16/12/2025
A call to the sea today with this charming piece “Breakers Dock” by Tom Garrett (1879-1952), which most likely takes its inspiration from the wharves and docks in Hobart or Sydney.
- It’s so lovely to have this little piece of history at the Studio to illustrate & share with art lovers the beautiful medium of Monotype which is more or less a lost art form these days, but was Tom Garrett’s artistic forte that brought him wide acclaim.
- “Breakers Dock” was created using the unique & difficult method of Monotype, which is made by painting onto a plate of glass or silver. This image is then transferred to a sheet of moistened paper, to give a pleasant and textured surface with a soft, mottled colouring that is akin in appearance to a watercolour.
- Monotypes are unique as there is no possible means of creating more than one.
- Tom Garrett was born in Hobart in 1879 into a family of merchants and accountants. He moved to Melbourne in 1900 and read for Holy Orders, which he abandoned. He eventually settled in Sydney, working in the art department of Swaine’s Stationery shop.
- In 1929, when Garrett was 50 years old, he held his first solo exhibition in Sydney, which was a great success.
- For the remainder of his life, Garrett held regular and successful exhibitions in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
- Such was his mastery of the rarely used medium of Monotype, that he became renowned as Australia’s best monotpye artist.
- Garrett’s work is held in the collections of the State Galleries of New South Wales, Queensland,
South Australia and Tasmania, plus several regional galleries, the Howard Hinton Collection at Armadale Teachers College and many private collections throughout Australia.
- Such a rare treat to have a Tom Garret on offer - I’ve loved his works since first discovering them 30 years ago when I followed my heart & love of art to become an art dealer.
- Total size inc’ the lovely frame: 55 x 51 cm; $1,850.
- Enquiries: Tiffany 0407-452 024 or send a message.
