focusinterview.
Twenty Ninth Street Studio
There are two sides to Archie Denning’s artistic talent … On a personal level, he loves to draw, paint and sculpt, exploring multiple techniques and media. On a commercial level, he uses his skill to assist businesses with their branding, so if you need a new logo or business cards, Archie can help!
H
i Archie. What's your background in the New England region? I grew up in Armidale, after moving from Woy Woy on the NSW Central Coast. I went to school at TAS and after finishing, I began studying a Bachelor of Education at UNE. Wanting to dive more into art, I looked for options in Sydney; however, after a brief stint back down at the Central Coast and commuting to Sydney, I returned to Armidale when I was offered a position at Piddington’s as a graphic and monumental designer. Since returning to the New England, I have begun testing the waters in the local art scene, with some time spent at NERAM’s art classes and entering works in competitions in local shows and the Armidale Art Gallery’s annual prize. How did you become interested in art and design? My interest in art was something that sparked during high school, particularly in my senior years (a little to the detriment of my other subjects). During a school trip to Sydney, seeing such a vast array of works in the big galleries was phenomenal; this was also my first visit to the Brett Whiteley Studio in Surrey Hills. After falling in love with Whiteley’s work 38 New England focus.
and the grand scale of Alchemy, I was hooked. The studio has become my favourite and most frequented Sydney destination since. The design side was more an extension of my interest in art, the commercial art side of graphic design in advertising - whether it was in printed media, large billboards, commercials, simple iconography, and typography. Just how subtle yet prevalent design is in our lives I find quite fascinating. Advertising like that for the old Tooth’s Ale and Resch’s Pilsener had such beautiful artistic flair. You've recently established Twenty Ninth Street Studio in Armidale. What types of things do you create from this site ... and what services do you offer clients? Twenty Ninth Street Studio has become an opportunity to offer design services more focused on new or small businesses that may need new logos or business cards designed, branding assistance, or social media marketing. I also do work with sporting clubs and community groups that look for advertising for events, fundraisers and recruitment. What are some of the concepts you've designed for clients that you're most proud of? Working with the Barbarians Rugby Club is always enjoyable, as they’re open to concepts
TWENTY NINTH STREET STUDIO HAS BECOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER DESIGN SERVICES MORE FOCUSED ON NEW OR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT MAY NEED NEW LOGOS OR BUSINESS CARDS DESIGNED, BRANDING ASSISTANCE, OR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING.
and new ideas, whether for game days or fundraisers at the St Kilda Hotel. I’d be most proud of the 2018 Blues vs. Barbarians NAIDOC game design, because of the significance it holds for both clubs. Also, working on designs for the 2019 New England Rugby Union Finals Series, as well as the more recently completed series of Soviet inspired recruitment posters for the Baa Baas, which have been quite a hit. Working with new business people is always a pleasure. I worked with Brooke Monley, the beauty therapist at The Hair & Beauty Basement in Armidale recently, and it was fantastic to see how much she enjoyed getting her concepts and ideas on paper and how much energy she had moving into a new business (although I might not take up the offer for a free back wax anytime soon …) Another new business I had a great time working with was a Central Coast based tennis and high-performance coaching business, Coast & Country Tennis, located at the Gosford Tennis Club. Starting fresh, the team there was looking at designing new
business logos, as well as a concept for their pro-squad team, which developed into “The Bull Sharks.” You also have an interest in contemporary art. What media do you like to work with? I mainly work in drawing, painting and sculpture, although I do like to dabble in many other mediums. I love the immediacy of drawing; something recognisable can be down within seconds, or laboured over for what begins to feel like hours. There’s a beautiful flow of form and line in drawing. With painting, there’s a beautiful mix of colour and viscosity in paint as it’s worked across the canvas or board that is hard to beat. Paint can be thrown out and schmeared or gently dabbed, depending on the subject; the beautiful texture and movement that is left is gorgeous. Sculpture is a medium I love, whether in timber, metal, clay or stone, because you can be a little less refined when beginning a work, as it slowly shows itself to you. You've enjoyed two trips away recently, which have helped you explore art in new