{"title":"Absolute Realism","description":"\u003ch5 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘The first glance at a Ross Watson painting is arresting. They're odd, beautiful and filled with ambiguity and hot men.’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eJoel Perry, INSTINCT Magazine, U.S.A.\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eGathering exciting images which I'd seen in foreign countries helped shape this series. A bit like trying to cook food very well, I combined four or five ingredients which are interesting together, trying to get the proportions just right. An obsession with aircraft coincided with this series, and I posed the first gold-medal-winning Olympic athlete I was to paint, Grant Hackett, before a sleek fighter jet on a deserted beach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eSurrealism and artists like Rene Magritte have influenced periods of my art, including this series. I was creating paintings where you could imagine walking into the scene and thinking, ‘What a strange but fantastic scenario’.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-cinematographer","title":"The Cinematographer","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 4' x 3'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182220677231,"sku":"OOB-Cinematographer","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/the_cinematographer.jpg?v=1542439179"},{"product_id":"cyclist-crossing-art-deco-bridge","title":"Cyclist Crossing Art Deco Bridge","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 180 cm \/ 4' x 6'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1990\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, San Francisco\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182271565935,"sku":"OOB-Cyclist Crossing Deco Bridge","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/cyclist_crossing_bridge.jpg?v=1542439302"},{"product_id":"twins","title":"Twins","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 48\" x 36\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e2000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAvailable Edition Print Options\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rosswatson.com\/products\/twins-1\" title=\"Twins Limited Edition Canvas by Ross Watson\"\u003eVIEW Limited Edition Canvas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rosswatson.com\/products\/twins-2\" title=\"Twins Limited Edition Print by Ross Watson\"\u003eVIEW Limited Edition Print\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182318424175,"sku":"OOB-Twins","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/twins.jpg?v=1542439379"},{"product_id":"carnation","title":"Carnation","description":"100 x 75 cm \/ 3'3\" x 2'6\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e2000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A Private Collection, Melbourne","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182336741487,"sku":"OOB-Carnation","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/carnation.jpg?v=1542439486"},{"product_id":"parachute","title":"Parachute","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 122 cm \/ 4' x 4'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182406963311,"sku":"OOB-Parachute","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/parachute.jpg?v=1542439642"},{"product_id":"roller-blades","title":"Roller Blades","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e59 x 69 cm \/ 23\" x 27\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182431506543,"sku":"OOB-Rollerblades","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/rollerblades.jpg?v=1542439749"},{"product_id":"viewing-deck","title":"Viewing Deck","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 48\" x 36\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Adelaide\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182775079023,"sku":"OOB-ViewingDeck","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/viewing_deck.jpg?v=1542440656"},{"product_id":"lifeguards","title":"Lifeguards","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e105 x 75 cm \/ 3'5\" x 2'6\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, San Francisco\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182838452335,"sku":"OOB-Lifeguards","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/lifeguards.jpg?v=1542440811"},{"product_id":"tarmac","title":"Tarmac","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnframed\u003cbr\u003e92 x 122 cm \/ 36\" x 48\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed\u003cbr\u003e115 x 145 cm \/ 42\" x 54\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e 1999 \u003cbr\u003eSigned Lower Right\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollection, The Artist\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182875152495,"sku":"OOB-Tarmac","price":80000.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Tarmac.jpg?v=1542441354"},{"product_id":"tarmac-ii","title":"Tarmac II","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e100 x 100 cm \/ 3'3\" x 3'3\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18182900252783,"sku":"OOB-TarmacII","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/tarmac_ii.jpg?v=1542441044"},{"product_id":"dusk","title":"Dusk","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 92 cm \/ 4' x 3'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184155431023,"sku":"OOB-Dusk","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/dusk.jpg?v=1542443966"},{"product_id":"beachfront","title":"Beachfront","description":"122 x 92 cm \/ 4' x 3'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1997\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A Private Collection, Melbourne","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184187707503,"sku":"OOB-Beachfront","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/beachfront.jpg?v=1542444046"},{"product_id":"upperdeck","title":"Upperdeck","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e106 x 80 cm \/ 42\" x 32\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Perth\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184215003247,"sku":"OOB-Upperdeck","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/upperdeck.jpg?v=1542444157"},{"product_id":"dockside","title":"Dockside","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e61 x 61cm \/ 2' x 2'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1997\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184279195759,"sku":"OOB-Dockside","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/dockside.jpg?v=1542444270"},{"product_id":"balance","title":"Balance","description":"122 x 122 cm \/ 4' x 4'\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A Private Collection, Melbourne","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184329265263,"sku":"OOB-Balance","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/balance.jpg?v=1542444373"},{"product_id":"oliver","title":"Oliver","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e60 x 60 cm \/ 2'6\" x 2'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, San Francisco\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184383070319,"sku":"OOB-Oliver","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/oliver.jpg?v=1542444499"},{"product_id":"untitled","title":"Untitled","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e100 x 100 cm \/ 3'4\" x 