The artists and the sea

ON BOARD: Gisborne-based screenprinter Tony Ogle has explored a new technique, the results of which can be seen in an exhibition at Miharo Gallery with fellow surfer and graphic designer/artist Daryn McBride. Picture supplied

A combined passion for surfing and art brings the work of screenprinter Tony Ogle and artist/graphic designer Daryn McBride together in a combined exhibition that opens tomorrow at Miharo Gallery.

Both artists’ work focuses largely on coastal and surfing scenes. Where Ogle’s screenprints are built up with separate areas of colour and a carefully balanced arrangement of elements, McBride’s highly stylised imagery that includes bubbled surf, pointillist effects (in which small dots of colour are applied in patterns to form an image) and stylised surfing manoeuvres shows the influence of Surfer magazine staff artist Rick Griffin’s 1960s cartoons.

For the past three years, McBride has invoked the psychedelia of posters popular in the 1960s for his Makorori First Light Longboard Surfing Classic T-shirt graphics.

“I’ve always admired the style and energy in his work,” said Ogle.

“For the exhibition I thought it would be nice to have a blend of my work, which has a different feel, with his. A lot of my works in this show are a blend of hand-working and screenprinting. I’ve been working on circular and oval wooden panels.”

The process involves painting an image onto the panel then rubbing back the paint.

“Once I’m happy with that, I’ll add a screenprinted effect. I really enjoy doing that. It’s opened a new portal for me.”

Having made Gisborne his home a year ago, McBride looked forward to the combined exhibition, due to open

at Easter, at Miharo Gallery. The lockdown meant the show was put on hold but both artists have found living in their respective bubbles gave them time and space for productivity.

A long-time admirer of Ogle’s work, McBride told the Weekender two months ago he first met the screenprinter years ago at a Nixon Art Mosh exhibition in Auckland. At the art show, a photographer friend told McBride someone was there who wanted to meet him.

“I said ‘bro, who wants to meet me?’ He said ‘Tony Ogle.’ I froze, my face flushed, I panicked. Tony shook hands with me and said he had admired my work for a long time.

“I said ‘bro, I’m like a schoolkid here.’ I’ve met some legends in surfing but I felt more nervous meeting Tony.

“Now we hang out.”

Now they are exhibiting together at Miharo.

The show came about when Ogle wanted to support Rosie Cruddas and Hera Clifton’s recently opened Miharo Gallery in the CBD.

“I thought it was great to have a gallery right on the main road,” said Ogle.

He considered who he might like to exhibit with and thought of McBride.

“I thought it would be nice for the show to represent two surfers whose passion for surfing is combined with their art.”