Despite growing up on a small farm in Gerringong, it is Harrison Rainnie’s detailed cityscape drawings that have earned him selection in the prestigious 2015 HSC visual art showcase ARTEXPRESS.
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The former Kiama High School student, along with two of his Kiama classmates has had his HSC major work chosen to join the annual state-wide tour, in recognition of achieving an outstanding HSC result.
The 18-year-old said his inspiration for the urban artworks, which depict a bird’s eye view of New York’s Time Square and Sydney’s CBD, was his interest in architecture.
“I have always been interested in buildings and architecture,” Mr Rainnie said. “Ever since I was little, I said I wanted to be an architect and I have always been pretty good at drawing buildings and structural things.”
He focussed on New York and Sydney, for their significance as major world cities. “When you think of a big city you think of New York and Sydney is one of the most important cities in the Southern Hemisphere.”
He used a modified Google Earth image to guide his New York drawing. For his Sydney scene he enlisted the help of a Sydney Tower staffer who took multiple photos from the top of the tower at different angles, for him to select from.
“I chose the one I thought best represented Sydney, looking down Pitt Street to Martin Place and incorporating some of Hyde Park. “The concept behind the work is how you can use perspective and tone to create a sense of vertigo when you’re looking at a still image.”
He drew his cityscapes in graphite before creating the final drawings using ballpoint pen.
Thousands of hours and more than 20 ballpoint pens later, he finished his labour intensive artwork with half an hour to spare before it was due. Mr Rainnie plans to make good on his childhood dream and will study architecture at the UNSW in 2017, after a gap year working at an American summer camp, and finally visiting New York city.
His work will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of NSW from March 16 to May 15, and at Wagga Wagga Art Gallery in July.
Mr Rainnie's HSC Drama project, a set design for "Les Liasons Dangereuses" was also selected for OnSTAGE, the HSC drama showcase, on show at the Seymour Centre.