Title

Flexmore, John.

Author

Butler, Roger.

Source

Butler, Roger. Melbourne woodcuts and linocuts of the 1920s and 1930s. Ballarat, Victoria: Ballarat Fine Art Gallery in conjunction with the Australian Directors Council, 1981.

Publication date

1981

Type

Biography

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

John Flexmore

 

Born in Melbourne in 1911, John Flexmore attended night classes at the National Gallery School between 1930 and 1936, studying under Bernard Hall, W. B. Mcinnes, and Charles Wheeler. Before 1930 he was experimenting with linocuts and rubber stamps, as box wood was too expensive. He was inspired by Japanese prints, and was one of the few artists to use water based inks He made about 50 prints (many very small), some of which were sold in sets. Flexmore encouraged other students at the National Gallery School to experiment in the medium. These included Una Sparrow, Arthur Boyd, Clifford Bayliss and Oswald Hall. Flexmore became well known for his traditional watercolours. He died in 1971.

© Roger Butler, 1981.

Published in Melbourne Woodcuts & Linocuts of the 1920s & 1930s, exhibition catalogue, Ballarat: Ballarat Fine Art Gallery, 1981.