Studied at the NGA Art school aged 16 Studied at George Bell’s private art school. Introduced to modernism. In his 20s went to England and studied at the Chelsea Art School and learnt printmaking. Returned to Australia Was rejected by the Antipodeans for exhibition of modern Australian artists. Lived in Melbourne

Paul Cezanne: Quarry at BibemusMy Garden

Simplified shapes/formCompression of space

"I repaint other people's paintings. See that there? That's 'Bailed up'. You know, Tom Roberts. I've just taken the figures out and repainted the background." - Fred Williams 1969 One of Williams' greatest works, 'My garden' was painted in direct response to Tom Roberts' 'Bailed up', underlining Williams' strong allegiance to the Heidelberg School and especially to Tom Roberts, the Australian painter he loved most of all. In a singularly profound homage from one artist to another, Williams transmuted the golden glare of a relatively gentle New England landscape into his own painterly expression of the hot red heart of the continent; acting out his long-held declaration that 'Bailed up' was the most important landscape painting in this country. Australian Art Department, AGNSW, 2000

Oil Paint on Canvas. Brushes to apply large areas of flat colour. Palette knife to apply paint to create a sculptural effect. Directly applying the paint from the tube. Used the “fat on lean “rule and waited six to twelve months to reworked his canvas Outdoor sketches with Gouache (opaque water colour) Looked at changes in light and viewpoints. Would work on a series of paintings at a time. Print making techniques included etching for lines and trees and aquatint to make tones.

Paul Cezanne for form Gustave Courbet for thick pastes of paint to create rocks and foliage. Chinese calligraphy use of line and space Cubist construction of space e.g. George Braque

Grew up post world war 2, materials for art were expensive. Artists were not seen as a paying job. Supplemented his income by becoming a framer in his early years Australian had to go to England to gain a cultural education Influence of abstraction and development of his own style separate from an art movement