(International Artists Magazine Dec 98).

Ivan Clarke is an artist that needs no introduction to many. He is a painter recognized as one of New Zealand’s foremost, known for the powerful luminous quality of his landscapes paintings of ‘Grande-Scale’.

The range of artistic expression in his paintings extend from dramatic compositions of light to subtle veils of atmosphere and colour. Subjects are varied from the natural grandeur of New Zealand’s landscapes, to contemplative studies of nature. A second generation artist, Ivan began his career as a commercial artist and soon moved into fine art. Largely self-taught he now has a strong international following and says he is inspired by a surprising mix from 19th century greats such as Claude Monet and Albert Bierstadt, through to Chagall and even Dr. Seuss.


Ivan’s love of the outdoors regularly takes him into the back country of New Zealand’s Southern Alps; exploring remote places that many will never see. Other interests are trout fishing, skiing and windsurfing with his two sons Michael and Evan.

From left: Ivan, Evan and Michael Clarke in NZs Southern Alps

Ivan is now fast gaining a reputation for quite a new direction he is taking as the creator of ‘The Lonely Dog’ series of paintings. On a whim, Ivan unveiled the Lonely Dog series which is now permanently showcased in his central Queenstown gallery. This exhibition has attracted huge interest from art collectors and general “walk-ins” to the Ivan Clarke Gallery. Ivan Clarke’s Lonely Dog has attracted such wide interest that developments are now underway to take The world of the Lonely Dog to the big Screen.

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Lonely Dog is a moving story of an orphan hound growing up in the whimsical world of “Alveridgea”, a place where cats and dogs co-habit side by side in a segregated Port Town called “Alveridge”. “As the pup grows up, so does the story, building into a complex, sophisticated world with twists, metaphors and social parallels.” The Lonely Dog Art Collection has attracted phenomenal interest, so much so that sales of limited edition art alone has exceeded $10 million in less than four years from his Queenstown gallery alone.

THE GRAND ALVERIDGEAN EXPOSITION AND BALL, October 2006. (Ivan & Kerry Clarke with Lonely Dog director Graham Burt)

Ivan says Port Alveridge is a real world in another time and another place. “Anyone can go there and your ticket is your imagination - All aboard. The climax of the story is a giant Woodstock type festival that takes place under the Blue Moon at ‘Marmalade Mountain’; religiously attended by Hounds on Harleys with kids and tents. For the first time ever in Alveridgean history ‘The Midsummer Madness Festival’ is gatecrashed by thousands of Felines that show up purely to witness the Lonely Dog and his band ‘The Sunshine Boys’ performing at the peak of their fame ”.