LOCAL LIFE
A true blue Aussie to the Max by Greg Martin
Max Mannix , one of Australia ’ s most beloved and successful artists was born in 1939 in Nyah West , a small Victorian country town .
Max always had a passion for drawing and sketching with pencil and paper and says he “ wasn ’ t too bad at cricket and football either ”.
When he was 16 , he left home and went droving in South-West Queensland around Quilpie .
“ Back in those days our only mode of travel was on horseback and usually leading a pack horse ,” he said .
“ I worked in mustering camps and shearing sheds , and I did a bit of fencing . I reckon my generation has lived the best life because I ’ ve seen the world move from horse and cart to the Concorde and I have travelled on both .”
His days as a drover and bushie came to an end in 1973 when he moved to Melbourne , seeking employment .
“ The very next day I found a job as a screen printer ,” Max said .
“ I taught myself to paint with the help of a correspondence course from America - ‘ Famous Artists Painting Course ’ - and I also had etching lessons with George Eddy who was a print maker ,” Max explained .
“ I remember when I went from sketching to painting in oils – the pure colour fascinated me , and I absolutely loved creating images and my life flowed before me in oil on canvas . I worked each day at the screen printers until 3.30pm , came home and painted ‘ til midnight and then started work at seven the next morning .
“ Something had to give so my wife , Lynne , and I decided I would take the big step and give up the security of a job so I could paint full time .
“ It was a giant step for a young family ; Lynne and I had four daughters to support and a household to run but we had saved enough money to last us a couple of months if I didn ’ t sell any paintings .
“ I knuckled down and got into it . I was lucky . My art took off .”
Max says he was inspired by four artists - Vincent Van Gogh , Peter Breughel the Elder , Russell Drysdale and Thomas Hart Benton , a mural artist from the USA who was painting during the 1900 ’ s .
“ They say the strength of a nation can be measured by the humour of its people and if that ’ s the case , then I reckon Australia would have to be the greatest nation on Earth ,” Max said .
“ The characters I remember most are the larrikins and the jokers - you know , the real characters . They ’ re the ones who can show you what life is about . It ’ s been that way for a long time too .
“ Banjo Patterson knew it and so did Henry Lawson and Steele Rudd . They spent most of their careers immortalising these folks in verse and story .”
“ However , I ’ m a storyteller with a brush . I suppose you could say that I paint yarns .
“ I ’ ve always said that my paintings are a social comment on Max Mannix . My growing up in a country town , working on
Max Mannix and his “ rock ”, wife , Lynne , pose for the birdie outside the legendary artist ’ s studio , a 1913 Catholic church which was deconsecrated in the early 80s . Photo : Kathryn Johnston .
stations and droving cattle , these are my life experiences .
“ I know every character I paint . I ’ ve worked with them , cried with them , and laughed with them . I generalise situations and what I paint is typical , not particular .
“ When it comes to my work , I ’ m simple minded and bloody minded and that ’ s one of the keys to my success .
“ The other is having a good mate in my wife Lynne who ran the household , mowed lawns and ran the girls around to their schools , sports and outings . “ Of course , now to round out a perfect life , we have our eight beautiful grandchildren . Every morning , six days a week , I sit down at my easel , and it all works - don ’ t ask me how . Call it a gift or call it talent .”
Max says his knock-off time at the end of a day in the studio is when his old dog comes to collect him between 5pm-6pm to tell him its “ drinky time .”
Here ’ s to you Max Mannix !
BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! ISSUE 33 // NOVEMBER 2023 11