ART and Dennis Pitt are synonymous. The Inverell painter has created about 7000 pieces in his life, and most have sold.
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He was a creative child, and took up painting at age 16. He has not looked back.
Most people in Inverell would have seen a Dennis Pitt, though might not know it. Most are a record of the imagery and the stories embedded in his Aboriginal culture.
Dennis’ murals are found in all the Inverell public schools, the Bridge Café, Connections and Inverell Accommodation Services.
Further afield, his work is on permanent display at the Wollomombi Gorge National Park, Armidale Town Hall and pool, Tamworth South Public School, and other regional locations. He and his son Dennis Pitt Jr are about to join forces on a mural at The Armidale School.
Like every professional artist, he turns his talent to commissions if it means he can continue to work in the studio on the work he loves.
“It comes down to you don’t want to knock it back,” he said.
“So if you’ve got to do a piece that’s out of your comfort zone, you’ve got to do it.”
Through the work, Dennis noticed he is evolving as an artist all the time.
“I’ve grown more in my art, the way I paint. I’ve got my own style now,” he said.
He had a two year hiatus from the studio, but recently returned to painting because it is something he loves, and it was time. “It was good; a good feeling. It puts you back on track, and puts you at ease a bit, in yourself,” he said.
Some artists form attachments to certain pieces, and Dennis smiled and said that happens for him with some paintings.
“All the time. Some of them, I get attached to them sometimes, but you’ve just got to let them go,” he said.
“Because there’s always something better around the corner. You always strive to do that better picture.”
His long-term goal is to be recognised as a well known Aboriginal artist.
“It’s just one of my goals. What I want to achieve,” Dennis said.
“It sort of sums up where I started painting to when I’m going to finish.”