by FilmInk Staff
“I loved drawing as a child and always had a pencil in my hand,” says Barry Otto, best known for being one of this country’s great actors. “I was a commercial artist/fashion illustrator before I was an actor. I used to do Myer’s high fashion advertising in Brisbane back in the ‘60s.
“Originally, I was influenced by Norman Lindsay, and had my first exhibition at his granddaughter’s gallery Blomfields in Paddington,” says the Bliss/Strictly Ballroom/The Dressmaker, etc, etc, actor. “Then I discovered the Pre-Raphaelites, Burne-Jones and Rossetti, and Lord Frederic Leighton is my favourite. I’ve also been inspired by Klimt and Moreau and more lately, I had an obsession with Renoir and his nudes!
“It’s hard for actors to work as much as they would like to, so painting for me was a way of having a creative outlet in the periods “between jobs.” It kept me sane.”
Two of Barry Otto’s daughters are also in the arts, of course, with actor Miranda working between Hollywood and Australia regularly; and younger daughter Gracie a filmmaker to keep an eye on.
“I can’t remember a time when dad wasn’t painting,” Miranda says. “But my favourite was when he would go to the cricket to watch Eddie, my brother, play and he would set up an easel and start painting pre-Raphaelite women.
“As an actor – he is an irrepressibly playful generous risk taker who puts his heart and soul into every role he plays,” she continues. “He moves seamlessly from the whimsical to the profound. As an artist – he is a lover of beautiful women and the classical a
“It was amazing to be around theatres and film sets as a child,” says Gracie. “I thought it was normal, but I guess every child feels that. He’s such an eccentric and individual, and he is super sweet to everyone, so he taught me a lot, and creatively, there was no limits.
“My dad has always been my biggest fan and so supportive, even when I was the worst dancer ever and got 50/100 in my ballet exam, he still believed in me and thought I was great,” Gracie laughs. “He was always encouraging of everything I wanted to do whether it be play sport, play musical instruments, go and live in Paris when I was 18! He also acted in 3 of my short films and recently the TV series I directed.”
And what can we expect from this latest exhibition, which coincides with Barry’s 80th birthday?
“Belle Epoque has a beautiful space very in keeping with dad’s work,” says Miranda. “It’s a bit like walking into our house. There are many of dad’s old favourites that have hung on our walls for years in this exhibition. I’d say it’s more a visual homage as there are pieces from his early black and white inks, through to the water colours, and then the oils. It’s a celebration of his life’s work as an artist.”
Otto: An Artist’s Life is on now until February 23 at Belle Epoque Fine Art and Antiques in Sydney.
Main Photo by Joshua Belinfante and Finesilver Media
