Time to paint: Opera career colours David King's art
Ahead of the 2026 Thirroul Seaside Festival, which returns from March 27-30, Janice Creenaune meets Bulli artist David King, winner of 2025’s Art Prize
David King is a classical guitarist and opera singer with Opera Australia who is now making a name for himself in the art world. Last year, he won first place in the main prize at Thirroul Seaside Festival Art Show for his oil painting Bulli Sea Pool.
“I pour myself willingly into everything I do, a kind of all-or-nothing type of attitude,” David says.
“I may only have recently resumed oil painting but I am conscious of my past experiences that also fold into my works. My music career and opera work intrinsically envelop into my works and seem to add extra dimensions in my paintings.
“I always sketched, even when working with the opera company, and now I realise it is never too late for anything.”
David says his art offers him a ‘normal’ life and, in particular, his own timetable.
“It was very difficult with both guitar and voice work because the timetable and work was so erratic and strictly controlled. It was hard to keep it all going, but my art allows me to settle and set goals in which to strive.
“Port Kembla Steelworks, in particular, has offered much inspiration for my works. The rusty and decaying infrastructure I can capture on canvas and develop my own style. I can easily throw fear away in my paintings and sculptures, probably my past in performance has easily allowed this to happen. Yet I experience the same thrill in painting as I do on stage.
“I used to feel it on stage when you go beyond mere notes and transcend the original, it is uplifting and offers complete freedom.”
David paints in an impasto style, offering illusions of depth and reflections of light. The brush strokes are dynamic as his work offers perspective but also life and movement.
“I love working with oil. I love the texture and the more the better as far as I am concerned,” he says.
Working across many different pieces at once is important to David.
“The oils take time to dry, particularly when they are applied thickly, so working between a number of paintings makes practical sense, but it is also how I am feeling at the time," he says.
“There is an innate understanding if something is wrong or does not suit the objective. I have to feel it is working.
“To repaint, to change, or to know when to leave it alone is all important within a work.
“Freedom is the key to allow myself to go off on a tangent, sometimes make mistakes, but most often I achieve what I am looking for on canvas and I am satisfied.”
Oil paintings by David King
David also reflects on the benefits of having mentors – fellow local artist Paul Ryan, art curator and author Amber Creswell-Bell, and wife Jo have all been essential in the direction of his work.
Though David feels no pressure to succeed, he does enter competitions, often with great success: at 2025's Thirroul Seaside Festival, he won First Prize and the Handler's Choice Prize for his painting Bulli Sea Pool.
David recently held a solo exhibition, titled Lines on the Landscape, at the Michael Reid Gallery in Berrima.
David King with one of his award-winning works – Bulli Sea Pool. Photo: Bronte Phillips. At right: A painting from his recent show, Lines on the Landscape.
Seaside Festival returns in March
Art entries will open next month for 2026’s Thirroul Seaside Festival, which is presented by the Austinmer Thirroul Lions Club, the Art Show Committee and local volunteers.
The 2026 event will begin with Art in the shops, a prelude to the festival from March 14-30, with the Official Opening of the Art Show on Friday, March 27, a family Kite Day on March 28 and a Family Festival on March 29.
Visit the festival website for art entry information in February.
Correction: The Illawarra Flame's January 2026 print edition had the wrong closing date for David King's recent solo exhibition. Lines on the Landscape ran from 11 December until 11 January at the Michael Reid Southern Highlands gallery.
