activity - home (state library of queensland) as anything ron mcburnie a perc tucker regional...

METAL AS ANYTHING Ron McBurnie A PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY TOURING EXHIBITION Education Resource 1

ACTIVITYThemes & InfluencesI draw information used in my work from a variety of different sources both contemporary and historical.

The ideas may come from obscure and seemingly unconnected bits of information but become connected

through the visual relationships I bring to them. These new narrative combinations are what form the basis of the

work that I produce.

- Ron McBurnie 2009

Ron McBurnie creates artworks that belong to a series. Each body of work is built up and added to over

several years and are distinctly thematic. Ron’s most well known series of artwork include:

• Suburban

• Romantic

• Rake’s Progress

• Artist’s Studios

Ron has also produced a number of artists books using his own prints.

Ron gathers inspiration from a wide variety of contemporary and historical sources, and produces artworks

that are connected through stories or narratives.

Ron McBurnie’s artwork is characteristic of its masterful skill, reference to historical artworks and innate

humour and quirkiness. Ron’s work has the ability to make us celebrate and engage with the simple, everyday

events that occur in our suburban environment

Watch the 20 minute DVD Suburban Etchings about Ron McBurnie.

Listen carefully and learn how Ron describes and demonstrates the printmaking process.

Create a step-by-step instruction manual or diagram about how to design, produce and print an etching.

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ACTIVITY K - 6Suburban (Pets)

One of my friends owned a cat that on three occasions attempted to jump onto the table in his delicately

painted Margaret Olley canvas. I was interested in his account of this incident because I hadn’t realised that

cats had the ability to see two - dimensional images in three dimensions – now I wonder why our pets don’t

watch more TV. The reference to Whistler’s portrait of his mother in the title is there only because the structure

of the etching seemed to relate to it.

- Ron McBurnie 2009

Describe and make a list of everything that you can see in this artwork?

What types of shapes, objects or animals can you see?

What is on the wall?

What do you think the cat is trying to do?

Why would a cat want to jump into a painting?

Research the artwork and life of Margaret Olley.

Look at one of her paintings and imagine you are a cat.

Describe what it would be like to jump inside one of her artworks.

Do you have pets at home? Do they ever do crazy or silly things?

Write a story about a funny thing your pet, or your friends pet did.

Create a drawing, collage or print of your pet doing something strange or unusual.

Give your artwork a suitable title.

Create a class book of drawings or prints that represent all of the pet stories.

Present your books to your friends and family.

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Ron McBurnie This was Whistler’s mother’s cat’s third attempt to jump onto the table of the Margaret Olley painting 1997 Hard ground etching and aquatint, 39 x 49 cm, edition of 20


ACTIVITY 7 - 10Suburban

They are small statements about variety of life within the repetition of suburbia. It seems that difference can only

be noticed within the context of the repetition of the similar.

- Ron McBurnie 2009

The Suburban etching series began in about 1983 and is a series which continues through to the present.

The images in this series depict the often humorous, unique, and eccentric incidents which occur in ordinary

everyday suburban life. Some are McBurnie’s own experiences and observations while others are stories

shared by friends or discovered in newspaper reports. Dogs figure frequently in these suburban etchings, as

do houses, cane toads, ducks and cats. All works represent Ron McBurnie’s interest in society, history and his

quirky and endearing sense of humour.

Describe what you can see in A Lady of Elephants.

What makes this artwork interesting or unique?

Does this house look like your house? Make a list of the differences.

What type of lines and shapes you can see.

Why do you think Ron McBurnie doesn’t use colour in his work?

What does it mean to live in the suburbs? Where do you live?

List some Australian films or TV programs that have been set in the suburbs?

What image of Australian society or people do they portray?

Do you think it is accurate? Are these programs like real life?

Look at a number of Ron McBurnie’s suburban artworks and think about what they

communicate. Do you think they are accurate representations of everyday life?

Compare the work of Ron McBurnie with artists who have made artworks about the

Australian suburbs, for example John Brack and Howard Arkley.

What are the similarities? Discuss any differences.

Take a photograph or do some sketches of your own house.

Include as much detail as possible, including the garden, ornaments or pets.

Develop your photograph or drawings and complete a print or painting of your home.

Exhibit your artworks to the class.

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Ron McBurnie A Lady of Elephants 1988Hard ground etching and aquatint, 20 x 31cm, edition of 20


ACTIVITY 10 - 12The Rake’s Progress

Look carefully and closely at each artwork in the series when you visit the exhibition or at

www.ronmcburnie.com.

Choose your favourite Rake’s image and complete the attached questions on page 15.

Research the original Rake’s Progress by William Hogarth.

Compare an artwork of William Hogarth with a Ron McBurnie image.

What are the similarities and differences?

What does this series of etchings tell you about the artist?

Are there any visual clues or symbols? Consider the titles of each artwork.

What do you think they mean?

Music is an important influence of Ron McBurnie.

He is also interested in exploring different levels of conscious. What is your favourite song?

Listen to your favourite song carefully and write out the lyrics.

Without using words, draw or paint an artwork that represents these song lyrics to you.

