Phil Went is a contemporary realist artist specialising in figurative works, portraits, and still-life. His preferred method of working is primarily from life under natural light. Phil worked in Information Technology as a software developer before taking up studies of classical drawing and painting techniques.
Phil has studied at the Julian Ashton Art School in Sydney, where he received the SMSA Scholarship in 2018 and graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 2019 as well as intensive workshops at the Florence Academy of Art studying classical drawing and painting techniques.
Statement
Drawing and painting has always seemed magical, especially being able to capture lighting and mood. I have always had a fascination with technique and process, and this has transferred to my art practice with a deep interest in the classical techniques of the study and application of the skills of drawing and painting.
Travel to Europe and studying at the Florence Academy of Art and at Australia's famous Julian Ashton Art School have given me some of these foundation skills to build on with each new work.
Each work is an expression of my desire to eat the fruit, pickup an object to contemplate it's history and future, or to be fascinated with the person in a portrait.