3'4\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e1998\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Hobart\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184429699183,"sku":"OOB-UntitledRory","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/untitled_rory.jpg?v=1542444595"},{"product_id":"grant-hackett-australian-olympic-gold-swimmer","title":"Grant Hackett - Australian Olympic Gold Swimmer","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e122 x 122cm \/ 4' x 4'\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e2000\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18184488058991,"sku":"OOB-GrantHackett","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/grant_hackett.jpg?v=1542444765"},{"product_id":"stephen-royal-alcazar-seville","title":"Stephen, Royal Alcazar, Seville","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnframed\u003cbr\u003e81 x 81 cm \/ 32\" x 32\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed\u003cbr\u003e106 x 106 cm \/ 42\" x 42\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e2015\u003cbr\u003eSigned lower right\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDescription\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing Ross Watson's successful Toronto Exhibition, the artist and his partner Stephen Morgan, visited Spain. The inspiration for this arresting and magical new painting was provided for the artist on a bright warm morning in the beautiful gardens of Seville's Royal Alcazar.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMorgan looks skywards into the strong sunlight as he rests against one of the garden's maze walls. A solitary red umbrella slowly descends before a backdrop of silhouetted trees. Watson has incorporated a red velvet barrier rope - which he had seen in the superb Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba - converting it to a dramatic contemporary outdoor sculpture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe historical evolution of Seville in the last millennium is held within its walls and gardens, amalgamating influences starting from the Arabic period, late Middle Ages Mud̩jar right through to the Renaissance, Baroque and the XIX century. Watson's choice of location for this outstanding artwork seems fitting then, given his art, which for almost thirty years, has fused imagery from various periods to create and explore something anew.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18305259470959,"sku":"OOB-Stephen","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/stephen-seville.jpg?v=1542692742"},{"product_id":"stephen-sitges","title":"Stephen, Sitges","description":"\u003cp\u003e70 x 90 cm \/ 27\" x 35\"\u003cbr\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e2007\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Private Collection, Melbourne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDescription\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis arresting scene was partly inspired by time the artist and his partner, Stephen Morgan, spent at the Spanish coastal town of Sitges in 2006. An ancient Roman marble foot dominates the foreground, whilst Morgan holds a sculpture of another sort - a lime coloured inflatable beach-bed. Their long time friend, Andrew Vance, looks out to sea as he showers under a distinctive Art Deco shower stand. Composition and colour are skillfully employed in this gently surrealist painting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18364761079919,"sku":"OOB-StephenSitges","price":65000.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/stephen_sitges.jpg?v=1542758559"},{"product_id":"untitled-04-12","title":"Untitled #04\/12","description":"\u003cp\u003eUnframed\u003cbr\u003e61 x 60 cm \/ 24\" x 24\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFramed\u003cbr\u003e85 x 83 cm \/ 34\" x 33\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOil on board\u003cbr\u003e2012\u003cbr\u003eSigned lower left\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eA Private Collection, Sydney\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDescription\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis striking and colourful painting masterfully combines beautifully rendered elements, disparate but connected, resulting in a surrealist landscape. It features a couple embracing, closely shepherded by an ancient marble sculpture. Is this a metaphor for the strength of their love, or perhaps a guiding force in their life journey together? Other elements of the painting are a reflection on what Watson believes defines these two subjects, after getting to know them well. The red rock of Uluru representing the metaphorical heart of the country to which they belong. The jet-stream an indicator of their travels, which may keep them apart but also allow them to be together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hazard sign could be a literal warning of challenges faced by two who choose to travel one path, or is it another element guiding them along their travels? The florescent inflatable li-lo in the foreground gives a depth to the painting which pleasantly plays off elements of scale with other features and could be physical interpretation of the rewarded effort involved to exist as a couple. The resulting surrealist composition pays homage to classic portraiture where not one brush stroke was applied without being central to telling the story of the subjects as understood by the artist.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18365322231919,"sku":"OOB-04\/12","price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/Untitled_04-12_Denis_and_Craig.jpg?v=1542759049"},{"product_id":"parachute-ii","title":"Parachute II","description":"\u003cp\u003e61 x 73 cm \/ 24in x 29in\u003cbr\u003eOil on Board\u003cbr\u003e1999\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSold,\u003c\/strong\u003e  A private collection, Hong Kong\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eProvenance: A private collection, Melbourne 1999-2023\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDescription\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine and dramatic painting from Watson’s mid career, \u003ci\u003eParachute II\u003c\/i\u003e was painted in 1999 shortly after he completed the iconic \u003ci\u003eTwins\u003c\/i\u003e, which was featured on the cover of \u003ci\u003eBlue \u003c\/i\u003emagazine the same year. Both artworks feature the handsome and statuesque Melbourne model Tyson. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eParachute II \u003c\/i\u003epossesses an exquisitely spare composition, and ‘undistressing surrealism’ - a term which \u003ci\u003eThe Australian\u003c\/i\u003e newspaper’s art critic, \u003ci\u003eElwyn Lynn\u003c\/i\u003e used to describe Watson’s art in 1995.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCombining a playful theme, mystery and effective employment of dazzling spot colour, this superbly painted artwork is offered for sale for the first time in twenty four years. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ross Watson Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43034549780634,"sku":"OOB-ParachuteII","price":38000.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/products\/ParachuteII72dpi.jpg?v=1672891653"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0051\/6381\/0927\/collections\/twins.jpg?v=1543475873","url":"https:\/\/sstore.rosswatson.com\/collections\/absolute-realism.oembed","provider":"Ross Watson Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}