With Raglan Arts Weekend behind him and the World Surf League Championship Tour set to bring global attention back to town, local artist Harrison Synnott has been shifting his focus towards painting outdoors, drawing inspiration directly from the landscape.
Harrison, whose sister is Olympic snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, shares a similar connection to the outdoors, though expressed through painting rather than sport. Ahead of a new exhibition opening during the WSL event window, we caught up to see what’s been happening since last year.
What’s been happening in your world since we caught up with you last year prior to Raglan Arts Weekend?
I have been doing art classes, small art blocks about once every couple of months. And I have changed my focus towards the landscape, outdoor painting in particular. Some people I love bought me a great outdoor painting easel for my birthday, and I think it has been the best present I have ever received. Going outside and painting is often the only painting I feel like doing at the moment. It is a bit of a meditation for me, being outside, slowing down and observing what is happening in nature.
The art classes are simultaneously a way to condense my thoughts about painting and see if new approaches I have been trying will work with beginners, and I have found that most of the time they do. People are really surprised at what they are capable of. Being born an artist with a paint brush in hand is a myth.
How has living or working in a small town like Raglan shaped your journey as an artist?
I think living in Raglan is so good, firstly, because it is an incredible place. It’s just such a good fit for me, and I think a lot of people who move here might have that feeling too. The good vibes of the community, the surf, really fill my cup up and give me endless reasons to paint.
Secondly, the Raglan Arts Weekend is an incredible opportunity for us local artists. The fact that people are coming from out of town specifically to see what Raglan artists are doing is so special, and we are really lucky to have that date every year to work towards.
What’s next for you; any upcoming projects or exhibitions?
I am having an exhibition while the WSL event is on in town from the 15th–25th of May at the WabiSabi studio behind Atamira.
15th May opening night starts at 5pm, live music kicks off at 6pm with the Sticky Chicken trio. Drinks and food will also be provided.
What has inspired this new body of work and how does it differ from your previous exhibition?
It is all about the local landscape, being by the water and trying to capture that feeling of being present with nature — certain moments in the day where the colours are specific to that time. 90% of the paintings are painted outdoors on location.
Ocean connection runs in the family
With the WSL bringing global attention to Raglan’s waves, the link between art and the outdoors is front of mind.
For Harrison, that connection is close to home. His sister, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, has built her career in a different environment, but the thread is similar — time spent outside, reading conditions, and responding to the landscape.
Where and when did surfing begin for you?
I spent a large part of my childhood growing up in the Northern Beaches of Sydney, and I was lucky enough to live right by the beach so I could just walk down and go surfing when I was a kid. I think my parents got me a surf lesson when I was 5, so that was the first time I can remember standing up on a wave. But I got really into it when our house was being renovated and there was a painter who loved to surf after work, and he used to take me out. I think I was about 11 or 12. After that I was hooked.
Your sister is world-famous snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who I know enjoys the surf too. Is this something you connect on?
Yeah, it is. I really appreciate it when we do get the opportunity to go surfing together, but it doesn’t happen often these days. She has been to Raglan a couple of times to enjoy the surf.
You must be immensely proud of what she has achieved. What qualities growing up did you recognise in her that have perhaps led to her success, and how has her success influenced you?
Absolutely. Our whole family is immensely proud of her. It’s quite strange really that she is kind of famous now. I don’t think I could have ever predicted it when she was really young, pre-snowboarding competitions, other than she was often wanting to do what my brother and I were into, like skating and snowboarding. It is hard to say looking back, but I think she was always driven to keep up with us or be better than us. That being said, I could be completely wrong about that. Ultimately, I think she just fell in love with snowboarding.
Maybe seeing her incredible success has inspired me to pursue doing what I love as a career path as well. Maybe seeing what is possible when there is potential to live a certain way. I never really thought about her influence on me too much, but no doubt it has worked its way into my unconscious mind.
