1. Brett Whiteley

2. Brett Whiteley
Brett Whiteley, (7 April 1939 – 15 June 1992) was an Australian artist. Brett Whiteley is one of the most well know Australian painters of the twentieth century. The Sydney based artist created large whimsical paintings, drawings, and sculpture. Whiteley's topics included nudes, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, birds, and abstracts.

3. Early Years
Brett Whiteley started drawing at a very early age. Throughout at the National Art School in East Sydney, Whiteley attended drawing classes. This is where Whiteley met his future wife, Wendy Julius, and she became one of Whiteley's main subjects for his works.

4. Brett Whiteley is one of the most well know Australian painters of the twentieth century. The Sydney based artist created large whimsical paintings, drawings, and sculpture. Whiteley's topics included nudes, portraits, landscapes, still lifes, birds, and abstracts.

5. Brett Whiteley was inspired by singers like Bob Dylan and lived the lifestyle of a rock star. He was married to the Beautiful Wendy Whiteley and lived hard and fast. Whiteley searched for a muse in drugs, just as many rock stars had done before him, but ultimately it was this lifestyle that shortened his life and career.

6. Later years and Death
Whiteley became increasingly dependent on alcohol and became addicted to heroin, leading to bouts of schizophrenia. Whiteley's work output began a steep decline, although its market value continued to climb. He made several attempts to dry out and get off drugs completely, all ultimately unsuccessful. In 1989, he and Wendy, whom he had always credited as his 'muse', divorced. On 15 June 1992, aged 53, he was found dead from a heroin overdose in a motel room in Thirroul, north of Wollongong. The coroner's verdict was 'death due to self-administered substances'.

7. Famous Brett Whiteley Quotes about Art
Art should astonish, transmute, transfix. One must work at the tissue between truth and paranoia. Brett Whiteley
The fine art of painting, which is the bastard of alchemy, always has been always will be, a game. The rules of the game are quite simple: in a given arena, on as many psychic fronts as the talent allows, one must visually describe, the centre of the meaning of existense. Brett Whiteley
Art is the thrilling spark that beats death - thats all. Brett Whiteley

8. Artwork

9. Brett Whiteley (1939-1992) Untitled (Nude) 1985 Charcoal ink and wash on paper

10. Brett Whiteley Summer at Carcoar (1977) 244. 0 x 199
Brett Whiteley Summer at Carcoar (1977) x oil and mixed media on pineboard

11. The blossom tree oil, silk flowers, branch, wood, canvas, nails and electricity on board 186 x x 25.6 cm