ARTWORK HISTORY:
Our family is very much into "the Arts" in all it's forms, from music to art to chinaware and even classic old (quality) technology!
Our focus has always been landscapes, both Australian and New Zealand but over the years we also have collected some other "interesting" pieces of art that will be seeking new homes as well.
Back in the early 1980's we purchased a few Jim Crofts works but to be absolutely frank, really didn't like this one - it was all about the frame which we envisaged could be used for another of our artworks. Well, it's 40 years on and STILL we haven't repurposed the frame so it's about time this framed artwork went out the door!
THE PAINTING:
The only colour is Brown (actually more like a Sephia)! This is oil on board, the background is a cream/off-white.
The thing that caught our eye, besides the frame, is that Jim has used a scrapping technique which is quite similar to that used by Pro Hart in his works.
It is signed by Jim but to me at least, I really don't think this artwork is finished! Why sign an unfinished artwork? Beats me! The artwork just looks as though there was "more to come" - the lack of colours other than Brown support this.
The paper label on the rear also identifies the artwork as one of his but it is untitled, simply referred to as a "painting" - perhaps Jim was experimenting with techniques at the time and this work was never intended to be seen by the art loving public?
Jim Crofts art was generally colourful and many of his works have similar themes to this artwork i.e pond with reeds or rushes surrounding and that strange bird like creature sitting on the edge of the pond (to the left)
I may be totally wrong and in fact it could be that this was the way Jim wanted his artwork to be presented, but then again ....
Anyway, there is the nice solid wooden frame .... more about that further down in this description
JIM CROFTS:
There is not a lot of information about the artist online but I seriously doubt that he survives to this day and is still 'working' - if the dates I see around are correct, he would currently be 100 years old. Well, if I am wrong then good luck to him - great health!
There are references online to a framing studio by the same name as the artist and at the same address in Bondi Junction (NSW) although it is also possible that THIS frame came from that framing studio and Jim Crofts lived elsewhere - there are some suggestions he was located in Woollahra (NSW) also.
I believe Jim Crofts was an amateur artist, perhaps taking up the 'arts' in later years (when he was in his late 50's) because I cannot find any works by Jim prior to the 1970's
He was a prolific artist, many many of his original paintings are still to be found in the 'art marketplace' and they mostly seem to be landscapes or scenes. Some actually appear to be fantasy in nature, the large bird like creature in this painting also features in his other works but it doesn't look like a "normal" bird!
JIM CROFTS - Untitled
1982
Original Oil on board (Monotones - Brown/Sephia only)
Jim has signed and dated this artwork in the lower right-hand corner (scrapped)
Artwork measurements: 593mm wide x 447mm high
Frame measurements: 672mm wide x 518mm high
Hanging weight: 2Kg
Frame is wooden with gold gilding
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Artwork is clean
Close inspection of the artwork reveals NO damage or paint degradation, no flaking or missing paint but obviously there are the large areas of plain cream/off-white which I have this feeling were about to be painted but something stopped Jim in his tracks! (blues/greens etc would have been nice and bring the art 'to life'). This artwork has always been sitting in the storeroom at our house, we just couldn't bring ourselves to hang it!
Of course art is very subjective, we may not like the art much but others may find it "interesting" or "fascinating"
THE FRAME:
The solid wooden frame is in very good condition, no joint splits and all joints secure and at right-angles.
The timber is stained, dark brown Mahogany like finish.
The finish has not been sealed (no varnish or polyurethane applied) so you do not need to 'clean back' the frame too much
Gold gilded strip is used on all sides near the artwork border.
The artwork board is secured with "art staples" and these can be removed with pliers (tough little beasties)
The hanging cord (nylon) remains in place (stapled)
The frame is MEDIUM SIZED
Dimensions:
External (edge to edge) 672mm wide x 518mm height
Internal (recess for the board to fit) 611mm x 461mm - these are the MAXIMUM dimensions for the artwork to be fitted into this recess
The frame is clean, undamaged and unscratched.
It could be used 'as is' but would come up very nicely with a fresh stain applied, it has been 40 years after all!
