Meet the Palette Knife Painters
Otto Ingo Kuster A.R.A.S M.A.V.L
Otto Kuster was born in Karlsbad, Bohemia in 1941 and commenced studying art at the age of 14 at the Kempten Studio of Josef Mayer of the Munich Academy. He also studied under Joseph Konrad, the noted Bavarian sculptor and at the Kempton Technical college, obtaining his Arts Diploma in 1958.
Lured by the call of adventure, Otto arrived in Australia in 1960 and worked as a farm labourer, cutting cane in North Queensland, opal mining in Lightning Ridge and many other menial jobs before settling in Sydney and becoming an Australian citizen. He paints in oils in an impressionist style using a palette knife. He also does many paintings using the pastel medium.
He is well known for his Sydney Harbour and Street Scenes, and held a successful exhibition of Paris paintings in 1975. His other favourites range from Sydney's colourful Kings Cross, the bush with its many old townships, snow scenes to horse racing and nudes. Otto is noted for dramatic light effects. A member of the Royal Art Society of NSW, Otto has held 26 successful one-man exhibitions and featured in many group exhibitions. His work is represented in numerous art galleries in Sydney, South Australia, Port Macquarie, NSW South Coast, Parkes, Forbes, Melbourne, School collections, Municipal Council, Sutherland Council, collections at Kogarah and Rockale (painting and sculptures) and many private collections throughout Australia, Japan, UK (R Sangster), Germany, France, USA, Tahiti and the Philippines.
Otto has won many prized and notable art awards and competitions around NSW for both painting and sculpture and is a six-time winner of the prestigious "most popular artist award" voted by the public. He is featured in "Australian Artist Today" and is one of Kevin Hill's "Top Ten" Australian Artists.
For some years Otto has used his talents to teach others. He has held various private painting classes and painting seminars. His love of painting has taken him to places like New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji, Tahiti, Panama, West Indies, Europe and around Australia with many successful exhibitions. In 1992 Otto was awarded a Master member of Aesthetic and Visual Literacy (M.A.V.L) from the University of NSW.
Remy Z Lorken
Remy was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. In 1967 she migrated to Australia and settled in Bonnet Bay, New South Wales, where she lived with her family until 1998.
Remy has always been creative and commenced painting in 1986 when encouraged to do so by Otto Kuster, another artist and close family friend. Mainly self-taught, she paints in oils using the palette knife and enjoys painting a variety of subjects, including landscapes, street scenes and still-life. however, flowers have always been her passion when she can utilise her palette to it’s full extent, capturing a kaleidoscope of colour on canvas.
Shortly after starting her “new hobby”, Remy entered some works into the Oyster Bay Arts and Crafts Show and received a “Highly Commended” award for one of her entries, giving her confidence to continue in this field.
Although Remy is no longer living in Bonnet Bay, she is still a resident of Sutherland Shire, and supports many local art shows and galleries such as Sutherland Art Gallery. She is also a member of Southern Cross Art Group.
Many of her artworks are in private and corporate collections throughout the world, including USA, UK, Germany and the Philippines. Remy conducts demonstrations, workshops and master classes.
Jim Flood
Jim was born in Sydney in 1941. In early childhood he showed a natural talent for sketching, drawing and painting and this has been his continuing passion throughout his life. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a letterpress and flexographic printer and then using this technical background moved into sales in the printing industry.
Jim has had no formal art training, but has studied with the late Bill Golding, Billl Mitchell and Otto Kuster. Jim found oils to be his chosen form of expression and was drawn to the use of the palette knife to produce the textures he wanted to achieve. He is a member of the Southern Cross Art Group.
Over the years, he has studied the landscape with its many hues and colours and has developed his own distintive painting style which totally reflects his great love for the Australian Bush.
Currently he travels extensively to country areas in search of inspiration and new subjects to paint, indulging his hobby of bushwalking and caravanning.
With his paintings, Jim recreates the feelings he experiences amongst bushland settings capturing on canvas the peace and contentment he so enjoys. He is particulary fond of the native gum tree in all their mystery and majesty.
Jim’s work is featured in private and corporate collections throughout Australia and overseas. He has held one-man exhibitions, been featured artist and conducts master classes, workshops and demonstrations. Jim has also exhibited in international art exhibitions in Paris and New York.