Martin Sharp's Drawings

Early in 1968 Australian writer and journalist Craig McGregor published a compilation of his writings entitld People, Politics and Pop - Australian in the Sixties. The 221 page paperback book, published by Ure Smith of Sydney, featured cover artwork by artist Martin Sharp, along with 12 black and white drawings dispersed throughout relating to the text. All of Sharp's illustrations are reproduced below. The drawings were taken by Sharp during 1966-7, around the time of his departure from Australia and subsequent overland journal through Asia to England and London. They represent an important transition in his art from the early, angular line in black and white ink - as seen in his many works with OZ magazine and cartoons for The Bulletin -  through to the more fluid psychedelic works which appeared as a result of his encounter with hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD after December 1966. The cover of People, Politics and Pop is a good example, mixing both styles.

Cover artwork in black and red ink.

The cover artwork displays both the angularity of the old - in the word POP - alongside the bubble and ballon-like font of the new - with the word PEOPLE. The latter featured in many of the rock and pop music posters of the day coming out of places such as San Francisco. In the background of Sharp's drawing we also see the circles and lines which were to feature in perhaps him most famous 60s work - the OZ magazine cover and Big O Posters Bob Dylan poster in yellow / black, and black and red ink on gold foil, also known as Blowing in the Mind. Throughout the 60s Sharp displayed fine penmanship and his balck and white line drawing was often highly detailed and surreal. It was not until about 1968 that he began to use colour more often in his work and slowly abandonded the monochrome works. These drawings reflect his background in cartooning and satirical pieces for OZ.There were many similar works in OZ London magazine, such as the Norman Normal cartoon strip, however they became less common. As such, the McGregor book represents a distinct turning point in the art of Martin Sharp. Black and white gave way to colour; ink to oil; paper to foil; cartoons to painting. Some elements remained, such as collage, and this can be seen in the first drawing within the book. Titled Wahroonga Lady in her Naked Lunch, after an exhibition by artist Garry Shead, it was the second chapter and part of a section on Sex.

Last updated: 17 May 2016
Michael Organ