How long have you lived on the Beaches?
Since 1964. My first memory is looking out the windows of the children’s ward at Manly Hospital watching the sailing boats on Sydney Harbour.
What’s your favourite beach?
Manly Beach because different sections have unique waves. Virtually every day, a friend and I have walked along the beach front for over 35 years.
If you had to live anywhere else in the world, where would that second-best place to live be?
There’s nowhere better than Manly, however, I am interested in seeing Cornwall, where my great grandfather came from.
What inspired your cover art?
The untouched pristine nature at Pittwater.
What inspires your work in general?
This goes back a long way. Dad had me in a pram looking close-up at a Monet painting, so it appeared to be a lot of paint spots. When he pulled me back it morphed into a wonderful scene. Then he pushed me forward again, the scene became paint dots again. I thought it was magic. I am inspired by Art History, and it is easy for me to spend ten hours just looking at pictures in any major art gallery.
How would you describe your art?
After studying art all my life as well as teaching it for 40 years, my art has become a response to art theory. Seeing great artists’ work in real life and thinking, “I could do that!” has been a long-kept secret of mine. I love the range of art from pure abstraction to hyper-realism. My art is a bit wonky, sometimes humorous, colourful with much consideration given to tone, colour and composition.
What is your favourite part of the process?
When I am working with a group of other artists, the energy and creative power is amplified tenfold, which is both satisfying and fun.
Which artists, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with?
Wow! Having dinner with the Surrealists would be a hoot because the realms of their imagination could take you anywhere. And it would be very cool to have dinner with the first human that ever existed.
How did you discover you had a gift for art?
I did some pretty good drawings on the wall inside the cupboard that I didn’t think anyone else would see but I got busted…after that my parents gave me plenty of scrap paper.
Did you study art?
My father taught me all he knew about art from before school. I had a fantastic teacher, Jim Woodbury at Forest High. I studied Architecture at Sydney Uni then Art Education at Newcastle Uni.
What are you currently working on?
Paintings about Pittwater with an underlying notion of the Salt Water people of Manly driven up to Broken Bay after the English arrived.
What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
When you have made something out of nothing that is then pleasing to the eye. The satisfaction you get when you have done something creative. You can’t buy this feeling.
What would you like to see in the future of the Northern Beaches art scene?
Having had a long-time involvement with Manly Art Gallery, things keep getter better in the Northern Beaches art scene and I am confident this will continue.
Are there any words of wisdom you’re guided by?
Be who you are.
Check out Dave’s work at his exhibition running May 2 to 10 at The Landship Gallery, off Middle Head Road in Georges Heights, Mosman.
Follow @david.manuell.3 on Instagram for updates and email Dave directly for commissions via dmanuell@yahoo.com
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