Create a large-scaled artwork using text, image and symbols that represents your

personality, environment, family, favourite songs, poems, moods, attitudes, emotions, and

dreams.

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Ron McBurnie The inheritance of the barbeque1989Hard ground etching and aquatint 74.5 x 50.1cm, edition of 30


ACTIVITYThe Rake’s Progress: QuestionsChoose your favourite artwork from the Rake’s Progress series and complete the questions below.

Title of work:…………………………………………………………………….Date:……………………………………………………………………………..Medium:…………………………………………………………………………Edition:…………………………………………………………………………..

1. Description: (describe the artwork in as much detail as possible) Make a list of all the everyday

objects, symbols, art and cultural references you can see and recognise.

2. Choose two items from the above question and discuss why you think Ron McBurnie has

included them in the artwork?

3. What are the important visual elements and principles of this etching? How has line, shape,

texture and tone been used in the artwork?

4. Describe how the artist has used balance, perspective, space, movement and pattern.

5. Discuss the meaning or intention of the artwork. What is Ron McBurnie trying to represent? What

are the ideas or purpose behind this artwork?

6. What are your thoughts or feelings about this artwork? Do you like it? Explain your reasons.


ACTIVITY 10 - 12Romantics

The Romantic etchings began as a result of my growing interest in the work produced by a small group of

British artists known as the “Ancients”. I had just purchased an etching titled The Hersman’s Cottage, by Samuel

Palmer, the leader of the group. In it I saw possibilities for bringing a sense of wonder and mystery back into the

landscape where I lived.

- Ron McBurnie 2009

Ron McBurnie is an artist who likes to compartmentalise or categorise his artwork in terms of series both

thematically and in process and technique. Like the Suburban etching series The Romantics began in the early

1980s and is a series which continues today. The images in this series reference the work of Samuel Palmer

and consist of pastoral or romantic landscapes that depict Ron’s observations and surroundings.

The most challenging and characteristic element of this series is the manipulation and preservation of the

printmaking medium. The images are meticulously built up using basic ground and an etching needle and the

final artworks are atmospheric and dramatic while still pertaining to McBurnie’s quirky sense of humour.

Describe what you can see in Under the light of the hill.

What art elements make this artwork interesting or visually appealing?

How would you describe the feeling or mood of this artwork?

Research the term Romantics or Romanticism.

Look at a number of Ron McBurnie’s Romantic artworks and compare them with his other

artworks. What are the similarities? Discuss the differences?

Is there an artist, art movement or style of artwork that you particularly like?

Research your favourite artist or style of art and collect example images as inspiration.

Develop an artwork and/or series of artworks that depict your surroundings or environment in

the style of your favourite artist or art movement. Include objects, symbols or people in your

artwork that further reference the life, time or characteristics of your chosen influence.

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Ron McBurnie The Story Teller2009Hard ground etching, 59 x 89.5, edition of 30


SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THIS ARTWORK

Look closely at the artwork. W

hat types of shapes, objects or animals can you see?

Make a list of everything you can see in this artw

ork?

Dog’s B

ottles 1988 hard ground etching and aquatint, 21 x 31 cm, edition of 20

............................................................................................................................................................................

Do you have pets at hom

e? Do they ever do crazy or silly things?

Write a story or draw

a picture about a funny thing your pet did.

WASHING THE DOG

Can you find this artw

ork?

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Draw

what you think the dog looks like.

Don’t forget to draw

eyes, ears and a nose. D

o you think the dog likes to be washed?

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I have four legs.I like to go for w

alks and chew

on bones. You can find m

e in the backyard barking at the postm

an.

I am a

..............................

Washing the dog 2000 hard ground etching, roulette and aquatint, 17 x 12cm

, edition of 20

The professional dog show (detail) 1983 hard and soft ground with aquatint 50 x


Look closely at this artwork. W

hat you think this artwork tells you about the artist?

Are there any visual clues or sym

bols? What do you think they m

ean?

Ron McBurnie White dreaming with a black conscience 1989 Hard ground etching and aquatint, 74 x 50.1 cm, edition of 30

SUBURBIAR

on makes art about everyday

suburban life. Look at a number of

Ron M

cBurnie’s suburban artw

orks.

Do you think they are true exam

ples of Tow

nsville everyday life?

ARTWORK ANALYSIS

Choose your favourite artw

ork from the exhibition.

What is the title of the artw

ork?............................................................................................D

raw a sketch of the artw

ork.

Describe w

hat you can see in this artwork?

What types of shapes, objects or anim

als can you see? W

hat is happening in the artwork?

Why is this artw

ork your favourite? D

escribe how it m

akes you feel.

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List some A

ustralian films and TV

programs that have been set in the

suburbs?

..............................................................................................................................................................................


THE TEMPTATION OF ST ANTHONYE

xamine the artw

ork closely. What visual clues or sym

bols does the artist use? C

hoose three and discuss what you think the artist is trying to com

municate.

What does R

on McB

urnie reveal about his personal history, interests or personality in this artw

ork?

Describe your intitial response to this artw

ork. How

does it make you feel?

Ron McBurnie The Temptation of St. Antony (detail) 1994 hard ground etching and aquatint, 200 x 200 cm (eight plates), edition of 15

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