths and weaknesses of using photographic references, failing in order to succeed, making art during the dark times and much more. To hear the episode press ‘play’ under the feature photo above or listen however you get your podcasts.

See short video of Harding in his studio below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWezJHrg9P4&t=7s

‘Treatment, day 49, (sorbolene soak)’, 2018, (finalist Archibald prize 2018)

‘John Bell as King Lear’, 2001, oil on canvas on board, 177 x 105cm (winner Archibald Prize 2001)

‘Robert Drewe (in the swell)’ 2006, oil on linen, 138 x 123cm  (finalist Archibald Prize 2006)

‘Anna Volska and Georgia’, 2015, gouache and watercolour on paper, 168 x 76cm

‘John Olsen, AO, OBE’, 2017, oil on linen, 198 x 138cm (finalist, Archibald prize, 2017)

‘Estuary figures (swim-ring, towel and hat) 2013, oil on Belgian linen, 112 x 107cm

‘Lagoon (canoe)’ 2011 – 2012, oil on Belgian linen, 138 x 138cm

‘Wilpena wattle’, 2016, oil on linen, 172.5 x 172.5 cm (finalist Wynne prize 2016)

‘Wilpena eucalypt and wattle’, 2017, oil on linen, 183 x 245cm (finalist Wynne prize 2017)

‘Eddy Avenue 3’ , 2001, ink on paper, 132 x 149cm.  (Winner Dobell Prize for Drawing, collection of the Art Gallery of NSW)

‘Bunjalung Pandanus 2018’ ink on paper, in the studio (Instagram @nicholas0harding)

Drawings, paintings and etchings from theatre rehearsals and performances (Instagram @nicholas0harding)

Ink drawings created during period of chemotherapy treatment (instagram @nicholas0harding)